Diamond Prices 2022 – 2025: The Truth About Investment and Why Lab-Grown is the Smart Choice

Between 2022 and 2025, the diamond market has shifted dramatically. Prices once promoted as stable and a “safe investment” have dropped significantly. This is especially true for round white diamonds up to 2 carats, which have lost value both on international exchanges and on the secondary market.

What Happened to Prices?

• 2022: Post-pandemic demand drove prices up.
• 2023: Oversupply and the rise of lab-grown diamonds pressured mined stone prices.
• 2024: The decline deepened. According to The Guardian and Rapaport, round white diamonds fell over 20–30%.
• 2025: The market remains under pressure, with even rare colored diamonds or 5+ carat stones showing no strong recovery.

Why Round White Diamonds up to 2 Carats Are Not Investments

Despite being marketed as such, these diamonds typically resell for only about 20% of their original retail price. True “investment-grade” stones are extremely rare (fancy colors like pink or blue, or flawless stones above 5 carats). Even then, since 2022, they have not yielded meaningful profits.

Lab-Grown Diamonds: The Rational Alternative

While mined diamonds continue to drop in value, lab-grown diamonds are becoming the choice of a new generation. They are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, certified by the same international institutes (GIA, IGI, HRD), and offer the same brilliance.

The difference lies in price: the very same 1-carat stone can cost around €1,100–€1,200 as lab-grown, instead of €5,500–€7,500 as mined. That’s up to five times more affordable without any compromise in quality.

Emotion, Not Illusion

An engagement ring has never been a financial instrument – it is a symbol of love, commitment, and new beginnings. When sellers market “investment” diamonds, they are often selling an illusion. The truth is simple: if you want a gift that is beautiful, symbolic, and reasonable – a lab-grown diamond is the modern buyer’s choice.

Conclusion

From 2022 to 2025, the lesson is clear: traditional diamonds do not deliver the promised investment value. If you want the same brilliance, certification, and prestige – but without unrealistic expectations or inflated risks – choose a lab-grown diamond. It is the smart, accessible, and ethical alternative.

Legal notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Data is based on public sources and may vary. Always consult an independent expert before making any investment decision.