Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamond Prices 2026: Real Listed Prices, Same Store
By Sloane Glitchford, Founder. Updated Oct 22, 2026. Prices as of Oct 22, 2026 (UTC), read on each retailer's own site. Diamond prices change often, so check the listing before you buy.
What does a lab-grown diamond cost next to a natural one of about the same size and grade? Instead of quoting a market average, we read the listed prices on each store's own website (Blue Nile and Brilliant Earth) and lined up round stones of similar carat, color and clarity from the same store. Each pair below is one example at one store, not a market average. Every price has its capture time in UTC, its grade and its grading lab next to it, so you can check the same listing yourself.
The price gap at a glance
The percentage is the lab-grown stone's listed price divided by the natural stone's listed price, from the same store. Price per carat is the listed price divided by the carat weight. Listed prices are before tax, setting and any promo.
Blue Nile
| Size | Type | Carat | Cut | Color | Clarity | Grading lab | Listed price (as of, UTC) | Per carat | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About 1.5 carats | Lab-grown | 1.56 | Ideal | D | VS1 | IGI | $1,050 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC | about $673/ct | Stone 29810364 |
| About 1.5 carats | Natural | 1.50 | Excellent | D | VS1 | GIA | $9,885 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC | about $6,590/ct | Stone 28294273 |
| About 1.5 carats: the lab-grown stone's listed price is 10.6% of the natural stone's (about $673/ct vs $6,590/ct, as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC). One example at one store, not a market average. | |||||||||
| About 1 carat | Lab-grown | 1.06 | Ideal | D | VS1 | IGI | $557 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC | about $525/ct | Stone 26287044 |
| About 1 carat | Natural | 1.04 | Excellent | D | VS1 | GIA | $4,539 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC | about $4,364/ct | Stone 25241777 |
| About 1 carat: the lab-grown stone's listed price is 12.3% of the natural stone's (about $525/ct vs $4,364/ct, as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC). One example at one store, not a market average. | |||||||||
Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth prices were read in a browser on each stone's own listing page, with a screenshot saved as evidence, as of Oct 22, 2026 (UTC).
| Size | Type | Carat | Cut | Color | Clarity | Grading lab | Listed price (as of, UTC) | Per carat | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| About 1.5 carats | Lab-grown | 1.46 | Super Ideal | F | VS1 | IGI | $790 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:17 UTC | about $541/ct | Stone 88259629 |
| About 1.5 carats | Natural | 1.50 | Ideal | F | VS2 | IGI | $8,440 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:18 UTC | about $5,627/ct | Stone 87972660 |
| About 1.5 carats: the lab-grown stone's listed price is 9.4% of the natural stone's (about $541/ct vs $5,627/ct, as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC). One example at one store, not a market average. Not an exact match: the lab-grown stone is 1.46 ct with a Super Ideal cut and VS1 clarity; the natural stone is 1.50 ct with an Ideal cut and VS2 clarity (one clarity grade lower). | |||||||||
| About 1 carat | Lab-grown | 1.02 | Super Ideal | F | VS1 | IGI | $530 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:17 UTC | about $520/ct | Stone 89092612 |
| About 1 carat | Natural | 1.00 | Super Ideal | F | VVS1 | IGI | $4,680 as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:18 UTC | about $4,680/ct | Stone 88364672 |
| About 1 carat: the lab-grown stone's listed price is 11.3% of the natural stone's (about $520/ct vs $4,680/ct, as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC). One example at one store, not a market average. Not an exact match: the natural stone is one clarity grade higher (VVS1 vs VS1). | |||||||||
Cut grades are shown as each listing names them. A lab and a natural stone with the same color and clarity letters can still differ in cut, polish, symmetry and fluorescence, and different grading labs grade separately. At Blue Nile the lab-grown stones carry IGI reports and the natural stones carry GIA reports, so those pairs are close matches, not identical-grade matches. At Brilliant Earth both stones in each pair carry IGI reports, so those are the closer like-for-like pairs on this page.
