Straight answers to the questions jewelers, designers and end-clients ask most about lab-grown and natural diamonds — certification, sourcing, and what fits your line.
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds (also called lab diamonds, lab created diamonds or man made diamonds) are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds. They are pure crystallized carbon graded by the same IGI and HRD standards.
Two methods are used in the industry: HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) recreates the conditions deep in the earth's mantle, and CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) grows the crystal layer by layer from a carbon-rich gas. Both produce real diamond, typically in a few weeks rather than billions of years.
Not with the naked eye, a loupe, or a standard diamond tester — they pass every common gemological test because they are diamond. Only specialized lab equipment that examines microscopic growth patterns and trace elements can distinguish origin.
Yes. The 4Cs (cut, color, clarity and carat) apply identically. We supply IGI and HRD certified stones — the same labs that grade natural diamonds — so retailers and jewelers can present them with full confidence.
No. They score 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, just like mined diamonds, and have the same refractive index and brilliance. They do not cloud, fade or wear differently than natural diamond.
Generally yes — there is no mining, no displaced communities and no conflict-sourcing risk. The carbon footprint depends on the producer's energy mix, but on balance the impact is meaningfully lower than mined diamond.
Medina Diamonds supplies jewelers, designers and retailers worldwide from our Antwerp office. We carry 3,000+ carats in stock — round brilliants, calibrated melee parcels and a full range of fancy shapes, all IGI or HRD certified. Request our current price list from the contact page.
Yes. Medina Diamonds wholesales both — CVD lab-grown diamonds certified by IGI or HRD Antwerp, and natural diamonds certified by GIA. Many of our clients stock both: natural for heritage and bridal lines, lab-grown for fashion, volume and price-led collections.
Round brilliants from melee through 5ct+, plus oval, emerald, pear, cushion, radiant, princess, marquise, asscher and heart — in both lab-grown and natural. In-stock orders ship within 1 business day; custom and out-of-stock orders within 7 business days.
Medina Diamonds is an Antwerp-registered wholesale supplier. We sell directly to jewellers, designers and gem traders from our office in the Antwerp diamond district, with IGI, HRD Antwerp and GIA certified stones and full trade documentation. See our Antwerp wholesale page or contact us to open a trade account.
Natural diamond wholesale pricing tracks the Rapaport list and is discounted from list based on shape, colour, clarity and cut grade; lab-grown pricing is quoted per carat by grade and shape. As a direct Antwerp wholesaler we skip retail markups, so per-carat prices are suitable for jewellers who need to build their own margin on top.
Yes. In-stock orders ship insured from Antwerp within one business day to jewellers and retailers in 29+ European countries. We handle EU intra-community VAT documentation and customs paperwork for non-EU deliveries, and every stone travels with its original grading report.
There is no fixed minimum on individual certified stones — we sell single loose diamonds as well as parcels. Melee is sold by the carat with volume breaks on larger parcels. Bespoke sourcing to specification is available within seven business days.
Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds — pure crystallised carbon, 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, graded on the same 4Cs by IGI or HRD Antwerp. The only difference is origin: grown in a controlled laboratory environment rather than deep in the earth.
Our team is happy to walk you through specifications, certificates and current wholesale pricing.
Request Price List