Buying a diamond in Spain used to be about weighing up how much you were going to spend on a natural stone. That is changing as laboratory-grown diamonds are now another option for people buying an engagement ring, wedding jewellery or a special gift.
The price difference can be considerable, with two diamonds that have the same weight and similar colour, excellent clarity and a very similar brilliance costing several times as much.
That is why diamante de laboratorio vs natural precio is a relevant search for anyone buying jewellery, as people want to know they are getting what they pay for and if they are losing out by opting for a laboratory-grown diamond.
The answer depends on the origin of the stone, its specifications and how important it is for the buyer.
Diamante De Laboratorio Vs Natural Precio: How Much Is The Difference?
Natural diamonds tend to be considerably more expensive than laboratory-grown diamonds with similar characteristics.
A natural diamond forms deep in the Earth over an extraordinarily long period. A laboratory-grown diamond is created from technology that simulates the environment needed for a diamond crystal to grow.
In both cases, the material is a genuine diamond. The difference in their origin, however, has a considerable impact on their retail price.
According to a June 2026 market comparison published by TheDiamondPrice , a one-carat round diamond with a G colour, VS2 clarity and excellent cut had a list price of approximately $4,850 for a natural stone and $1,060 for a laboratory-grown alternative, representing a difference of around 78%.
The Diamond Price
These are general international market benchmarks, rather than actual verified prices for diamonds for sale in Spain, so people looking to buy jewellery should compare prices in euros, including any applicable VAT and cost to set the diamonds in jewellery.
For someone buying a diamond engagement ring in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or elsewhere in Spain, that difference could have a considerable impact on the ring they can afford.
Why Are Lab Grown Diamonds More Affordable?
The reason lab grown diamonds tend to be cheaper is not because they are lower quality, but more because of the way they are manufactured and distributed.
Natural diamonds need to be formed, discovered, mined, sorted and processed. Their market price also reflects the supply of high-quality material and the yield from mining activities.
Lab diamonds are manufactured using two primary methods – Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT).
Producers can make the diamonds without relying on natural resources, while improvements in manufacturing processes and higher output volumes have impacted the price.
According to the June 2026 De Beers Diamond Report , wholesale prices for lab-grown diamonds had dropped by approximately 93% since 2020 .
De Beers Group
That means a larger diamond could be affordable for the same jewellery budget.
It also means buyers should compare retailers, as prices for these stones continue to fluctuate.
Are Laboratory-Grown Diamonds Different From Natural Diamonds?
A common misconception is that laboratory-grown diamonds are fake.
That is not the case.
Diamonds, whether laboratory-grown or natural, share the same chemical composition and crystal structure, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
gia
They are both diamonds, made from crystallised carbon, with the brilliant sparkle associated with the precious stone.
A laboratory-grown diamond is also not the same as either cubic zirconia or moissanite, which are alternative minerals used for jewellery.
The difference between laboratory-grown and natural diamonds boils down to origin, with natural diamonds forming geologically and laboratory-grown diamonds being man-made.
It is not always easy to determine the origin of a polished diamond, however, with buyers typically needing to undertake detailed gemmological testing.
Anyone interested in this category could start by looking at Novita Diamonds Spain, which offers a good starting point to compare laboratory-grown diamond jewellery.
What Determines The Price Of A Diamond In Spain?
The origin of a diamond is just one consideration when it comes to the price, however. There are a range of other characteristics that influence cost.
Carat Weight And Diamond Size
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond, rather than its width.
A two-carat stone tends to cost more than a one-carat diamond, but this difference will not always be in proportion to the difference in weight.
Natural diamonds can fetch a significantly higher price per carat as larger sizes become rarer.
Lab diamonds can make larger carat weights more accessible, but the price will still vary according to size and quality.
Cut Quality And Brilliance
The cut of a diamond determines how it reflects and returns light.
A good cut will make a diamond more lively and sparkly, whereas a poorly-proportioned diamond may not appeal as much, even with a high colour and clarity grade.
When it comes to round brilliant diamonds, buyers should look at the cut rather than focusing just on the carat weight.
Colour And Clarity
Diamond colour and clarity also impact on the price, with natural diamonds generally graded on a scale that runs from D (colourless) to Z according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
Clarity refers to any imperfections inside the diamond and on the surface.
People buying lab-grown diamonds should also understand the difference in the certification systems for these stones.
