For the first time, more than half of couples (52%) said their engagement ring featured a lab-grown diamond in 2024. This marks one of the most significant shifts the jewelry industry has seen in decades.
And you can feel this change everywhere. Customers are coming in specifically asking for lab-grown options, competitors are expanding their inventory, and the latest industry reports are confirming what’s happening on the sales floor.
At this point, the question is not whether to offer lab-grown diamonds. It’s how quickly you can stock and position them before customers simply move toward competitors who already have.
Lab-grown diamonds represent one of the biggest growth and profit opportunities the jewelry industry has seen in years, and understanding how to present them properly is now essential for staying competitive.
What Makes Lab-Grown Diamonds So Popular?
The rising popularity of lab-grown diamonds is winning over consumers for reasons that go far beyond just saving money. Let's explore what's driving this remarkable shift in the diamond industry.
Reason 1# Premium Quality Diamonds At Better Price
One of the strongest reasons lab-grown diamonds have become a leading choice in the engagement ring market. On average, couples purchasing lab-grown engagement rings spend less overall than those choosing mined diamond rings, but they often use the lower per-carat price to upgrade the size and quality of the center stone.
This upgrade experience is one of the biggest drivers behind why lab-grown diamonds are so widely preferred today.
Read more: Why Are Diamonds So Expensive?
Reason #2: Ethical and Sustainable by Design
Customers in 2025 care deeply about where their diamonds come from. Lab-grown diamonds greatly reduce many of the concerns associated with mining, including large-scale land disruption and excavation, and they avoid direct links to conflict-affected mining regions.
They are grown in controlled laboratory environments, making them a natural fit for shoppers who want diamonds without the environmental footprint. As sustainability continues to influence modern buying decisions, this advantage is only getting stronger.
Reason #3: High Quality and Stunning Appearance
Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled conditions that minimize imperfections, resulting in cleaner clarity, higher color grades, and overall more consistent quality. Lab-grown diamonds are widely available in desirable color and clarity ranges, including high grades that would cost significantly more in a comparable natural diamond.
Even trained professionals need specialized instruments to tell them apart because lab-grown diamonds share the same chemical and optical properties as mined diamonds. To the eye, they deliver the same brilliance, radiance, and durability customers expect from a luxury diamond.
Reason #4: Strong Retail Margins With Faster Inventory Movement
From a retailer’s point of view, lab-grown diamonds are gaining popularity because they make a strong financial sense. A 1-carat lab-grown diamond typically costs a fraction of the price of a similar natural diamond, while offering a comparable look and the same crystal structure. This allows you to maintain healthy margins while still giving buyers a price they feel confident about.
Many retailers report strong demand and steady sell-through for lab-grown diamonds at comparable price points to natural stones. Customers can get the size and quality they want without stretching their budget, so the decision-making process is quicker.
Faster sales mean better cash flow, less money tied up in inventory, and lower overall risk. This steady movement is one of the major reasons retailers are expanding their lab-grown collections in 2025.
Learn more about Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds
Who is Buying Lab-Grown Diamonds?
The strongest demand for lab-grown diamonds is coming from Millennials (roughly late 20s to early 40s) and Gen Z adults in their late teens and 20s, who are driving today’s fine-jewelry market.
Millennials are currently the largest segment of engagement ring buyers. These shoppers typically arrive with well-researched pricing and certification standards online. They know the value of a lab-grown diamond. What they want from a retailer is better selection, clear information, and strong value.
Gen Z shows an even stronger preference. For them, lab-grown diamonds are not an alternative, but the default choice. Their buying behavior is shaped heavily by social media, online reviews, and influencer content. They expect a seamless digital experience, transparent product details, and the ability to evaluate options online before ever stepping into a store.
In simple terms, the next decade of diamond buyers is already leaning decisively toward lab-grown. So those who understand these shoppers and adapt to their expectations. They are the ones who will capture the market.
Why This Generation Is Choosing Lab-Grown Diamonds?
You already know who’s buying lab-grown diamonds. Now here is what’s actually driving their decision-making.
1. Sustainability matters to them.
Modern buyers want options that don’t harm the planet. Lab-grown diamonds avoid the land damage and heavy resource use associated with mining, which makes them an easy choice for anyone who prioritizes a lighter environmental footprint.
2. They trust transparency.
Younger shoppers want to know exactly where their diamond comes from. Lab-grown diamonds offer a clearer, more traceable origin and reduce many of the supply-chain and ethical concerns associated with mined diamonds, which builds confidence from the start.
3. They care about real value.
This generation doesn’t equate a higher price with higher luxury. They want quality, size, and beauty without overspending. Lab-grown diamonds allow customers can choose a noticeably larger or higher-quality stone within the same budget.
4. They want customization and availability.
Lab-grown production makes it easier to find the exact shape, size, or color they want, without long wait times or limited supply.
5. Social proof influences their decisions.
Seeing countless couples share their lab-grown diamonds on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube has made the choice feel modern, normal, and smart, not alternative.
Now that you understand why they are choosing them, let’s look at how to actually buy a lab-grown diamond with confidence.
Choose Your Perfect Lab-Grown Diamonds
When you are ready to make your purchase, you need a seller who understands that buying a lab-grown diamond is a significant decision, not just another online transaction.
Every diamond at Solitaire Lab Diamond is fully certified by respected gemological labs, so you know the exact quality and characteristics of the stone you are choosing.
Because lab-grown diamonds offer exceptional value, you will find prices that make sense for your budget while still giving you beautiful, high-quality options. Whether you are looking for something classic and minimal or a bold multi-carat piece, they have a range of shapes and sizes that fit your style without forcing you to compromise.
Ethical sourcing is built into every part of the process. No mining, significantly less land disruption than traditional diamond extraction, and far more certainty about where your diamond came from. It’s a choice you can feel good about, both for its beauty and its impact.
You also get access to a wide selection and customization options, so you can pick exactly the shape, size, and setting you want. If you have a specific look in mind, you can get it created.
And because buying fine jewelry online should feel safe, Solitaire Lab Diamond backs your purchase with secure shipping and flexible return policies. The goal is to make sure you truly love the diamond you choose.
If you are ready to explore lab-grown diamonds, start by seeing what fits your budget. You may be surprised at how much quality and beauty you can bring home.