Atelier des Bergues, an artisan jeweller in Geneva since 1978, creates jewellery with both natural diamonds and laboratory-grown diamonds, according to each client’s choice. The two stones look alike to the naked eye, but they differ in price, in long-term value and in their story.
For an engagement ring or a bespoke jewellery creation, the right choice depends on your budget, your project and your convictions. Here are the key points to help you choose between the two, adapted to the Swiss market.
Natural and laboratory-grown diamonds: what are the differences?
A laboratory-grown diamond is a real diamond. It has the same composition (pure crystallised carbon), the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) and the same brilliance as a natural diamond. Only its origin differs.
The natural diamond, formed over billions of years
A natural diamond forms more than 150 km underground, under extreme pressure and heat, over 1 to 3 billion years. Brought to the surface by volcanic activity and then mined, every natural diamond is unique and their supply is limited.
The laboratory-grown diamond, produced in a few weeks
A laboratory-grown diamond is produced in a few weeks, using one of two processes. The HPHT method (high pressure, high temperature) subjects a diamond seed to about 5 to 6 gigapascals and 1,300 to 1,700 °C. The CVD method (chemical vapour deposition) deposits carbon layer by layer onto a seed and often produces very pure stones.
Can you tell them apart with the naked eye?
No. With the naked eye, and even with a loupe, a jeweller cannot tell a natural diamond from a laboratory-grown one. Only an equipped gemmological laboratory can do so with certainty.
How much does a laboratory-grown diamond cost compared with a natural diamond?
In 2026, for the same size and quality, a laboratory-grown diamond costs a fraction of the price of a natural diamond. For the same budget, it therefore allows a larger or purer stone.
A price that keeps falling
The price of laboratory-grown diamonds has been falling for several years, as production grows faster than demand. According to data from analyst Edahn Golan published by JCK, their wholesale price fell by 26% in 2025, then by a further 13% year on year in the second quarter of 2026. Since 2018, the cumulative decline exceeds 90%. Natural diamond prices have also fallen in recent years, but far less sharply.
Resale value
This is the point to understand before buying. A certified, quality natural diamond retains part of its value and can be passed down or resold. A laboratory-grown diamond, whose new price falls every year, has almost no resale value. A laboratory-grown diamond is a purchase for pleasure; a natural diamond is also an heirloom asset.
| Criterion | Natural diamond | Laboratory-grown diamond |
| Composition and brilliance | Pure carbon, hardness 10 | Pure carbon, hardness 10 |
| Origin | Mine, formed over billions of years | Laboratory, produced in a few weeks |
| Price for equal quality | Higher | Significantly lower |
| Long-term value | Retains part of its value | Very hard to resell |
| Rarity | Limited resource | Unlimited production |
| Certificate | GIA, HRD, IGI | GIA, IGI (marked laboratory-grown) |
The price of jewellery in Switzerland
Swiss VAT of 8.1% applies in the same way to both types of stone. The final price of a piece depends mainly on the stone, the gold and the workshop’s craftsmanship. At Atelier des Bergues, every project receives a free, personalised quote.
How can you be sure of a diamond’s origin in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, as elsewhere, a laboratory-grown diamond must be clearly identified as such at the point of sale.
Regulated terminology
The trade’s rules, set by CIBJO (the World Jewellery Confederation) and the ISO 18323 standard, require the terms “laboratory-grown diamond” or “synthetic diamond”. The words “cultured”, “real” or “genuine” may not be used for a laboratory-grown diamond. In Switzerland, the Federal Act against Unfair Competition prohibits any misleading description of a product.
The certificate, the only reliable proof
For a significant stone, ask for a certificate from a recognised laboratory: GIA, HRD or IGI. It states the stone’s origin and its 4Cs: carat weight, colour, clarity and cut. Switzerland is also home to one of the world’s reference laboratories, SSEF in Basel, which checks more than a million small diamonds every year for the Swiss watch and jewellery industry.
