India’s diamond sector has reached a notable milestone, with lab-grown stones exceeding naturals in export volume, as reported by industry analyst Edahn Golan.
In both March and April 2026, shipments of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) from India surpassed those of natural diamonds, marking what Golan describes as “a major shift, arguably a tectonic one, but not a doomsday scenario” for the natural diamond trade.
According to figures from India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) cited by Golan, lab-grown exports totaled about 1.3 million carats in March and 1.4 million carats in April, compared with 1.2 million and 1.3 million carats, respectively, for natural diamonds.
Lab-growns have previously accounted for a majority of India’s monthly diamond exports, 56% in April 2025, but that was influenced by tariff-related disruptions, Golan noted. Still, LGD share of total diamond export volume had already reached 45% in January 2025, and Golan said the latest data suggests more sustained change.
Despite their growing presence in volume terms, lab-grown diamonds account for less than 9% of India’s wholesale diamond exports in monetary value, underscoring the wide price gap between the two product categories.
Said Golan: “While lab-grown diamonds may be capturing consumer attention, they are not capturing the same share of spending.”
Main Image : JCK Online
Source : JCK Online