Lab-Grown Diamonds Reshape the Engagement Ring Market

Lab-Grown Diamonds

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.

Lightbox Launches New Campaigns – Despite Ending Production

The wholly-owned De Beers-owned subsidiary says it has enough existing lab grown diamonds inventory to keep it going for the time being.

Lightbox has just launched new campaigns for its lab grown diamonds – despite its announcement in June that it was halting production.

The wholly-owned De Beers-owned subsidiary says it has enough existing inventory to keep it going for the time being.

The production facility in Portland, Oregon, USA, is now being used to manufacture industrial diamonds by Element Six, also owned by De Beers.

“Lightbox has sufficient existing inventory from Element Six to meet the brand’s needs for the foreseeable future,” a company spokesperson told IDEX Online.

“At JCK (in June), we communicated that Element Six (our synthetic diamond industrial business which had also been producing LGDs for Lightbox) would suspend production of LGDs for jewellery to focus on high-tech industrial applications.

“However, Lightbox as a brand is continuing as it plays an important role in supporting the differentiation between LGDs and natural diamonds as LGD prices continue to decline and they are increasingly used in fashion jewellery.

“The latest Lightbox campaigns, referenced in the email below, reinforce this as they focus on foregrounding the message of Lightbox’s recently lowered per carat pricing and its fashion-forward approach to product design.

Lightbox says its new Fall campaigns – Shine Bright Spend Less and Modern Family – reflect the brand’s focus on fashion jewelry and accessible pricing.

Melissa Crivillaro, Lightbox’s chief marketing officer, said: “Our accessible prices, our fun and colorful innovations, and our fashion-focused lab-grown diamond jewelry collections underpin Lightbox’s broad appeal.

“As we lean into our next chapter with a revived identity, new creative campaigns and bold price messaging, we look to connect more deeply with our customers.”

Source: Idex

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