THE GEM ACADEMY REPORT
Spring 2023
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
PART 1: Volume & Size
Welcome.
Get ready for key insights into the laboratory-grown diamond industry. Discovered through the analysis of major wholesale platforms.
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Laboratory-grown diamonds in numbers
In this three-part report, we'll gain insight into the main aspects of laboratory-grown diamonds: volume, size, quality, shape, and price. These will be explored to get a clear overview of the laboratory-grown diamonds that have entered the wholesale market in Spring 2023.
These reports utilise multiple resources. We'll mainly focus on data obtained from one major online wholesaler and 300,000 stones.
This information is correct for 15/03/2023.
Here are the highlights for Spring 2023
for volume and size...
Volume & Size
The amount of laboratory-grown diamonds are predicted to dramatically rise over the next year.
Let's get an idea for how many are on the wholesale market at this time.
There are
329,450
Laboratory-grown diamonds on one major wholesale platform
Rounded to the nearest 10
The majority of laboratory-grown diamonds listed on wholesale platforms weigh over 1ct.
The amount of natural diamonds and laboratory-grown diamonds over 1ct are almost level.
272,970
263,150
Size ranges
The most common size range is 1.00 - 1.99ct*
*excluding melee
The most common size range for laboratory-grown diamonds is 1.00-1.99ct. This size range accounts for approximately 40% of laboratory-grown diamonds on the wholesale market (excluding melee).
The amount of laboratory-grown diamonds over 3ct have been increasing over recent months. Let's look at these a little closer...
Stones weighing 3ct +
There are 47,000 laboratory-grown diamonds weighing 3ct and over.
This is 3 x more than the amount of natural diamonds above 3ct.
It wasn't long ago when laboratory-grown diamonds weighing above 3ct were considered uncommon.
The following figures will give you further insight into the increasing numbers of large laboratory-grown diamonds entering the market...
Breakdown: 3ct +
These figures represent a minimum of what is in circulation. The amount of larger stones that weigh >3ct are increasing each month.
There are 1.9 x the amount of 3 - 3.99ct laboratory-grown diamonds on the market since September 2022.
There are 2.5 x the amount of 4 - 4.99ct stones.
Let's look at even larger sizes...
Figures rounded to the nearest 10
5ct - 8.99ct
There are more than triple the amount of laboratory-grown diamonds within the 5ct, 6ct, and 7ct weight categories compared with September 2022.
The amount of 8.00 - 8.99ct laboratory-grown diamonds has multiplied 8 x during this same time period.
9ct - 9.99ct
The amount of 9.00 - 9.99ct laboratory-grown diamonds available have almost doubled in the last month alone.
10ct+
10ct+
There were 586 laboratory-grown diamonds weighing over 10ct recorded on a different wholesale platform in mid-March 2023.
In 2015, there was only one laboratory-grown diamond above 10ct in existence.
The number of available laboratory-grown diamonds weighing above 10ct have increased 7 x since September 2022.
FUN FACT: Three weeks after these figures were recorded, the number of 10ct+ stones on this platform increased to 741.
10ct+ size ranges
There are many 10ct + laboratory-grown diamonds on wholesale platforms. These typically have very high quality.
20ct+
There are twenty laboratory-grown diamonds that weigh 20ct or more for sale in Spring of 2023.
All of these were produced through CVD synthesis.
FUN FACT: This time last year (April 2022), the biggest colourless laboratory-grown diamond reported was 16.41ct.
CVD v HPHT
It seems that CVD laboratory-grown diamonds are dominating the laboratory-grown diamond market.
Nearly 60% of all laboratory-grown diamonds are listed as being CVD-grown (0.30ct+).
Melee
It is widely reported that HPHT laboratory-grown diamonds make up the vast majority of melee goods (below 0.20ct).
Not included in statistics.
Below 1ct
HPHT and CVD production are responsible for near equal amounts below the 1ct weight range.
CVD v HPHT
above 2ct...
The percentage of laboratory-grown diamonds created through CVD synthesis is seen to increase as the sizes get larger.
Big stones - 10ct +
Of all the stones weighing 10ct and more - the vast majority are grown through CVD synthesis.
LARGEST SEEN IN SPRING '23
25.15ct
Made by Ethereal Green Diamonds
CURRENT RECORD BREAKING SIZE
30.18ct
Made by Ethereal Green Diamonds
LARGEST MATCHING PAIR
21ct each
Made by Greenlab Diamonds
I hope you enjoyed this report.
Come back for Part 2:
Quality & Shape
Releasing in May 2023
Contribute
by filling out a short survey:
Retailers/valuers/workshops/auction houses/second-hand retailers
THE GEM ACADEMY REPORT
Data taken 15/03/2023 unless otherwise stated.
Spring 2023
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
© Julia Griffith
All rights reserved. No part of this Report may be copied, reproduced, transferred, recorded or transmitted in any form, or by any means, to any audience, without the express written permission of Julia Griffith FGA DGA EG.
Brilliant work Julia (as always!) Thanks million for the updates. Can't wait to see what new record breaking synthetic diamonds will pop up next...
Thanks again Julia,
This research is fascinating and very insightful. I am impressed with the results, it must take hours of work? Thank you.
Very interesting, thanks Julia.
Really interesting with clear and concise presentation. A good read!
Big changes! Big sizes! So well presented too. A great insight. Thank you Julia.
Raji 💎🔍
Great info and layout, very clear and concise. A very useful summary and snapshot of the LGD market. Thanks!
Brilliant. Just brilliant. I look forward to what's coming!
Julia,
Thank you for this very interesting information.
Michael Inkpen
Thank you Julia,
Great presentation as always, very clear & precise and extremely useful.
Best wishes
Lee-Ona
This is fabulous and up to date information. I appreciate the effort to put together a report like this. This will be an eye opening report for many people!