*Results exclude jewelers who don’t sell LGDs.
COMMENT: Jewelers report that customer blowback over falling lab-grown diamond prices has been limited but not nonexistent. A few noted angry calls when clients discovered friends buying the same size stone for thousands less just a few years later, or disappointment when appraisals showed steep declines. However, most respondents emphasized that they preempt such reactions with upfront education, explaining that lab-grown diamonds have no resale or trade-in value, prices will likely keep dropping, and they should be viewed like technology that quickly depreciates. Retailers who sell with transparency and conservative margins say customers generally accept the reality, while those who bought labs elsewhere at inflated prices are the ones most often upset. Overall, jewelers stress that consistent disclosure, honest pricing, and managing expectations have prevented widespread backlash, though many anticipate more difficult conversations as time goes on.
Note: Lab-grown diamonds have come a long way in a short time, with one in two jewelers now saying LGDs now account for at least 50% of their center stone sales. That is up from about a third who disclosed such a high level two years ago.
COMMENT: From just 10% a decade ago, nearly all jewelers now o er their customers a way of purchasing LGD jewelry. Note that of the jewelers who do sell LGD in 2025, about one in four, or 27%, only do so at customer request. The holdouts who answered “No” don’t stock them and won’t order them in.
Many jewelers feel conflicted or even resentful about selling lab-grown diamonds, saying they “ruin the magic” of natural diamonds, erode value, and lead to uncomfortable customer situations when resale prices collapse. Others take a pragmatic stance, emphasizing transparency, education, and customer choice: They sell lab-grown if asked, but warn about long-term value and discourage illusions of investment. A number of respondents view labs as a “necessary evil” to stay competitive, while some report strong sales in categories like tennis necklaces or engagement rings, praising the affordability and higher margins.
