Lucy's Diamond Insights
Deep market analysis, price trends, and diamond buying intelligence from Lucy, our resident diamond market analyst.
Subscribe via RSSCushion Cuts Are in Freefall and Nobody's Talking About It
Natural diamonds dropped nearly 8% this week while cushion cuts declined across every carat range we track. Cross-retailer spreads on lab-grown pears hit 107%, and marquise diamonds are 85% cheaper in lab-grown than natural. The value pockets are wide open.
Natural diamonds dropped 8% this week and the bargains are getting ridiculous
Natural diamond prices fell 8.4% this week while lab-grown ticked up 1.5%. Supply surges, massive cross-retailer spreads, and a widening gap between the two markets mean buyers who compare are saving thousands.
GIA vs IGI for Lab-Grown Diamonds as the Price Gap Closes in 2026
IGI grades over 90% of lab-grown diamonds in our index. GIA has been pushing into lab-grown grading, but the price premium for a GIA lab-grown diamond cert has been shrinking all year. We break down exactly where the gap stands and which buyers should care.
Lab-Grown Princess Cuts Just Spiked 45% and You Should Probably Ignore It
Lab-grown princess cuts in the 1.50 to 1.99 carat range posted a 44.75% price spike this week. But they're still down 24% over 30 days, and the cross-retailer spread of 108% means most buyers are dramatically overpaying.
Natural Diamonds Fell 6% While Lab-Grown Supply Surged 850%
Natural diamonds dropped nearly 6% in seven days while lab-grown round supply surged over 850% in popular categories. Cross-retailer price spreads are sitting above 100% for some shapes. We show exactly where the value is and which listings won't last.
GIA vs IGI Diamond Certification in 2026
IGI certifies 66.8% of all diamonds in the Carat Hunter index, with GIA at 26.8%. We explain when each lab is the right choice, how our Caratlytics Score treats them differently, and why the answer depends entirely on what you're buying.
Naturals Dropped 5% This Week. Lab-Grown Gained.
Natural diamonds dropped 5.3% this week while lab-grown gained 2.8%, pushing the gap wider across every shape. I clarity naturals collapsed across rounds, pears, and cushions, while lab-grown round supply surged 847%. Cross-retailer savings on lab-grown rounds hit 65.8%, making comparison shopping essential.
How We Match Diamonds When Certificate Numbers Are Missing
Certificate numbers make diamond matching trivial. But when retailers strip them, mistype them, or sell uncertified stones, we fall back on a thirteen field gemological fingerprint that identifies the same physical diamond across sites. More than half the stones in our 9.8 million diamond index appear at multiple retailers.
Natural Diamonds Just Had Their Worst Week in Months
Natural diamond prices dropped 5.8% in seven days while lab-grown climbed 2.6%. The biggest natural price drops, widest retailer spreads, and a handful of lab-grown blue pears priced 40% below median make this one of the more interesting weeks for diamond buyers in 2026.
Why Lab-Grown Pear Prices Make No Sense Right Now
Lab-grown pear shapes carry the widest cross-retailer price spread of any diamond category at 113.8%. With volatile subcategories spiking 72% in a week and stones listed below $200, pears reward comparison shopping more than any other shape.
Natural Diamonds Slid Again and Nobody Seemed to Notice
Natural diamond prices fell 5.6% this week across 8.4 million listings while lab-grown climbed 5%. Lab-grown round supply surged up to 826% and cross-retailer spreads on rounds exceeded 240%. Two markets moving in opposite directions, with the gap between them wider than ever.
1.6 Million Matched Diamonds and the Cross-Retailer Price Gap
More than half of all certified diamonds online are listed by multiple retailers at different prices. We matched over five million stones across 110+ retailers and measured the gaps. The spreads are bigger than most buyers expect, especially on lab-grown.