DiamondBuzz
NDC’s LGD Report highlights price declines, soaring retailer margins, concerns over sustainability claims
The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) has released a comprehensive report titled ‘Laboratory-Grown Diamond Facts’ shedding light on the current state of the laboratory-grown diamond (LGD) market, highlighting dramatic price declines, soaring retailer margins, and concerns over sustainability claims.
The report draws on data from leading industry analysts Edahn Golan and Paul Zimnisky and aims to equip consumers, retailers, and the media with transparent, fact-based insights to navigate a complex and fast-evolving category.
The report notes that the average price of a 1.5-carat LGD has plummeted 86%, from $10,750 in 2015 to $1,455 in 2025. Wholesale prices for 1ct VS1 F-G-H colour LGDs have fallen 95% since 2018, while retail prices have dropped 76%. Average retail margins have jumped from 85% in 2018 to over 500% today.
“Laboratory-grown diamonds are mass-produced in limitless quantities, but their sustainability claims often lack scrutiny,” said Natural Diamond Council’s CEO, David Kellie. “Our goal is to give consumers and other stakeholders a balanced picture that will inform more nuanced conversations and help consumers confidently make informed decisions.”
The report comes at a time when LGDs are increasingly positioned as eco-friendly alternatives to natural diamonds. However, the NDC cautions that such claims can be misleading, especially given the high energy and fossil-fuel dependence of many production facilities.
Adding to the growing distinction between natural and lab-grown diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently announced it will no longer use the 4Cs grading system for LGDs. Instead, the GIA will categorise LGDs broadly as “premium” or “standard”—or omit grading if quality is subpar—further underlining the need for clearer differentiation between the two products.
Kellie noted, “All too often, laboratory-grown diamonds are unfairly pitted against natural diamonds in comparisons that only leave consumers in the dark. Consumers deserve more. They need clear, honest information that will help them understand their choices. Without this clarity, the two different product categories natural and laboratory-grown diamonds will become obscured. This isn’t simply about pricing – it’s a wake-up call for greater clarity and integrity across all facets of the market.”
The NDC report also offers context on LGDs’ industrial origins, legal labelling requirements, and the role of certification bodies like GIA, IGI and GSI in ensuring proper disclosure
The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) plans to undo a decision it made back in 2010. It now wants all non-natural diamonds to be labelled only as “synthetic.”
This means the terms “laboratory-grown” and “laboratory-created” will be removed from CIBJO’s Diamond Blue Book (the global reference for diamond terminology and trade practices) and from related ISO Standards.
CIBJO also says the 4Cs grading system should apply only to natural diamonds, just as the GIA has recently decided.
Udi Sheintal, president of CIBJO’s Diamond Commission, explained that the earlier acceptance of “lab-grown” terminology was well-meaning but turned out to be a mistake.
He added that synthetic diamonds have often been marketed as more ethical, sustainable, and conflict-free—claims that, he argued, are usually not backed by evidence.
Udi Sheintal also stressed the need for clearer transparency. He said marketing should make it clear that synthetic diamonds are not grown in “laboratories,” but manufactured in industrial facilities using artificial processes.
-
National News2 weeks agoGST on gold, silver jewellery remains unchanged at 3%, with additional 5% on making charges
-
ShowBuzz6 hours agoShri Devendra Fadnavis unveils GJS – The Diwali Edition 2025 at JWCC, Mumbai
-
New Premises6 hours agoVasundhra Raj unveils showroom at Noida
-
DiamondBuzz8 hours agoAll non-natural diamonds to be labelled only as “synthetic: CIBJO
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.