GIA uses a system of Premium and Standard quality for diamonds it deems suitable for laboratory-grown stones from October 2025, rather than basing its grading on the same terminology as natural diamonds.
gia
It is safer to look at the details of the report, rather than assuming that the certificate process is the same for all diamond grading reports.
Diamante De Laboratorio Vs Natural Precio For Engagement Rings
An engagement ring is the perfect example of the difference in price between a natural and a laboratory-grown diamond.
Imagine two solitaire rings with otherwise similar-sized stones, metal setting and finishing quality.
The ring with a laboratory-grown diamond will generally be significantly cheaper than the one with a natural stone.
That would give a couple a range of options, including potentially purchasing a larger centre stone, getting a higher-quality metal setting or simply leaving more money for other expenditure.
For people searching for anillos de compromiso con diamantes de laboratorio, Novita Diamonds is one retailer to consider when exploring design and price options.
The actual price of the complete ring, however, is more important than the advertised loose diamond price.
A platinum setting, for example, will be more expensive than an 18-carat gold setting, while additional diamonds, customisations to design and other factors can also impact on the final cost.
People comparing rings should always compare similar complete rings rather than different products.
Does A Natural Diamond Have Better Resale Value?
Resale value is worth considering, particularly when a considerable amount of money has been spent on a diamond.
Natural diamonds tend to have a more established resale value than laboratory-grown diamonds, but this does not mean someone will recoup a significant portion of the original expenditure.
It is important to remember that retail prices tend to include costs and profit margins that a second-hand buyer may not be prepared to pay.
Lab-grown diamonds face a different challenge, with prices for both new and second-hand stones dropping as new retail prices drop to reflect lower manufacturing costs.
Neither should be considered an investment, and the resale value is likely to be lower for a laboratory-grown diamond.
For an engagement ring that will hopefully be worn for many years, the appearance, craftsmanship, comfort and personal preferences are more relevant than resale value.
How To Compare Diamond Prices Without Overpaying
Diamond price comparisons need to be between stones with similar specifications, with weight and other relevant factors taken into account.
A one-carat natural diamond with a lower clarity, for example, should not be compared with a two-carat laboratory-grown diamond with a higher clarity without recognising the differences.
When looking at diamonds online, buyers should take note of:
-
Diamond origin and any relevant identification report
-
Carat weight, size and shape
-
Colour, clarity, cut, polish and symmetry
-
Certification and report
-
Metal and craftsmanship of the jewellery setting
-
Final cost, including any applicable taxes and delivery charges
A good product description should make it clear what is included in the price and how the diamond differs from the setting and overall jewellery craftsmanship.
Customers should also check whether the retailer has clear guidelines about returns, warranty, resizing and secure delivery, which can be relevant when purchasing an expensive ring online without seeing the actual jewellery.
Buying Lab Grown Diamonds Online In Spain
Buying lab-grown diamonds online means people can review different weight, shape and other specifications without visiting multiple jewellery stores.
That said, an attractive product image should not be the sole basis for purchasing a diamond.
Buyers should confirm if the advertised price is for a loose diamond or completed jewellery, whether the image represents the actual stone and what information is included with the purchase.
For people considering lab-grown diamond engagement rings, Novita Diamonds Spain is a good retailer to look at when comparing styles, specifications and prices.
There is also a significant difference between comparing loose diamond prices and completed ring prices. Two loose stones with otherwise similar characteristics can have a considerably different price for the setting, metal weight and overall manufacturing.
Everything should be clear before making a payment.
Is A Laboratory-Grown Diamond Worth Buying In 2026?
Value means different things to different people when it comes to diamonds.
Those who wanted a bigger, better-looking stone within a certain budget may find laboratory-grown diamonds are an excellent option.
Other buyers may prefer a natural diamond simply because of the way in which it is formed and its relative rarity.
It does not change the fact that a lower-cost laboratory-grown diamond is a high-quality stone, with similar characteristics and sparkle to a natural diamond.
This is why it is so important for people to compare similar diamonds, look at any relevant identification or grading report and consider the overall cost of what they are purchasing.
A cheaper diamond can represent excellent value for money jewellery, while a higher-priced natural stone may appeal to those who appreciate its origin and rarity, knowing the difference between the two.
This makes it much easier to spend money on something that is of value rather than compromising on what is important to the individual buyer.