The provenance of natural diamonds
Since 2003, Switzerland has applied the Kimberley Process, which excludes conflict diamonds from legal trade. Imported rough diamonds must be accompanied by a certificate, under the supervision of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Ethics and environment: which diamond matches your convictions?
Neither stone is perfect by definition: the right choice depends on what matters most to you.
Mine or laboratory: two different impacts
A natural diamond involves mining. The Kimberley Process governs its provenance, and the diamond trade supports entire economies, notably in Botswana. A laboratory-grown diamond avoids mining, but its production uses a great deal of energy. Its carbon footprint depends on the electricity used, and much of the world’s production comes from China and India.
Carbon footprint figures published by either industry remain disputed. CIBJO rules also prohibit presenting a stone as eco-friendly without proof verified by an independent body.
Ecological gold, the other half of the piece
A piece’s impact is not only about the stone. Atelier des Bergues is certified “Ecological Gold” and works exclusively with ecological gold from Gyr Métaux Précieux in Switzerland. Whichever diamond you choose, the setting honours this commitment.
To find out more, read our article Ecological gold: a responsible choice for a sustainable future.
How to choose between the two for your piece?
The right diamond is the one that suits your project, not one that would be better in absolute terms.
Depending on your priority
| Your priority | Our advice |
| Passing the piece down, keeping its value | Certified natural diamond |
| A larger stone for a given budget | Laboratory-grown diamond |
| The symbolism of a stone formed by nature | Natural diamond |
| Avoiding mining | Laboratory-grown diamond |
| Reusing a family stone | Your diamond, reset in a new creation |
For an engagement ring
The engagement ring is the purchase where this question comes up most. Some couples favour the lasting value and symbolism of a natural diamond. Others prefer to put their budget into a more impressive stone. Both choices are legitimate. Also read our article on the solitaire engagement ring.
Before buying, check four points: is the nature of the stone stated on the invoice, does it come with a GIA, HRD or IGI certificate, what are its 4Cs, and where does the gold in the setting come from?
Guidance from Atelier des Bergues
At Atelier des Bergues, Rue Rousseau 1 in Geneva, we work with both natural and laboratory-grown diamonds, respecting everyone’s convictions. We present both options, with their differences in price and value, and the nature of the stone is always clearly stated. We then craft your piece by hand in our workshop, in Swiss ecological gold.
Do you have an idea, a sketch or a stone to reset? Contact us for an appointment and a free quote.
Yes. A laboratory-grown diamond has the same composition (pure carbon), the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) and the same brilliance as a natural diamond. Only its origin differs: it is produced in a few weeks using the HPHT or CVD process, instead of forming underground over billions of years.
No, not with the naked eye. Even an experienced jeweller cannot tell them apart by eye or with a loupe. Only an equipped gemmological laboratory, such as GIA, IGI or SSEF in Basel, can establish it. That is why the certificate and the invoice must clearly state the stone’s origin.
Very little. The wholesale price of laboratory-grown diamonds has fallen by more than 90% since 2018 and keeps declining every year. A laboratory-grown diamond is therefore hard to resell. A certified natural diamond holds its value better and lends itself to being passed down.
Yes. Atelier des Bergues, an artisan jeweller in Geneva since 1978, creates jewellery and engagement rings with natural or laboratory-grown diamonds, according to the client’s choice. The nature of the stone is always stated, and the setting is made in Swiss ecological gold.
The price depends on the stone (carats, colour, clarity), the gold and the craftsmanship. For equal quality, a laboratory-grown diamond costs significantly less than a natural diamond. Atelier des Bergues provides a free, personalised quote for every project, at Rue Rousseau 1 in Geneva.
It all depends on your priorities. A natural diamond suits you if you want a rare, symbolic stone that can be passed down. A laboratory-grown diamond suits you if you want a larger stone for your budget or wish to avoid mining. Both are legitimate, and our artisans will help you decide.
Atelier des Bergues
- Business category: Jeweller, bespoke jewellery and engagement rings
- Address: Rue Rousseau 1, 1201 Genève
- Phone: +41227320234
- Website: http://atelier-des-bergues.ch/
