Lucy's Diamond Insights
Deep market analysis, price trends, and diamond buying intelligence from Lucy, our resident diamond market analyst.
Subscribe via RSSWhy Your James Allen Diamond Is Probably Also at Three Other Stores
44.2% of the certified diamonds in our index appear at two or more retailers simultaneously. We used James Allen as a worked example to show what shared inventory means for the most searched online diamond store and how cross-retailer matching can surface the same stone at a lower price.
Same Diamond, Different Prices
Nearly half the certified diamonds sold online appear at two or more retailers simultaneously. We fingerprint 11.4 million unique stones across 110+ stores to show you the real price spread on the exact diamond you're considering.
Natural Diamonds Dropped 9% and Lab-Grown Didn't Follow
Natural diamond prices fell 9% this week while lab-grown edged up 1.3%. Lab-grown round supply surged 753%, natural pear prices above 2ct dropped nearly 50%, and cross-retailer spreads on lab-grown pears topped 100%.
Fancy Cut Pricing Reality for Pear, Marquise, Heart, Cushion, and Radiant
Cushion lab-grown diamonds trade at an 83.5% discount to natural. Marquise sit at just 78.3%. Five fancy shapes, five entirely different pricing stories for buyers willing to look past the round brilliant.
Lab-Grown Ovals Just Doubled in Price and Most Buyers Haven't Noticed
Lab-grown oval diamonds in the 1.00 to 1.24 carat range at J to K colour and I clarity have more than doubled in price over thirty days, hitting a median of $2,922. Supply surged 127.8% in the same period. That tension can't last, and buyers who chase this spike are going to regret it.
Natural Diamonds Just Got a Lot Cheaper This Week
Natural diamond prices dropped 6.4% this week while lab-grown ticked up 5.6%. Some categories fell over 40%, comparison shopping saves up to 61% on lab-grown rounds, and a handful of exceptional listings are priced well below market. This week's data favours buyers willing to act.
Natural Falls 6% While Lab-Grown Stages a Rebound
Natural diamonds fell 6.4% this week while lab-grown climbed 5.6%, a combined 12 point divergence across nearly 22 million listings. Natural pears and cushions saw the steepest declines, but supply surges in popular categories could push prices lower still.
Why Lab-Grown Wins Bigger on Emerald and Asscher Step Cuts
Natural step cuts carry the steepest clarity premiums in the diamond market, and lab-grown erases them. Emerald cuts now sit 81.0% below natural per carat; asscher sits at 81.7%. The real savings compound deepest in the clarity grades these cuts actually demand.
Lab-Grown Ovals Just Doubled in Price and You Should Be Suspicious
Lab-grown oval prices in the 1 to 1.25 carat range spiked over 84% in seven days, driven by supply composition shifts rather than genuine demand. The smarter play is stepping up in quality or waiting for the correction.
Natural Diamonds Are Down 6% and Some Categories Just Lost Half Their Value
Natural diamonds fell 6.4% this week, but five categories dropped 40% to 82%. Lab-grown prices bounced in select segments, cross-retailer spreads hit 65% on rounds, and we found five stones sitting well below market.
Oval Is the Shape With the Widest Lab vs Natural Gap
Natural ovals carry a median price of $2,346 per carat. Lab-grown ovals sit at $394. That 83.2% gap makes oval one of the widest lab vs natural spreads across any diamond shape, and it exists in the most popular fancy cut on the market.
Natural Diamonds Dropped 6% This Week and Lab-Grown Didn't Follow
Natural diamonds fell 6.4% across 6,077 categories while lab-grown climbed 5.6%. Supply is flooding in for popular engagement ring sizes, cross-retailer spreads remain wide, and several categories cratered by 40% or more.