Do Lab-Grown Diamonds Hold Their Value?

It's one of the most common concerns we hear from engagement ring shoppers: if I buy a lab-grown diamond, will it hold its value? It's a fair question — and we'd rather give you an honest answer than a reassuring one.

The Honest Answer

Lab-grown diamonds have experienced significant price decreases over the past several years, and natural diamonds haven't been immune either. As the technology for growing diamonds has improved and scaled, the production cost has dropped — and that's been reflected in retail prices.

So if your primary goal is investment and resale value, neither lab-grown nor natural diamonds are likely to be your best vehicle. The resale market for diamonds generally returns a fraction of retail price regardless of origin.

But Is That the Right Frame?

Most engagement ring buyers — when they're honest with themselves — aren't buying primarily as an investment. They're buying something meaningful to mark a milestone. Viewed through that lens, the "value" question looks different.

A lab-grown diamond lets you buy a larger, better-quality stone for the same budget as a smaller natural diamond. You might spend $5,000 on a 0.8ct natural diamond, or the same amount on a 1.5ct lab-grown with comparable colour and clarity. Which represents better "value"?

What Drives the Price Drop?

The cost of producing lab-grown diamonds has dropped substantially as the technology has matured. More producers entering the market has also increased supply and put downward pressure on prices. This isn't a bubble bursting — it's a new technology maturing, similar to solar panels or LED lighting.

The Emotional Value Argument

The value an engagement ring holds for the couple wearing it has nothing to do with resale markets. An IGI-certified lab-grown diamond in a solid 18K gold setting, made to your exact specifications, is a meaningful, beautiful, lasting object — regardless of what it might fetch second-hand a decade from now.

If you're looking for financial diversification, there are better places to put your money. If you're looking for something beautiful to wear every day that represents a commitment — a lab-grown diamond engagement ring is an excellent choice.

Every ring we make at Una Diamond is crafted to order in solid 18K gold or platinum, built to last a lifetime.

Further reading

• Lab-grown vs mined diamonds: full cost comparison
• Debunking myths about lab-grown diamonds
• Are lab-grown diamonds ethical?

Explore Una Diamond Engagement Rings

Every Una Diamond ring is handcrafted to order in solid 18K gold or platinum, set with an IGI-certified lab-grown diamond, and delivered in around six weeks:

• The Georgina — oval-cut solitaire
• The Celina — east-west emerald cut
• The Nova — toi et moi with pear and emerald
• Solitaire rings
• Oval cut rings
• 18K yellow gold rings
• Browse all ready-to-ship rings →