lab-grown diamonds

Lab-Grown Diamonds Reshape the Engagement Ring Market

Lab-grown diamonds are transforming the global diamond industry especially the engagement ring sector offering consumers genuine diamonds at more accessible prices. These man-made stones are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds but appeal to modern buyers with their affordability, ethical production, and growing market acceptance.

What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?

Produced using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD), lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds, not simulants like cubic zirconia. They share the same crystal structure and brilliance as mined stones, and require advanced gemmological equipment for origin detection.

Why Are They Gaining Popularity?

Affordability remains the primary driver. Lab-grown diamonds are typically 40–70% less expensive than natural diamonds of similar quality, allowing consumers to choose larger or higher-quality stones without exceeding their budget.

Ethical and environmental concerns are also influencing buyers. With no mining required, lab-grown diamonds reduce the risk of conflict sourcing and environmental degradation, appealing to younger generations who value transparency and sustainability.

Market Impact

Lab-grown diamonds now represent over 50% of the U.S. engagement ring market, with rapid uptake among millennials and Gen Z. Cities with a strong technology and education base lead the trend, while manufacturers particularly in China are scaling production to meet global demand.

Industry Response

The rise of lab-grown diamonds has disrupted the traditional diamond supply chain. Major miners like De Beers have reduced their market outlook, while smaller players like Gem Diamonds and Burgundy Diamond Mines have faced operational challenges.

Traditional diamond brands are repositioning mined diamonds as luxury items, focusing on rarity, heritage, and emotional value, while also reinforcing the investment case for natural stones.

Certification and Detection

DCLA plays a vital role in distinguishing between natural and lab-grown diamonds. We use advanced spectroscopic analysis, growth structure detection, and laser inscription verification to ensure accurate origin classification. Our grading reports clearly identify whether a diamond is natural or laboratory-created, helping maintain trust and transparency in the market.

Investment and Resale Considerations

While both lab-grown and natural diamonds offer identical beauty and durability, resale value currently favours natural diamonds, which tend to retain more long-term value. This distinction remains important for buyers considering heirloom or investment purposes.

Looking Ahead

The lab-grown diamond market is expected to continue growing, particularly in the engagement ring segment. With improvements in production efficiency and sustainability, consumer adoption is poised to accelerate further.

At DCLA, we remain committed to providing accurate certification, expert grading, and clear identification for both natural and lab-grown diamonds supporting consumer confidence and industry integrity in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

$3.3m Loss as Brilliant Earth Customers Spend Less

Brilliant Earth, which sells both natural and lab grown diamonds

Brilliant Earth, the US-based “ethical jeweler”, reported a $3.3m net loss for the first quarter of 2025, as customers opted for less pricey goods.

The total number of orders rose by over 12 per cent (40,525 to 45,535) but the average value fell by more than 14 per cent ($2,402 to $2,062).

Brilliant Earth, which sells both natural and lab grown diamonds, said net sales were down 3.5 per cent to $93.9m.

“We’re pleased with our first quarter performance, which demonstrates the continued strength and resilience of our business model as we delivered our 15th consecutive quarter of profitability as a public company,” said CEO Beth Gerstein, referring to its adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) of $1.1m, rather than its $3.3m GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net loss.

Gerstein said Q1 engagement ring sales had increased year-on-year, fine jewelry bookings had enjoyed a double-digit boost and sales in the two weeks to Valentine’s Day broke company records.

Brilliant Earth, based in San Francisco, California, and Denver, Colorado, was founded as an online-only business in 2005 and went public in 2021. Since then it has opened 41 bricks and mortar stores.

Source: IDEX

Swarovski bullish on lab-grown diamond business

Austrian jewelry brand Swarovski’s entry into the lab-grown diamond sector has seen a positive reception in the China market, signaling growing consumer acceptance and confidence in the product category, said a senior executive.

Since the launch of Swarovski Created Diamonds Swarovski’s lab-grown diamond product line in April, the company has found that Chinese consumers are gradually accepting the concept of laboratory-grown diamonds, which gives the brand huge confidence in the market, said Yvonne Chan, president of Swarovski Crystal Business Greater China.

Chan added that as the market has responded accordingly, the brand has seen a steady growth in sales figures. “In some of the better-performing stores, sales of Swarovski Created Diamonds jewelry can account for as much as one-fourth of the store’s jewelry sales,” she said.

The consumption of diamonds is diversifying and is no longer limited to bridal occasions, with an increasing number of female consumers showing interest in “self-rewarding “diamond purchases and usually more for daily wear occasions, Chan said.

“We believe lab-grown diamonds are ‘the diamonds of the future’, and that’s why they represent a strategic growth category for Swarovski,” she said.

According to data from consulting firm Bain & Company, China’s rough cultured diamond sales reached 1.4 million carats in 2021, with a market penetration rate of 6.7 percent. The figure is expected to reach 4 million carats by 2025, with a market penetration rate of 13.8 percent.

