Market update Β· 2026
Are Lab Diamond Prices Still Falling? It Depends on the Carat
For five years the answer was simply yes. In 2026 the market split: big stones kept getting cheaper while the one-carat round stopped falling. Here is what that means for the size you choose.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat Β· Updated 10 October 2026
Short answer
Overall, yes, but not evenly. Wholesale lab grown prices fell about 13% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, while one-carat rounds rose about 1%, the first time that size has firmed since lab grown went mainstream. Larger stones are still getting cheaper. The steep fall of 2020 to 2024 is over; what remains is a slow drift that depends on size and shape.
Between 2020 and 2024 a lab grown diamond lost most of its price, because factories added capacity far faster than buyers appeared. That story is now mostly told. The interesting part of 2026 is that different sizes are moving in different directions, and that changes which stone is the smart buy.
Why one carat stopped falling
The one-carat round is the most requested lab grown stone in the world. Demand for it is steady, and growers have shifted capacity toward bigger, more profitable stones. With demand holding and new supply moving elsewhere, the price at one carat levelled out. Retail benchmarks in 2026 put a well-cut one-carat round lab grown diamond at roughly $700 to $1,500 depending on colour, clarity and the seller.
Why two carats and up kept falling
Above two carats the picture is the reverse. More growers can now produce large rough reliably, so supply in that range keeps expanding. Price comparison sites tracking thousands of listings show how wide the spread has become: in August 2026, 2.6-carat lab grown stones were listed anywhere from a few hundred dollars to nearly $15,000, with a median around $1,700. Identical certified stones often differ by hundreds of dollars between retailers.
| Size band | 2026 direction | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Under 0.90 ct | Flat to slightly lower | The stone is a small share of the ringβs cost; spend on the setting |
| 0.90β0.99 ct | Lower than 1.00 ct | Looks the same on the hand, avoids the one-carat demand premium |
| 1.00 ct round | Firmed (about +1% in Q2) | Not getting cheaper by waiting |
| 1.5β3 ct | Still falling | The best value per carat in the market |
| Above 3 ct | Falling, widest price spread | Compare report numbers, not headline prices |
Directions reflect published 2026 trade data; individual stones vary with cut, colour, clarity and the laboratory that graded them.
Should you wait for prices to fall further?
For a one-carat round, waiting no longer pays. For larger stones, prices may keep drifting down, but slowly, and the saving from waiting a few months is usually smaller than the difference between two sellers today. If you have a date in mind, the date matters more than the market.
Where the money actually goes now
When a stone cost several thousand dollars, the setting was the minor part of an engagement ring. Now that a large lab grown stone can cost less than a well-made solid gold band, the balance has flipped. Two rings with the same stone can differ widely in price because of how much gold is in them and how thick the band is at its base.
From the workshop
On our bench in Surat, the question we now get asked most is not βhow big can I go?β but βwhy does this ring cost more than that one with the same stone?β. The answer is almost always the metal: gram weight, karat and shank thickness. With lab grown stones this cheap, a thin, light band is where a low price is really coming from, and it is the part of the ring you cannot upgrade later. Ask any seller for the finished gram weight before comparing prices.
How to compare two prices fairly
- Match the report: same laboratory, same colour and clarity, same cut grade or measurements.
- Match the measurements in millimetres, not just the carat weight. A deep stone hides weight below the surface.
- Ask for the gram weight and karat of the metal.
- Ask what is included: certificate, sizing, shipping, insurance in transit.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Are lab grown diamond prices still dropping in 2026?
Overall yes, but slowly and unevenly. Wholesale prices fell about 13% year on year in Q2 2026, but one-carat rounds firmed slightly. Larger stones are still falling.
How much is a 1 carat lab grown diamond in 2026?
A well-cut, certified one-carat round typically sells for roughly $700 to $1,500 at retail in 2026, depending on colour, clarity and the seller. Legacy retailers can charge noticeably more for the same specification.
Is it better to buy a 0.90 carat instead of a 1 carat?
Often, yes. The face-up difference between 0.90 and 1.00 carat is hard to see on the hand, and stones just under a round number avoid the demand premium that one carat carries.
Should I wait for lab grown prices to fall before buying?
For one carat, no; prices have levelled. For larger stones prices may drift lower, but the saving from waiting is usually smaller than the difference between two sellers today.
See the stone and the metal, priced together
IGI certified lab grown diamonds in solid 10K, 14K and 18K gold or 925 silver, made to order in Surat.
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