What is a lab grown diamond?

A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically, and optically identical to a mined diamond. Same atomic structure, same hardness, same refractive index, same dispersion. The only difference is origin: lab grown diamonds form in a HPHT or CVD reactor over six to eight weeks rather than under the earth's crust over a billion years.

What does D colour, VVS1 clarity mean?

D is the highest colour grade on the Gemological Institute of America scale, denoting an icy-white stone with no detectable tint. VVS1 means very very slightly included at the second-highest clarity grade, with inclusions visible only under 10x magnification and never visible to the naked eye. Excellent cut is the highest grade for proportions, polish, and symmetry combined.

Why does Heritage & Co. use IGI grading rather than GIA for lab grown diamonds?

On 1 October 2025 GIA moved all lab-grown diamond reports to a Premium / Standard classification, eliminating per-stone 4Cs detail. IGI retained the standard four-grade reporting Heritage & Co. requires. Every CLARITAS engagement ring ships with its original IGI report.

What does a lab grown diamond engagement ring cost in South Africa?

Heritage & Co.'s CLARITAS lab grown diamond engagement rings start at R44,995. The price covers solid 18K gold, D colour VVS1 Excellent cut IGI-graded lab diamond, and the H&Co. monogram engraved inside the band. Every ring is made-to-order in Cape Town with a 20-year defect warranty.

Are lab grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. A lab grown diamond is real carbon, with the same cubic crystal structure as a mined diamond, the same hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale, and the same optical and physical properties. A diamond tester will confirm a lab grown diamond as a diamond.

Lab Grown Diamond Rings South Africa | D/VVS1 IGI Certified | 18K Gold

Lab Grown Diamond Rings South Africa

Lab grown diamonds, graded D colour and VVS1 clarity, set in 18K gold. The CLARITAS collection.

A lab grown diamond is chemically, physically, and optically identical to a mined diamond. It has the same atomic structure (cubic carbon), the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale), the same refractive index (2.42), and the same dispersion (the fire that produces the rainbow flash). The only difference is origin. A mined diamond formed under the earth's crust over a billion years. A lab grown diamond is formed in a high pressure high temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapour deposition (CVD) reactor over six to eight weeks.

Heritage & Co.'s CLARITAS collection uses lab grown diamonds graded D colour, VVS1 clarity, Excellent cut, every stone, every ring. The grading is verified by the International Gemological Institute (IGI), and every CLARITAS engagement ring ships with its original IGI report.

What D Colour, VVS1, and Excellent Cut Mean

The 4Cs of diamond grading are Carat (weight), Colour (D to Z, with D being the most colourless), Clarity (FL through I3, with VVS1 being very very slightly included at the second highest grade), and Cut (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, with Excellent being the highest grade for proportions, polish, and symmetry combined).

D colour is the rarest colour grade. Most engagement diamonds on the South African market are graded G to I (faintly tinted to noticeably tinted under bright light). A D colour diamond is icy white under any light source. VVS1 means the diamond has inclusions that are very very slightly visible under 10x magnification but invisible to the naked eye. Excellent cut means the light entering the table is reflected back through the table, not lost out the pavilion, producing maximum brilliance and fire.

D colour + VVS1 clarity + Excellent cut is the spec luxury houses set as their floor for premium engagement diamonds. Heritage sets it as our floor for every stone.

Why Lab Grown

Lab grown diamonds cost 50 to 80 percent less than mined diamonds at the same spec, which means at Heritage & Co. you get D colour, VVS1, Excellent cut at a price point where mined diamonds would be G or H colour and SI1 clarity. The spec advantage is the value. There is no clouding, no fading, no decay. Lab grown diamonds are not synthetic in the way that the word usually implies. They are real diamonds, made faster.

The ethical story is also relevant. Lab grown diamonds have a small, traceable supply chain and a known carbon footprint. Mined diamonds have a larger, harder-to-trace supply chain and a significantly higher environmental and human cost per carat.

Heritage & Co.'s CLARITAS Collection

The CLARITAS collection is built around solid 18K gold, IGI graded lab grown diamonds (D colour, VVS1 clarity, Excellent cut), and the H&Co. monogram engraved inside every band. The collection covers all the main engagement ring cuts: round brilliant, oval, cushion, elongated cushion, marquise, emerald, pear, and radiant.

CLARITAS pricing starts at R44,995. Every ring is made to order in our Cape Town atelier with the H&Co. 20 year defect warranty. The original IGI grading report ships with the ring.

Browse the CLARITAS Lab Grown Diamond Engagement Rings.

How CLARITAS Compares to Other South African Lab Grown Diamond Rings

Most SA jewellers selling lab grown diamond engagement rings use 9K gold or 14K gold and accept G to H colour stones with SI clarity. The trade is volume at a lower price point, typically R10,000 to R30,000. Heritage's CLARITAS collection is structurally different: 18K gold (higher gold content, warmer colour, more weight), D colour VVS1 stones (the rarest colour and clarity grade), and IGI grading on every stone. The price point reflects the spec.

If the priority is the lowest possible price, Heritage is not the right brand. If the priority is the highest spec at a transparent price with a long warranty, the CLARITAS collection is built for that.

Read the full lab diamond vs moissanite comparison, the engagement ring pricing guide, or the engagement ring buying guide.