Do Lab Grown Diamonds Hold Their Value? An Honest Answer

In this guide

    By Clint Casmiro, Co-Founder, Smiro Studio · Updated October 22, 2026

    Short answer: No, not the way natural diamonds do. Lab grown prices have dropped for years and keep moving, so resale value is low. Treat what you pay as the cost of a ring you will wear, not an investment. What you get is a real diamond for about a quarter of the price: a 2 carat lab stone ran a median of $2,546 CAD in our 2026 listings, against $9,905 CAD natural.

    IGI certified lab grown oval diamond

    We sell both, and most of our clients choose lab grown. They choose it knowing this, which is why we put it first.

    Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

    No. Lab prices have fallen for years and are still moving, so a lab diamond bought today will likely be worth less on resale. The same 2 carat lab stone that ran a median of $2,546 CAD in our June to September 2026 listings should be thought of as spent, not stored.

    Do natural diamonds hold value better?

    Yes, clearly. If resale matters to you, buy natural. If you want the biggest, whitest stone your budget allows and you plan to keep the ring, lab grown is the better value. Both sides are in lab grown vs natural diamonds.

    So what is the value of a lab diamond?

    Lab grown, 2 ct Natural, 2 ct
    Median price, our 2026 listings $2,546 CAD $9,905 CAD
    Real diamond, 10 on the Mohs scale Yes Yes
    Holds resale value No, resale is low Better
    Best for Wearing every day, bigger stone for the money Resale or a natural stone for its own sake

    Loose stone prices from our ring builder, June to September 2026.

    The value is in wearing it: the same material, hardness and sparkle as a mined diamond, for roughly a quarter of the price, with the difference free for a bigger stone or the details you want.

    Is a lab grown diamond a good investment?

    No, and we would never sell one as an investment. Buy a lab diamond because you want to wear it.

    What about insurance?

    Insure the ring for what it would cost to replace, which an independent appraisal tells your insurer. Ours is $100 CAD. See appraisal and insurance.

    Weighing lab against natural? We will quote both.

    A free 20 minute video call with our team. Bring a photo, a budget, or nothing at all.

    Book a free callGet a free estimate

    Questions we get about this

    Do lab grown diamonds hold their value?

    No. Lab prices have dropped for years, so resale value is low. Buy one to wear.

    Are lab grown diamonds a good investment?

    No. Natural diamonds hold value better; lab grown is the better value only if you plan to keep the ring.

    Why are lab grown diamonds cheaper?

    Because they are grown rather than mined, and lab prices keep falling. A 2 carat lab stone had a median of $2,546 CAD in our 2026 listings.

    Do natural diamonds hold their value better?

    Yes. If resale matters to you, natural is the safer choice.

    Keep reading

    Written by Clint Casmiro, co-founder of Smiro Studio with Karina. We are second generation jewellers. Our dad Kenny has more than 40 years at the bench and oversees production, and we have built over a thousand tulip basket rings. Every ring is designed in CAD and you approve 3D renderings before production. We ship free and insured across Canada and the US.

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