DiamondBuzz
LGDs dominate engagement ring segment, 239% increase since 2020: The Knot
Price stability may unlock deferred demand, while investment demand persists and wedding-related purchases support jewellery sales.
The traditional diamond industry just got a serious wake-up call. According to the latest data from The Knot, 2025 marked the official “takeover” of lab-grown diamonds in the engagement ring market. Couples are ditching the natural pipeline in favor of LGD stones that offer more sparkle for fewer dollars.
Here is the breakdown of how the engagement ring landscape shifted over the last year.
The Lab-Grown Revolution
The numbers don’t lie: synthetic stones are no longer a “budget alternative”—they are the primary choice.

- Market Dominance: 61% of couples chose a lab-grown center stone in 2025.
- The Growth Factor: That’s a staggering 239% increase since 2020.
- The “Why”: It’s a mix of economic pragmatism and evolving values. In fact, 40% of buyers specifically sought out lab-grown stones for ethical or personal reasons.
Spending vs. Size: The Great Trade-Off
While couples are spending less on average, they are walking away with much bigger rocks.
| Feature | Lab-Grown (Avg) | Natural Diamond (Avg) |
| Average Cost | $4,300 | $7,000 |
| Carat Size | 2.0 cts | 1.6 cts |
| Top Shape | Oval | Round |
Bottom Line: The average total spend on rings dropped from $5,200 in 2024 to $4,600 in 2025, yet the average stone size grew from 1.7 to 1.9 carats. Essentially, couples are getting “more for less.”
Style Trends: Yellow Gold is Back
It’s not just about the stone; the “look” of the ring is evolving too.
- Metal Magic: Yellow gold is the undisputed champion at 39% demand (a 140% jump over five years), while white gold continues to lose its luster.
- The Silhouette: Solitaire settings remain the top pick (38%), emphasizing the “big stone” aesthetic.
- Shape Shifters: While Round is still the #1 shape overall (26%), Ovals are hot on its heels at 25%. Emerald, princess, pear, and marquise shapes follow behind at 8% each.
- The Personal Touch: 90% of couples opted for custom designs or edits—the “cookie-cutter” ring is officially out.
The Shopping Experience: High-Tech Stones, Old-School Service
Despite the rise of lab-grown tech, couples still want a “main street” experience.
- In-Person Preference: Over 50% of couples say shopping in person is a must.
- The Hunt: On average, proposers visit two retailers and look at 10 different rings before pulling the trigger.

- Final Click vs. Handshake: 64% of purchases were made in-store, with only one-third of couples buying online.
DiamondBuzz
De Beers Presents “Voyage Through the Diamond Realm” at India Art Fair 2026 Featuring Lakshmi Madhavan
Immersive Installation Blends Natural-Coloured Diamonds with Lakshmi Madhavan’s Kasavu Art at India Art Fair 2026
De Beers unveiled “Voyage Through the Diamond Realm,” at India Art Fair 2026. The immersive installation invites audiences to explore the mythical origins of diamonds. Through visual storytelling, scenography and soundscapes, the installation reveals the living heritage of diamonds, their cosmic and earthly journeys across time.
Positioned at the intersection of art, nature and human expression, the experience acknowledges diamonds beyond adornment — recognizing them as treasured masterpieces shaped by billions of years of time, pressure, and transformation. The multi-sensory narrative, drew parallels between geological creation and artistic practice, revealing how nature, much like art, produces enduring expressions of beauty, rarity, and emotion.

Speaking on the installation and its India debut, Shweta Harit, Global Senior Vice President, De Beers Group, said, “Natural diamonds are among nature’s most extraordinary artworks, formed over billions of years, each one entirely unique. Presenting Voyage Through the Diamond Realm at India Art Fair feels fitting, diamonds are cultural artefacts, that inspire artistic dialogue which feels deeply relevant to India.
Our collaboration with artist Lakshmi Madhavan brings together two worlds of creation, one born deep within the earth, the other shaped by generations of human hands, while our association with India Art Fair reinforces our belief that art is a powerful lens through which material, heritage and meaning can be reimagined.”
Following its debut at Frieze Masters, London in 2025, the India edition underscored De Beers’ continued commitment to the country and deepened the narrative through a collaboration with contemporary artist Lakshmi Madhavan. Her installation featuring Kasavu, Kerala’s traditional gold-bordered handwoven textile, emerged as a compelling focal point.
Developed in collaboration with the Balaramapuram weaving community, the Kasavu installation served as a human counterpoint to the diamond. Together, diamonds and Kasavu revealed shared themes of time, continuity, craftsmanship and transformation.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Lakshmi Madhavan said, “I am truly excited to be part of this collaboration, which allowed me to work with a material that holds as much history, heritage, and cultural meaning as my core material — the Kasavu textile. Adornment emerged for me as one of the earliest human impulses, where materials gain meaning only in relation to the body.

Created in collaboration with the Balaramapuram Kasavu weaving community, the installation positions Kasavu as a human analogue to the diamond. Both materials carry histories of time and transformation and are activated through wear, touch and lived ritual.”
A unique highlight of the installation was the presentation of four exceptional natural-coloured diamonds — Pink, Orange, Light Blue and the rare Chameleon diamond, known for its remarkable ability to temporarily change colour to yellow when gently heated, before returning to its original hue. Displayed as individual expressions of geological artistry, the gems embodied the extraordinary diversity and rarity found in nature.
Adding to this showcase was a five-carat exceptional Forevermark diamond, accompanied by a ring design created by the Milan-based design team, offering interested collectors the opportunity to translate nature’s artwork into a contemporary piece of fine jewellery.
Presented in partnership with India Art Fair, the exhibition reinforced the role of collaborative platforms in expanding cultural dialogue and artistic awareness in India.
The opening reception drew a distinguished gathering from across film, art, design and culture. Among those in attendance were actor Khushi Kapoor, producer and fashion entrepreneur Rhea Kapoor, artist Ravi Vazirani, Yashwant Holkar, Lavina Baldota, designer Tahir Sultan, architect Khsuhnu Hoof among others.
Extending its engagement with India’s art ecosystem, De Beers also hosted an evening in collaboration with India Art Fair’s Young Collectors Programme.The event brought together emerging collectors, creative professionals and young cultural voices for an intimate experience of Voyage Through the Inner Realm, fostering dialogue around art, materiality and strengthening the foundations of India’s contemporary art landscape.
Through its presence at India Art Fair 2026, De Beers’ reaffirmed its commitment to cultural dialogue, craftsmanship and responsible luxury, positioning natural diamonds within a broader narrative where nature itself is the ultimate artist.
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