A study by Created Forever on the perception and popularity of lab-grown versus natural diamonds reveals that half of consumers think natural diamonds are of better quality than lab-grown diamonds.

As of 2023, lab-grown diamonds represent approximately 20% of the global diamond jewelry market by value¹. While consumers are becoming more familiar with created gems, a study conducted by Created Forever reveals that people still tend to gravitate toward natural diamonds or remain indifferent, largely due to a lack of familiarity with lab-grown diamonds. While participants are aware that lab-created diamonds are more affordable and sustainable, they perceive natural diamonds to have higher quality and status.

Lab-grown diamonds are identical to natural diamonds in every way, sharing the same optical, chemical, and physical properties. They offer the brilliance, durability, and beauty of natural diamonds but come at a more attractive price point. Additionally, lab-grown diamonds are produced without the environmental impact of mining, making them a more sustainable and ethical choice. But while they are identical to natural diamonds, this has to yet be understood in the minds of consumers.

For this study, Created Forever has asked participants aged 18-47 questions regarding lab-created and natural diamonds. 70.5% of the participants were female and 27.3% were male.

Created Forever’s study results show that for 33.3% of the participants, it is very important or important to have a “real diamond”. 50% don’t have a strong opinion and 16.6% do not have a preference for natural diamonds.

The tendency towards natural diamonds can be explained by the general familiarity with the two diamond types. Created Forever asked their survey participants to rate their familiarity with lab-created diamonds on a scale from 1 to 5. The results showed that 21% were not familiar with lab-created diamonds at all. Additionally, only 30% of participants indicated they were familiar or very familiar with lab-created diamonds, compared to 55% who were familiar or very familiar with natural diamonds.

While overall familiarity with lab-grown diamonds is lower than with natural diamonds, study participants showed awareness of certain benefits of lab diamonds. Created Forever found that a majority of people recognize lab-grown diamonds as more affordable (82%) and sustainable (68%) compared to natural diamonds.

While participants perceive lab-grown diamonds as more affordable and sustainable, they are less aware that lab-created diamonds match natural diamonds in terms of quality: 50% of participants believe that natural diamonds are of higher quality, 32% think lab-created diamonds are superior, and only 18% recognize that both have the same quality.

Another barrier for jewelers selling lab-grown diamonds appears to be the stigma associated with their reputation. Created Forever’s survey revealed that 88.6% of respondents perceive natural diamonds to have a higher status.

The biggest challenge regarding lab-created diamonds is the mind-shift of the consumers. "At Created Forever, our mission is to educate consumers about the undeniable advantages of lab-created diamonds," explains Pinchas Gniwisch, President and founder of Created Forever. Far from merely mimicking natural diamonds, these gems offer a smarter choice, boasting superior clarity and quality while minimizing environmental impact. Our brand aims to further educate our consumers about the advantages of lab-created diamonds.

¹ AFP. (2024, February 20). Lab-grown diamonds put natural gems under pressure. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-lab-grown-diamonds-natural-gems.html