Price per carat: lab vs natural
Price per carat helps when two stones aren't exactly the same weight. From the stones in the table only:
- Blue Nile, about 1.5 carats: lab-grown about $673 per carat (1.56 ct D/VS1, IGI) vs natural about $6,590 per carat (1.50 ct D/VS1, GIA), as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC. Listed price ratio 10.6%; per-carat ratio 10.2%.
- Blue Nile, about 1 carat: lab-grown about $525 per carat (1.06 ct D/VS1, IGI) vs natural about $4,364 per carat (1.04 ct D/VS1, GIA), as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC. Listed price ratio 12.3%; per-carat ratio 12.0%.
- Brilliant Earth, about 1.5 carats: lab-grown about $541 per carat (1.46 ct F/VS1, IGI) vs natural about $5,627 per carat (1.50 ct F/VS2, IGI), as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC. Listed price ratio 9.4%; per-carat ratio 9.6%. Not an exact match: the lab-grown stone is 1.46 ct with a Super Ideal cut and VS1 clarity; the natural stone is 1.50 ct with an Ideal cut and VS2 clarity (one clarity grade lower).
- Brilliant Earth, about 1 carat: lab-grown about $520 per carat (1.02 ct F/VS1, IGI) vs natural about $4,680 per carat (1.00 ct F/VVS1, IGI), as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC. Listed price ratio 11.3%; per-carat ratio 11.1%. Not an exact match: the natural stone is one clarity grade higher (VVS1 vs VS1).
Per-carat prices differ by weight and grade, so compare stones of similar size, as we did here.
How we picked these stones
- Blue Nile: Listed price on Blue Nile's own round-diamond search results (natural and lab-grown), filtered by carat range and saved with curl. Before tax, setting and any promo.
- Brilliant Earth: Listed price on each stone's own Brilliant Earth listing page (lab-grown and natural), read in a browser with a screenshot saved as evidence. Before tax, setting and any promo.
- For each size we picked a lab-grown and a natural round stone as close as we could find in carat, color and clarity on the same day at the same store, and recorded the stone's own listing link.
- We didn't pick the cheapest or most expensive stone on purpose, and we don't claim these prices are typical. Other stones of the same grade can be listed higher or lower.
Why lab-grown diamonds cost less (and why some still seem expensive)
A lab-grown diamond is real diamond, made of carbon like a mined one, but grown in a lab using one of two methods: HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition). A natural diamond formed underground and was mined. The stones above show how wide the listed price gap can be at one store. We don't have a dated, sourced figure for why that gap exists or how it has moved over time, so we don't make trend claims here.
A lab-grown stone can still look expensive when you compare it with a smaller or lower-grade stone, or once a setting is added. The comparison that matters is the same carat, color, clarity, cut and grading lab, side by side.
Is a lab-grown diamond worth it? Resale and "what's mine worth"
That depends on what you want from it. We have no resale price data, so we don't estimate what a lab-grown or natural stone is worth after you buy it. What a buyer offers you later is set by that buyer, not by the price you paid. If resale matters to you, ask the retailer about its buyback or trade-in terms in writing before you buy. We don't give investment advice, and nothing on this page is a claim that any diamond will hold its value.
Lab-grown vs moissanite vs cubic zirconia
- Lab-grown diamond: diamond (carbon), grown in a lab. Graded with the same color, clarity and carat terms as a natural diamond.
- Moissanite: a different mineral, silicon carbide. It's not a diamond, lab-grown or otherwise.
- Cubic zirconia (CZ): a man-made crystal of zirconium dioxide. It's not a diamond either.
We didn't capture moissanite or cubic zirconia prices, so none are listed here.
Can you tell the difference?
Because both are diamond, they look alike, so don't rely on a look by eye. The grading report is how you check what you're buying. The stones above carry reports from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and IGI (International Gemological Institute). Read the report for the stone you're buying: check the grade, and check that the report for a lab-grown stone says it is laboratory-grown. Two different labs can grade the same stone differently, so a GIA grade and an IGI grade aren't guaranteed to be the same thing.
