Natural Diamond Council (NDC)—a global not-for-profit dedicated to promoting the integrity and appeal of natural diamonds, delivers facts through its reports- the Laboratory-Grown Diamond Facts and the Fancy Colour Diamonds, to empower retailers and educate consumers with fact-based perspectives.

Amid growing consumer confusion and greenwashed claims, these reports offer much-needed clarity. The Laboratory-Grown Diamond Facts Report cuts through misleading sustainability claims, revealing that over 70% of lab-grown diamonds are made in coal-reliant grids in China and India, often using mined materials and large volumes of water, sometimes in water stressed regions. It also highlights how claims of being “carbon-neutral” are often rooted in carbon offsetting, without reflecting the full life-cycle emissions. Additionally, key pillars of social sustainability like community development, are always missing from the lab-grown diamond narrative. While production costs for lab-grown diamonds have dropped by nearly 90%, their market prices have declined sharply, with 1.5-carat stones losing up to 86% of their value over the past decade.

While the lab-grown diamond landscape raises important considerations, the value of natural diamonds tells another story. In a world where nearly everything is replicable, owning a rare natural diamond stands as a symbol of authenticity and exclusivity. Fancy Colour Diamonds Report delves into the rarity that defines natural diamonds—an allure shaped by nature through factors like hue intensity, saturation, and tone. Beyond their visual brilliance, these gems are seen as expressions of individualism and refined taste, often appreciated for qualities that transcend grading reports.

Speaking about these reports, Richa Singh, Managing Director, India and Middle East, Natural Diamond Council, says, “In India, where natural diamonds hold deep cultural and emotional significance, there is a growing need to address rising consumer curiosity and confusion. These reports are part of NDC’s ongoing efforts to provide retailers and consumers with clear, validated information they can trust. While the Fancy Colour Diamonds Report highlights the rarity and value of natural diamonds, the Laboratory-Grown Diamond Report brings attention to important considerations that should not be overlooked when making a purchase. Honest, fact-based education helps every segment find its space, while also reaffirming the irreplaceable legacy of natural diamonds.”

Key Insights from the Laboratory-Grown Diamond Facts Report:

This report provides critical context on how lab-grown diamonds differ from natural ones—across origin, terminology, sustainability claims, and market trends.

1. How They're Made: Lab-grown diamonds are created in controlled factory environments over weeks, using two primary methods—HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition). These differ significantly from the natural formation process that occurs over billions of years underground.

2. Clear Terminology Matters: As per ISO 18323 standards, correct terms include laboratory-grown, laboratory-created, or synthetic diamonds. Terms like real, natural, genuine, and precious are reserved exclusively for Earth-mined diamonds.

3. Sustainability Claims Require Full Context: Generalised claims such as “carbon-neutral” or “eco-friendly” often rely on offsets and may not account for the full energy-intensive production process and supply chain impact.

4. Rapidly Declining Prices: The market value of lab-grown diamonds has dropped sharply, falling 86% in a decade. A 1.5-carat lab-grown diamond that cost $10,750 in 2015 is priced at just $1,455 in 2025.

Key Insights from the Fancy Colour Diamonds Report:

The report highlights the exceptional rarity and investment potential of fancy colour diamonds—an area that continues to fascinate collectors, jewellers, and investors alike.

1. Extremely Rare: Fancy coloured diamonds represent only a tiny fraction of global diamond recovery, with supply limited to a handful of geological sources.

2. Value Lies in Colour: Hue, tone, and saturation determine the value of these gems. The GIA classifies 27 hues, including both pure and blended tones. The most priced hues are red, pinks, blues and greens.

3. Proven Auction Appeal: Fancy coloured diamonds continue to command top dollar at global auctions, reinforcing their value as both statement jewels and long-term assets.

● The Pink Star, a 59.60-carat Fancy Vivid pink diamond, holds the record as the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction; fetching $71.2 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in April 2017.

4. Rising Rarity Post-Argyle: The closure of Australia’s Argyle mine—once the leading source of pink diamonds, has further reduced supply, making these stones even more sought-after.

5. Strong Price Growth: According to the Fancy Colour Research Foundation, prices of fancy-coloured diamonds have grown at a compound annual rate of 5.7% over the last two decades.

In a world shaped by endless choice, clarity becomes the true differentiator. Natural Diamond Council remains committed to cutting through noise with facts, helping people find meaning in what truly lasts.

Courtesy : AOJ Desk News