Lab-grown diamonds emerge as preferred choice jewellery choice this festive season

Pune: Lab-grown diamonds, driven by their affordability and durability, have become highly sought after this festive season, with many choosing them for gifting as well as bridal jewellery."My daughter is getting married in December. We decided to get a lot of her jewellery made from lab-grown diamonds. They also come with a certificate of authenticity, which means that resale at a later date is possible," said Gargi Deodhar, a resident of Bavdhan.For Diwali, Nishi Vaidya has ordered lab-grown earrings to gift her daughter and daughter-in-law. "I am getting single diamond earrings made for my children as a festive gift this year," she said.Over the past year, the price of lab-grown diamonds in India has corrected significantly—in some cases, by as much as 65%, especially across standard sizes used in everyday jewellery. Globally, the price for lab-grown diamonds in some categories has declined by 70–90% in the last few years. The price of gold has appreciated from Rs 78,000/10g last year to Rs 1,10,000/10g this year.Ramdas Jain, a jeweller in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar, said 80% of his orders for the festive and wedding season are linked to lab-grown diamonds. "Most of the clients bring the stones to us, and my artisans turn them into desired designs. Gold price is high, so people are trying to use minimal new gold for jewellery making."With brands launching contemporary designs and personalised collections, lab-grown diamonds are emerging as a symbol of luxury and conscious celebration. "With the rise in gold price, we are seeing consumers shift toward lab-grown diamonds—not only for the price, but also for the overall value. At the same time, jewellery itself is becoming more accessible through the use of 18KT, 14KT, and even 9KT gold," said Namita Kothari, founder of Akoirah by Augmont.Lab-grown diamond jewellery is becoming the perfect alternative as the gold price continues to climb. "Today's buyers are value-conscious. They want to celebrate in a big way without spending too much. Lab-grown diamonds give them the freedom to choose larger solitaires or more elaborate designs within the same budget," said Pooja Madhavan, founder & MD of Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds.