Engagement rings are one of the most meaningful symbols of love and over the last few years, a major shift has happened in how couples choose them.
Across India and abroad, more couples are choosing lab-grown diamonds over traditional mined stones.
This change reflects evolving priorities: value, design, conscious choice, and emotional meaning.

Rising popularity in India

In India, lab-grown diamonds are no longer just a trend, they’re becoming mainstream.
Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Pune report a surge in lab-grown diamond jewellery sales, with engagement rings playing a big role in that growth.

Young couples today are looking for:

• Modern designs
• Higher carat or quality within budget
• Ethical transparency
• Personal expression through custom styles

This shift is shaping how jewellery is designed and chosen in urban India.

The U.S. Market: A global turning point

Internationally, data confirms a striking trend.

In the United States, about 52% of couples surveyed in 2024 said their engagement ring featured a lab-grown diamond, according to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study.

This marks the first time lab-grown stones have crossed the majority threshold in one of the world’s largest diamond markets.

The reasons behind this shift echo what we’re seeing in India couples want:

• Better value
• Larger stones for the same budget
• Ethical sourcing
• Flexibility in design

Why couples prefer lab-grown diamonds

Across geographies, several consistent factors explain this preference.

1. Better value without compromise

Lab-grown diamonds typically cost significantly less than natural diamonds of similar grade.
This allows couples to choose larger or higher-quality centre stones without increasing their budget.

For example, lab-grown options often offer similar:

• Cut
• Colour
• Clarity as mined stones — at a fraction of the price.

This lets couples prioritise beauty and size first, without sacrificing quality.

2. Ethical and responsible choice

Many modern couples care deeply about the impact of their purchases.

Lab-grown diamonds come with:

• A transparent origin story
• No mining footprint
• Clear certification

For buyers who prioritise ethics, this can be a key decision factor.

3. Design freedom and variety

Because lab-grown diamonds are produced in controlled conditions, they come in a wide variety of cuts and sizes.

This gives couples and designers more creative freedom:

• Custom engagements
• Contemporary silhouettes
• Unique gem shapes

Design becomes a priority, not just rarity.

What real couples are saying

Below are anecdotal sentiments from public discussions among ring-buyers, shared voluntarily online:

“Lab-grown diamonds are real, durable, and way more affordable without losing sparkle. You can get a bigger stone you love.” engaged reddit user sharing their choice process.

“Visited several labs; pricing and quality vary, but with certification, lab-grown is a no-brainer.” future bride from a community thread discussing Indian engagement rings.

While these are personal opinions from public forums, they reflect a broader consumer sentiment driving preference today.

Aukera’s perspective

At Aukera, we see engagement rings as expressions of who a couple is together, not just what they can afford.

Neha Khanna from Noida chose her lab-grown diamond engagement ring because it offered:

• A larger, more brilliant centre stone
• A bespoke design she couldn’t find within her budget otherwise

Sanchit K from Hyderabad chose a custom lab-grown ring because:

• It matched his partner’s style
• It reflected their values of choice, transparency, and meaning

For them, and many couples like them, lab-grown diamonds are not just a practical choice; they are a meaningful one.