The wholesale price list for lab-grown diamonds
What lab-grown diamonds (LGD) actually trade for between businesses. Built from wholesale transactions, not asking prices, and published every quarter since 2018 by diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan. Quietly relied on by some of the largest retailers, traders and manufacturers in the trade.
| Size | Color | VVS | VS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ct | D | 87 | 82 |
| E–F | 85 | 81 | |
| G–H | 79 | 76 | |
| 1.50 ct | D | 96 | 88 |
| E–F | 82 | 80 | |
| G–H | 73 | 73 | |
| 2 ct | D | 120 | 91 |
| E–F | 82 | 79 | |
| G–H | 76 | 75 | |
| 3 ct | D | 142 | 129 |
| E–F | 84 | 82 | |
| G–H | 79 | 78 |
Was the bottom reached? LGD wholesale prices rise in Q3 2026
Lab-grown diamond wholesale prices rose across most categories in the third quarter, the clearest sign yet that the market may be nearing a floor. The gains are selective, and prices are still well below a year ago.
- +2%
Round prices, quarter on quarter1 to 3 ct rounds, Q3 vs Q2 2026
- +7.5%
3 ct rounds, quarter on quarterThe strongest gain; 2 ct rose 2.3% and 1 ct 1.3%, while 1.50 ct slipped 3%
- +7.5%
Fancy and square shapes, quarter on quarterFancy shapes are still 9.5% below a year ago; squares are slightly higher
- −9%
Round prices, year on year2 ct rounds are still 20% below Q3 2025
- +25%
US unit sales of LGD jewelry in SeptemberUp nearly 23% year to date, while growers held prices or raised them
Lab-grown diamond prices over time
Average wholesale price per carat for round lab-grown diamonds (LGD), from the first edition in Q3 2018. Prices fell steeply as production scaled up, and the index is now 93% below its July 2018 level. The pace of decline slowed through 2025 and early 2026, and in Q3 2026 round prices rose 2% from the previous quarter, though the index is still 15% lower than a year earlier.
Lab diamond transaction prices, not asking prices
Online retail trackers record what lab diamonds are listed for. This list records what certified lab-grown diamonds sold for in the wholesale market in India, where most of the world's lab-grown polished is traded.
- Shapes
- Round, fancy and square
- Sizes
- 1 ct · 1.50 ct · 2 ct · 3 ct
- Color
- D to H
- Clarity
- VVS and VS
- Grading
- IGI-certified, well-made stones
- Unit
- US dollars per carat
- Source
- Wholesale transactions in India, small-volume purchases
- Frequency
- Quarterly, since mid-2018
- Author
- Edahn Golan, diamond industry analyst
How the list has changed
- 2018
Launched with round lab-grown diamonds from 0.23 to 2 ct, priced from fresh goods sold by manufacturers in parcels.
- Q2 2024
Sizes below 1 ct dropped and 3 ct added, following where trade volume moved.
- Q1 2026
Switched to certified stones bought in small transactions, the way most retailers and traders now buy. Clarity narrowed to VS and VVS.
A shared reference for every side of a deal
Buyers and sellers use the same numbers to check whether a quote is in line with the market.
Retailers
Check what you pay suppliers against the wholesale market, and plan pricing as stones get cheaper.
Traders
Benchmark offers and inventory value in a market where prices move every quarter.
Manufacturers
Follow how each size and quality is priced, and where margins are shrinking or holding.
Analysts and press
Cite an independent, consistent series that runs back to 2018.
In Q2 2025, US retailers paid an average of $191 per carat for a round, 1 ct, IGI-certified lab-grown diamond. That was about twice the wholesale trading price for the same stone.
Past LGD price lists and analysis
Download past price lists, or read the analysis that comes with each edition on edahngolan.com.
Editions from 2018 to Q3 2024 and full historical price series are available on request. Ask for historical data or browse all price list articles.
About the LGD price list
Short answers. For custom cuts of the data, contact Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data.
What is the LGD Wholesale Price List?
A quarterly list of wholesale transaction prices for certified lab-grown diamonds, compiled by diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan since 2018. It shows what stones actually trade for between businesses, not what they are listed for.
Are lab diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and LGD the same thing?
Yes. Lab diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, lab-created diamonds and LGD all describe diamonds grown in a factory rather than mined. They are chemically and physically diamond. Most are grown by CVD (chemical vapor deposition), mainly in India, or HPHT (high pressure, high temperature), mainly in China. The LGD Wholesale Price List covers IGI-certified round, fancy and square lab diamonds from both methods.
How much do lab-grown diamonds cost at wholesale?
Lab diamonds cost far less at wholesale than most people expect, and less every year. The index is down 93% since tracking began in July 2018. In Q3 2026, a 1 ct, D color, VVS round traded at about $87 per carat, and a 3 ct, D color, VVS round at about $142 per carat. Prices for every size, color and clarity are in the table at the top of this page and in the latest list.
Where does the data come from?
From wholesale transactions in India, the main trading hub for lab-grown polished. Since Q1 2026, the list reports IGI-certified stones bought in small transactions, which reflects how most retailers and traders buy today.
How is this different from online lab diamond price charts?
Price charts built from retailer websites track asking prices to consumers. This list tracks the wholesale market one step earlier in the pipeline. The gap is large: in Q2 2025, US retailers paid about twice the wholesale trading price for a 1 ct round.
Why do lab-grown diamond prices keep falling?
Production capacity grew much faster than demand, mainly in India (CVD) and China (HPHT), and production costs kept dropping. Demand has held up, but supply has grown faster. The quarterly analyses explain each move.
Is the price list free, and how often is it updated?
Yes. The current edition is a free PDF download, hosted on edahngolan.com and updated every quarter. Subscribers receive each new edition by email when it is released.
Can I get historical prices or custom data?
Yes. Historical series, other sizes and custom analysis are available through Edahn Golan's lab-grown diamond data services.
Get each edition the day it's released
Four emails a year, one per quarter, with the new price list and a short summary of what moved. Occasional research notes on lab-grown diamonds. No sales pitches.
- The new price list as soon as it's published
- Key changes by size, color and clarity at a glance
- A link to the full analysis on edahngolan.com
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The next edition will reach you when it's published. In the meantime, the Q3 2026 list is on edahngolan.com.