Lab-grown diamonds
Lab-grown melee prices are showing signs of a floor
After a multi-year slide, wholesale prices for small lab-grown melee have held roughly flat for two consecutive quarters, the first sustained pause since production ramped up.
Imperial Star Gems trade desk1 min read
Wholesale prices for small lab-grown melee have held roughly flat for two consecutive quarters, the first sustained pause since production volumes ramped up.
- Melee-sized lab-grown stones, generally under 0.18 ct, have seen the steepest and most consistent price declines of any lab-grown category as production capacity grew.
- Producer margins at current prices are reportedly thin enough that further significant cuts would be difficult to sustain without a fall in production costs.
- This is a pause rather than a confirmed floor — it is one data point on top of the broader pattern of lab-grown prices still falling, but more slowly.
For buyers of melee-set pieces, this is a reasonable point to stop timing the market and buy against a current need, since further meaningful savings from waiting look less likely than they did a year ago. Browse lab-grown melee in stock, or ask the trade desk for a current price on volume.
Market commentary drawn from publicly available market data and trade reporting, not investment advice. Prices move; figures are indicative and correct as of the date above.