Diamonds in Atlanta – Explore Lab-Grown & Natural Options
Explore a curated selection of high-quality diamonds, including both lab-grown and natural options. Whether you’re designing an engagement ring or searching for the perfect stone, Regal Studio offers expert guidance to help you choose with confidence.
Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds
This is the first question almost every client asks us, and it deserves a straight answer.
Both are real diamonds. Same carbon structure, same hardness, same sparkle. A trained gemologist cannot tell them apart without specialized equipment. The difference is where they come from and what you pay.
Natural diamonds form deep underground over billions of years. They carry a traditional value and tend to hold their worth better over time. For many clients, the idea of a stone that took nature this long to create is part of what makes it meaningful.
Lab-grown diamonds are created in a lab using the same conditions found in the earth, just sped up. They’re chemically and optically identical to natural diamonds, but they cost 40 to 60 percent less. That means a 2-carat lab-grown diamond often costs what a 1-carat natural diamond would.
Neither option is wrong. It depends on whether you value the rarity and long-term worth of natural, or the size and savings of lab-grown. We’ll show you both side by side so you can decide with your own eyes.
Shop Loose Diamonds by Type
- Lab-Grown Diamonds – Same beauty as natural, at a fraction of the cost. Ideal for clients who want more size or quality for their budget.
- Natural Diamonds – Earth-formed stones with lasting value. Hand-selected for cut, clarity, and character.
Every diamond in our showroom is inspected personally before it reaches you. If you’re looking for a specific shape, size, or grade that isn’t on display, we’ll source it for you.
How to Choose the Right Diamond
Most people have heard of the “4 Cs.” Here’s what actually matters when you’re shopping:
Cut – This is the most important. Cut determines how the diamond reflects light. A well-cut diamond with lower color and clarity grades will still look more brilliant than a poorly cut one with better grades.
Color – Diamonds are graded D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). For most settings, anything in the G-H range looks white to the eye without paying for the top grades.
Clarity – This measures internal flaws. VS1 and VS2 grades are typically eye-clean and the sweet spot for value.
Carat – This is the weight, not the size. Two diamonds of the same carat weight can look very different depending on their cut.
Don’t get lost in the numbers. During your consultation, we’ll show you real diamonds in your budget range so you can see the difference in person.
Using Diamonds in Custom Jewelry
Many of our clients select a diamond first, then design your engagement ring or custom jewelry piece around it.
This approach gives you more control. You pick the exact stone you fall in love with, then we build the setting to match. It also lets you work with stones you already own. If you inherited a diamond or have a piece you want reworked, we can integrate it into a new design. Learn more about our custom design process.
Why Buy Diamonds from Regal Studio
- Expert guidance. Mack has hand-selected diamonds for Atlanta clients for over 45 years. You get a real opinion, not a sales pitch.
- Custom design integration. Pick your diamond, then design the piece around it.
- Quality sourcing. Every stone is inspected before it’s offered. GIA certification available on request.
- Local service. Visit our Buckhead showroom, see the diamonds in person, and leave with one that’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diamonds
Are lab-grown diamonds real? Yes. A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. Same carbon structure, same physical properties, same sparkle as a natural diamond. The only difference is how it was formed.
Which is better: lab or natural? Neither is objectively better. Natural diamonds hold more long-term value. Lab-grown diamonds give you more size and quality for your budget. The right one depends on what you care about.
Can I bring my own diamond? Yes. Many clients bring family stones, inherited diamonds, or stones from previous pieces. We can set them into a new design or redesign an existing piece around them.
How do I choose a diamond? Start with the cut, then decide on shape, then balance color and clarity against carat size based on your budget. Or just come in and we’ll walk you through it with real stones in hand.
Are lab diamonds cheaper? Yes, typically 40 to 60 percent less than a natural diamond of the same size and quality. That’s the main reason clients choose them.
Not sure which diamond is right for you?
Our experts can help you compare options and design the perfect piece.