“We are delighted to be one of the first global brands to launch lab-grown diamonds in China in April, which marks a significant milestone in the company’s global rollout of fine jewelry collections,” Chan said. “China is undoubtedly one of Swarovski’s most important markets globally. Swarovski has long-standing ties of business and friendship with China that were forged three decades ago.”

Lab-grown diamonds, created by simulating the natural growth environment of diamonds, are high-quality synthetic gems with jewelry application value, said Sun Zhaoda, secretary-general of the superhard materials branch of the China Machine Tool and Tool Builders’ Association, adding that the emerging jewelry category is growing rapidly due to its eco-friendly and sustainable characteristics.

According to a recent white paper published by the association, the global cultured diamond supply chain is now largely concentrated in China, India and the United States. China leads in the production of rough cultivated diamonds, with over 22 million carats produced in 2023, accounting for more than 70 percent of global output. India dominates diamond processing, controlling 80 percent of the market, while the US remains the largest consumer market for cultivated diamonds.

“While China’s share in diamond processing is still relatively low, the country is exploring new green development models,” said Sun. “With increasing consumer acceptance of cultivated diamonds in China, the market for lab-grown gems is expected to grow significantly.”

Source: Chinadaily

Synthetic Diamond Market to Rise USD 16.4 Billion in 2023 to USD 29.9 Billion by 2032

Synthetic Diamonds Market Overview

The research documents by MRFR indicate that the “Synthetic Diamonds Market Research Report Information by Application, Product, Region, Type, and Manufacturing Process – Forecast Till 2032”, the Synthetic Diamonds market is predicted to grow substantially over the assessment timeframe from 2022 to 2032 at a healthy CAGR of around 7.80%.

The reports even share predictions regarding the market’s growing revenue share, which will likely reach USD 29.9 Billion by the end of 2032. As per the reports, the market was worth nearly USD 15.2 Billion in 2022.

The primary market factors accelerating market expansion include rising demand from the semiconductor and electronics sectors as well as increased demand for computer chips and other microchips used in many other types of electronics.

The increase in demand for synthetic diamonds from the semiconductor and electronics industries is the primary factor behind the growth of the global market for synthetic diamonds. The increase in disposable money among the general population benefits the market.

Trade Groups Sign Deal on Lab-Grown Diamonds

The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) and the International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA) have agreed to collaborate to protect consumer confidence around synthetic diamonds.

The organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) calling for the pair to develop standards, operating principles and terminology for lab-grown diamonds, they said Monday. IGDA president Joanna Park-Tonks will sit on CIBJO’s laboratory-grown diamond committee, which has created a “Laboratory-Grown Diamond Guideline” governing standards for trading and handling synthetic stones.

The honest and accurate presentation of sustainability issues is a current focus for CIBJO’s laboratory-grown committee and was an element during the discussions between CIBJO and IGDA, the organizations said.

“We have had open lines of communication for some time already, and IGDA did participate in the public review before we released the ‘Laboratory-Grown Diamond Guidance’ document in 2021,” said CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri. “Over the past several years, the laboratory-grown diamonds sector has grown into a large and a prominent part of our industry, and we all have a vested interest in each other’s success.”

The signing took place on Sunday during the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Summit in Birmingham, UK.

Source: Diamonds.net

Lightbox Starts Selling Engagement Rings with Lab-Grown Diamonds

De Beers’ Lightbox lab-grown diamond brand is trialing sales of engagement rings, marking a major shift for the company, which previously insisted synthetic stones were not a product for important milestones.

The retailer is publicizing lab-grown diamond engagement rings on its home page, promising a “stress-free and risk-free” shopping experience. “Our cutting-edge technology ensures each of our lab-grown diamonds are quality guaranteed,” the site reads, with the marketing line: “Because great chemistry deserves great chemistry.”

A link takes viewers to a page listing 16 items featuring regular Lightbox lab-grown diamonds, or stones from the brand’s Finest line, which have higher color and clarity. The standard collection usually sells for $800 per carat plus the cost of the setting, while Finest retails at $1,500 per carat. The selection includes white, pink and blue stones, with prices ranging from $500 for a three-stone ring to $5,000 for 2 carats.

Lightbox was unavailable for comment on Sunday, but told Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) and JCK it was running “a small in-market test of consumer preferences in the lab-grown diamond engagement ring segment.”

When De Beers launched Lightbox in 2018, Bruce Cleaver, the miner’s CEO at the time, presented lab-grown as a product that “may not be forever, but is perfect for right now,” claimed there was “no real emotional value in lab-grown diamonds, because they’re not unique,” and said the stones did not warrant grading. It later debuted the Finest line, introduced stones larger than 1 carat, and started declaring the cut quality, color and clarity of its stones.

Source: Diamonds.net

IGI Sees Largest a Lab-Grown Diamond

India-based Ethereal Green Diamond has created and sold the largest polished lab-grown diamond in history, according to the International Gemological Institute (IGI), which graded it.

