I recently went shopping for a diamond. Price depends on grading factors such as cut, colour and clarity (inclusions). I was surprised to learn that lab grown

I recently went shopping for a diamond. Price depends on grading factors such as cut, colour and clarity (inclusions). I was surprised to learn that lab grown diamonds also vary in colour, and may have inclusions, and as such are graded on the same scale as natural diamonds. At most of the stores I visited, the price of lab-grown diamonds was about 30% cheaper compared to their natural counterparts at the same grade. Most surprising though was that the sales people were really pushing hard to sell the lab grown diamonds over the natural ones. I would imagine the markup and commission is much much higher.