How to check you're getting a real deal
- Compare the same carat, color, clarity, cut and grading lab across at least 2 stores. A lower price on a lower grade isn't a deal.
- Check the retailer's return window and price-adjustment terms before you pay. Our price match policies guide and holiday return policies 2026 cover the big stores.
- Be wary of a big "was" price. Our checklist for how to verify a deal is real covers fake strikethroughs.
- Buying for the holidays? See the holiday shipping deadlines 2026 and when sales start on our Black Friday 2026 dates page.
📬 The Weekly Lows: a free weekly email
The 5 best deals we checked that week, every Friday.
We post deals 20%+ below the usual price, checked against other stores' public prices, and label affiliate links. Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy
FAQ
What is the price difference between lab-grown and natural diamonds?
In the same-store pairs on this page, the lab-grown stone's listed price as a share of the natural stone's was: Blue Nile, about 1.5 carats: 10.6% (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Blue Nile, about 1 carat: 12.3% (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Brilliant Earth, about 1.5 carats: 9.4% (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Brilliant Earth, about 1 carat: 11.3% (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC). Each is one example at one store, not a market average.
What is the lab-grown diamond price per carat?
From the stones on this page only: Blue Nile, about 1.5 carats: about $673 per carat lab-grown vs $6,590 natural (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Blue Nile, about 1 carat: about $525 per carat lab-grown vs $4,364 natural (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Brilliant Earth, about 1.5 carats: about $541 per carat lab-grown vs $5,627 natural (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC); Brilliant Earth, about 1 carat: about $520 per carat lab-grown vs $4,680 natural (as of Oct 22, 2026 UTC).
How much is a 1 carat lab-grown diamond vs natural?
One example: at Blue Nile, a 1.06 ct D/VS1 lab-grown round (IGI) listed at $557 and a 1.04 ct D/VS1 natural round (GIA) at $4,539, as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC (12.3%); at Brilliant Earth, a 1.02 ct F/VS1 lab-grown round (IGI) listed at $530 and a 1.00 ct F/VVS1 natural round (IGI) at $4,680, as of Oct 22, 2026, 15:18 UTC (11.3%). One example at one store, not a market average.
Is a lab-grown diamond worth it?
It depends on what you want. It is real diamond, graded on the same color, clarity and carat terms. We have no resale data and make no claim about future value; ask the retailer about buyback terms before you buy.
Are natural diamond prices dropping?
We don't have a dated, sourced price series, so we make no trend claim. This page is a snapshot of listed prices on the dates shown.
Sources
- Blue Nile search results (lab-grown, round, 1.45-1.6 ct), read Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC
- Blue Nile search results (natural, round, 1.45-1.6 ct), read Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC
- Blue Nile search results (lab-grown, round, 0.95-1.1 ct), read Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC
- Blue Nile search results (natural, round, 0.95-1.1 ct), read Oct 22, 2026, 15:12 UTC
- Brilliant Earth stone listing (lab-grown, round, 1.46 ct, stone 88259629), read in a browser with a screenshot saved, Oct 22, 2026, 15:17 UTC
- Brilliant Earth stone listing (natural, round, 1.50 ct, stone 87972660), read in a browser with a screenshot saved, Oct 22, 2026, 15:18 UTC
- Brilliant Earth stone listing (lab-grown, round, 1.02 ct, stone 89092612), read in a browser with a screenshot saved, Oct 22, 2026, 15:17 UTC
- Brilliant Earth stone listing (natural, round, 1.00 ct, stone 88364672), read in a browser with a screenshot saved, Oct 22, 2026, 15:18 UTC
Prices were listed on retailer sites on Oct 22, 2026 (UTC) and may change. Price Bug Alerts is not paid by these retailers. Links on this page are plain links, not affiliate links.