Laboratory-Grown Diamonds in South Africa (2026 Guide)

South Africa, like every other market, has seen a tremendous shift in diamond preference over the last few years.

Lab grown diamonds, once a niche and nuanced conversation, have become the go-to choice for the majority of couples looking for a diamond engagement ring or other fine jewellery.

Dream Pinterest rings don't have to be watered down to stay within budget. The aspirational has become attainable.

Here's all you need to know.

What exactly is a laboratory-grown diamond?

A lab-grown diamond is not a simulant. It's not cubic zirconia, moissanite, or glass. 

Laboratory diamonds are 100% real diamonds. 

They’re “grown” in a controlled environment that replicates the extreme heat and pressure conditions under which natural diamonds form in the Earth's mantle, compressing a process that takes millions of years into a matter of months.

The result is chemically and molecularly identical to a mined diamond. The same crystal structure, the same refractive index, the same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. A digital diamond tester cannot tell them apart — because there is nothing to tell apart.

In 2018, the US Federal Trade Commission made it official: lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Not imitations, not synthetics — diamonds.

What do they cost in South Africa?

As with mined diamonds, prices in South Africa vary considerably from one jeweller to the next.

From my own price research, jewellers offering lab-grown diamonds sell them at an average discount of around 70% compared to a mined diamond of equivalent colour, clarity, cut, and carat.

At Poggenpoel, our lab-grown diamonds are priced at a discount of over 90% compared to equivalent mined stones.

That difference doesn't buy you a lesser diamond. It buys you a larger one, a better colour grade, or simply money back in your pocket.

Weight	Shape	Mined (H/VS2+)	Lab-Grown (D/E VS1+)
1.00ct	Round Brilliant	R60,000	R5,500
2.00ct	Round Brilliant	R375,000	R10,500
1.00ct	Oval Brilliant	R57,000	R5,500
2.00ct	Oval Brilliant	R405,000	R10,500

 

*Mined diamonds graded H colour, VS2 clarity. Lab-grown diamonds graded D/E colour, VS1 clarity — illustrating what your budget unlocks with each option. Prices current as of 2026 and subject to market fluctuation.

Mining diamonds is a significantly more expensive process than growing them in a laboratory — and that cost difference is exactly what you see reflected in the price.

Do lab diamonds come with grading reports?

Yes — and you should always insist on one. Reputable lab-grown diamonds are certified by IGI or GIA, the same institutions that grade natural diamonds. 

The report looks almost identical, with one addition: clear disclosure of origin. Every specification — cut, colour, clarity, carat, fluorescence — is graded on exactly the same scale.

At Poggenpoel we only work with certified stones. If a lab diamond doesn't have a third-party grading report, walk away.

The Elephant in the room: Resale Value

Let's address this honestly, because most jewellers won't.

Both lab-grown and mined diamonds have decreased in value over the last few years. Lab diamond prices have fallen as manufacturing costs drop and wholesale competition increases. 

Mined diamond prices have softened as demand shifts toward lab-grown alternatives. Neither is the inflation-beating asset they're sometimes marketed as.

Mined diamonds have been sold as a sound investment for nearly a hundred years. The reality is more complicated.

Scenario A — The mined diamond

You spend R50,000 on a beautiful mined diamond. Life happens and a year later you need to sell. You'll be lucky to receive R35,000. There's a 15% VAT component you can't recover, and the buyer — whether a jeweller or a private party — needs room to make a profit on resale. 

If they can source a comparable stone on the wholesale market for R35,000, that's the ceiling of what they'll offer you. You're R15,000 down and no longer the owner of a diamond.

No valuation certificate, however confident its figure, changes that reality.

Scenario B — The lab-grown diamond

You bought a larger, higher-colour, higher-clarity lab diamond of the same visual size for R8,000. In a worst-case scenario where lab diamond prices collapse entirely, you're down R8,000. But you're still the owner of a stunning, certified, chemically identical diamond — and you have R42,000 that never left your account.

Yes, the resale value of lab-grown diamonds as a percentage is lower than that of mined diamonds. But you're buying a beautiful piece that can be passed from generation to generation — strive for that dream ring, whichever avenue that means.

There is great value to be found in both lab and mined diamonds, and great deals on both. Just know that part of this purchase is an expense, not an investment. And that's perfectly OK.

Should you choose a lab-grown diamond?

For most couples, it's the clear, sensible choice. Once you see what becomes possible within your budget — the size, the colour grade, the setting — any reservations tend to dissolve quickly. 

That said, if you're committed to a mined diamond — I completely understand, and you're not alone. A significant number of mined diamonds still move through our studios, and they're as beautiful and precious as they've ever been.

The best thing you can do is come in and see both for yourself. You'll have one of two moments: "Aha — I'm a lab diamond convert" or "Nah, I was right all along." Either way, we'll love you for it, and we'll help you find the perfect stone for the perfect ring.

Book a consultation at any of our three studios — Pretoria, Sandton, or Cape Town. We’re here to help!

Johan Poggenpoel

Find me here: johan@poggenpoel.com