ndia’s diamond sector has recorded a historic pivot, with exports of lab-grown diamonds now exceeding those of natural diamonds by volume. Data from the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) shows shipments of polished lab-grown stones surpassed natural diamond exports in consecutive months, March and April 2026.
For April 2025 - March 2026, India exported a total of 18.8 million carats of polished LGDs and 16 million carats of polished natural stones, marking a volume lead of 2.8 million carats for LGDs. This makes a radical difference from a decade ago when exports of lab-grown and natural diamonds from India were 0.1 million carats and 33.51 million carats respectively.
Industry analyst Edahn Golan characterises the recent landmark moment as “a major shift, arguably a tectonic one,” signalling a profound evolution in the global jewellery trade. The shift is driven by both consumer preference and industry adaptation. Price-conscious buyers are increasingly choosing larger lab-grown stones, while India’s established diamond companies have successfully leveraged their manufacturing and distribution prowess in this new sector.
Nevertheless, this volumetric milestone underscores a profound economic divergence. LGDs account for less than nine percent of India’s total diamond export value, highlighting the vast price gap between the two categories. The natural diamond trade, with its substantially higher average value per carat, continues to be the industry’s financial engine.
13-07-2026
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