two identical round-cut diamonds labeled “Lab” and “Natural” on a black reflective surface with the headline “CBS News: The Diamond Shift 2025,” symbolizing the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds

Why Lab Diamonds Are Redefining Luxury: CBS News Explains the 2025 Jewelry Shift

Why Lab Diamonds Are Redefining Luxury: CBS News Explains the 2025 Jewelry Shift

Quick answer: Lab diamonds are redefining luxury because they look the same as natural diamonds to the eye at a fraction of the price, and 61% of couples married in 2025 chose one for their engagement ring.


Lab diamonds are taking over the global jewelry market. In a recent CBS News interview, journalist Suzy Weiss of The Free Press discussed how consumers are turning toward IGI-certified and GIA-certified lab diamonds that look the same as natural stones to the eye, but are priced at a fraction of the cost.

During the CBS segment, Weiss compared two identical 4-carat round-cut diamonds side by side. One was natural and worth $200,000, the other a lab-grown diamond worth $2,000, both indistinguishable to the naked eye. As she put it, “They catch the light the same way. You can’t tell the difference.”


How Certification Defines Value

Even though De Beers says lab-grown prices have fallen over 90%, demand continues to rise for lab diamond engagement rings. Trusted labs like IGI and GIA are reinforcing confidence in this new luxury. An IGI lab-grown report provides 4Cs assessments for cut, clarity, carat, and color, while GIA, since October 1, 2025, classifies lab-grown diamonds as “Premium” or “Standard” instead.

Consumers are learning that a certified lab diamond has essentially the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined diamond, but without mining. This shift is transforming how luxury is defined in 2025.


The Market Shift: Gen Z & Millennial Influence

The CBS interview highlighted a deeper cultural shift: younger generations no longer view diamonds as financial assets. Instead, they prioritize origin, mining impact, and design. According to The Knot’s Real Weddings Study, 61% of couples married in 2025 chose a lab-grown diamond, up from 52% in 2024.

Shoppers in Canada and the U.S. are opting for larger, customized lab diamond pieces. CBC News reported that in Canada some lab-grown rings were nearly 70 per cent cheaper than their natural counterparts in 2023, putting bigger stones within reach.


Why Jewelers Are Adapting

From the Diamond District to Beverly Hills, jewelers are embracing change. Weiss reported that even traditional sellers are now offering hybrid lines, combining natural and lab diamonds, to meet shifting expectations. De Beers’ “Lightbox” lab-grown line, which De Beers announced it was shutting down in 2025, showed the market’s volatility, but also its potential.


Certified Brilliance for a New Generation

As IGI and GIA continue advancing lab diamond testing (GIA says separating lab-grown from natural requires advanced instrumentation), and consumers become more informed, the jewelry industry is entering a new era of accessibility and authenticity. Whether you choose a solitaire lab diamond ring or a custom 3-carat masterpiece, the message is clear: the future of fine jewelry is lab-grown luxury.

Reference Video: CBS News: Lab Diamonds Are Reshaping the Jewelry Industry

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tell the difference between a natural diamond and a lab diamond by eye?

No. In a CBS News segment, journalist Suzy Weiss compared two 4-carat round-cut diamonds side by side, one natural worth $200,000 and one lab-grown worth $2,000, and they were indistinguishable to the naked eye. According to GIA, separating lab-grown from natural requires advanced instrumentation.

How much do lab grown diamond rings save in Canada?

Some lab-grown rings in Canada cost nearly 70 per cent less than their natural counterparts in 2023, according to CBC News. That price gap puts bigger stones within reach, which is why many shoppers in Canada and the U.S. are choosing larger, customized lab diamond pieces.

Do younger buyers see diamonds as an investment?

Mostly not. As the CBS interview highlighted, younger generations no longer view diamonds as financial assets and instead prioritize origin, mining impact and design. That shift helps explain why 61% of couples married in 2025 chose a lab-grown diamond, up from 52% in 2024.

What does an IGI lab grown diamond report include?

An IGI lab-grown report provides 4Cs assessments for cut, clarity, carat and color. GIA works differently: since October 1, 2025, it classifies lab-grown diamonds as Premium or Standard instead of using color and clarity grades. Either report gives you an independent record of the stone you are buying.

Do jewelers sell both lab and natural diamonds?

Many now do. Weiss reported that even traditional sellers are offering hybrid lines that combine natural and lab diamonds to meet shifting expectations. Future Jewelry focuses only on lab grown diamonds and does not sell natural diamonds, moissanite or cubic zirconia.