Named Shiphra, the emerald-cut, 50.25-carat, type IIa stone has G color, VS2 clarity, and an “excellent” score for cut, polish and symmetry, IGI said Thursday. It measures 22.95 x 18.45 x 11.57 millimeters. It’s the world’s first polished lab-grown diamond above 50 carats, IGI claimed.

Ethereal grew the 150-carat rough using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method over a period of eight months. It cut the stone in Surat, India, and will display the polished at its JCK Las Vegas booth. Swiss brand Shiphra Jewelry has bought it and lent its name to the piece.

“This gemstone is a paradigm-shifting breakthrough, surpassing 50 carats while exemplifying preeminent standards of sophistication and quality,” said Tehmasp Printer, president and managing director of IGI India.

The record comes shortly after IGI graded its largest lab-grown diamond to date: A 35-carat CVD stone that Maitri Lab Grown Diamonds produced. Last month, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said it had examined a 34.59-carat diamond that Ethereal synthesized using the same method.

Source: rapaport.com

Adam O’Grady Becomes Lightbox’s First COO

Lightbox has promoted Adam O’Grady to the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective March 27.

The executive will lead all aspects of supply chain and manufacturing activity for the De Beers-owned lab-grown diamond company, it said last week. These include diamond synthesis and jewelry manufacturing, cutting and polishing, and research and development.

O’Grady has been general manager of the Lightbox lab since 2019. In addition to his new responsibilities, he will continue to oversee operations and engineering at the company’s advanced manufacturing lab in Gresham, Oregon, where he is based.

“He is a transformational leader with deep knowledge of the lab-grown diamond category,” said Lightbox CEO Antoine Borde.

Prior to joining Lightbox, O’Grady spent his two-decade professional career at Element Six, De Beers’ industrial super-materials and synthetic-diamond business. He served in a series of general management and senior project roles in South Africa, China and the UK. In 2019, he oversaw the design and construction of Lightbox’s $94 million manufacturing lab in Gresham, which opened in October 2020.

Source: Diamonds.net

Will Laboratory grown diamonds take over the market ?

As of 2021 the laboratory-grown diamond trade market was estimated to be worth around $1.9 billion, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.

This market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with some estimates suggesting that it could reach a value of over $15 billion by 2035.

laboratory-grown diamond trade has been growing steadily in recent years. There are several factors driving this growth.

Price: Laboratory-grown diamonds are typically less expensive than natural diamonds, which makes them an attractive option for consumers who are looking for high-quality jewelry at a more affordable price.

Ethical concerns: Some consumers are hesitant to purchase natural diamonds due to concerns about ethical issues such as conflict diamonds. Laboratory-grown diamonds are considered to be a more ethical alternative, as they are produced in a controlled environment and do not have the same potential ethical issues as natural diamonds.

Environmental concerns: The process of mining natural diamonds can have a significant environmental impact. Laboratory-grown diamonds are generally considered to be more environmentally friendly, as they do not require mining.

Advancements in technology: The technology used to produce laboratory-grown diamonds has improved significantly in recent years, making it easier and more cost-effective to produce high-quality diamonds.
All of these factors have contributed to the growth of the laboratory-grown diamond trade, and it is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

The answer is not yet: It is worth noting that natural diamonds still hold a significant share of the diamond market, and it remains to be seen how much of an impact laboratory-grown diamonds will have on the industry as a whole over the next decade.

Source: Michael Cohen DCLA

What is the difference between a natural mined diamond and a laboratory grown diamond?

*Laboratory grown rough diamond type 2A carbon crystal.*

The main difference between a natural mined diamond and a laboratory grown diamond is their origin. Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle under extreme heat and pressure over millions of years, while laboratory grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment in a laboratory setting.
Some other differences between natural mined diamonds and laboratory grown diamonds include:

Cost: Laboratory grown diamonds are generally less expensive than natural mined diamonds, as they don’t require expensive mining and extraction processes.
Clarity: Laboratory grown diamonds are generally more consistent in terms of their clarity, as they are grown under controlled conditions. Natural mined diamonds can have inclusions or blemishes, which can affect their clarity and value.
Size and Colour: Laboratory grown diamonds can be grown to larger sizes and in a wider range of colours, which may not be as easily available in natural mined diamonds.
Environmental impact: The environmental impact of laboratory grown diamonds is generally considered to be lower than that of natural mined diamonds, as mining can have a significant impact on the environment.
Rarity and Value: Natural mined diamonds are still considered more rare and valuable than laboratory grown diamonds, due to their long history and cultural significance.
Ultimately, whether someone chooses a natural mined diamond or a laboratory grown diamond may depend on their personal preferences and priorities, such as environmental concerns, budget, or the desire for a natural, unique stone.

It is worth noting that both natural mined diamonds and laboratory grown diamonds are chemically and physically identical, and both can be certified and graded by independent gemmological laboratories based on the same criteria.

Source: Roy Cohen DCLA