Lab-grown diamond wholesale prices posted a 13% decline year over year, according to the Q2 2026 Lab-Grown Wholesale Price List. However, not all size ranges fell.

Overall, the steepest declines were recorded in larger stones, which historically carried the highest wholesale profit margins. That left them more exposed to retail and consumer pressure to lower prices.

This trend persists. LGD wholesale prices for 1.50-1.99-carat round LGDs declined 11% year over year, while prices for 2-carat round stones fell 20%.

By contrast, wholesale prices for 1-carat round diamonds rose 1%.

The LGD Wholesale Price Index declined 96% since we began tracking wholesale prices in July 2018.

Fancy and Square Shapes Differ

Prices of fancy shapes – namely hearts, marquises, ovals, and pears – declined even more than rounds, loosing on average 17% of their wholesale prices. Here too, the price declines were steeper for larger sizes.

Square shapes declined by more than 21% year over year, with some size ranges in VVS clarities sinking more than 25% compared to the second quarter of 2025.

Recent retail data suggest that lower prices continue to stimulate unit demand, while stable prices are associated with relatively stable sales volumes.

One potential wildcard is the recent increase in rough lab-grown diamond prices. It may eventually affect polished prices at both the wholesale and retail levels. However, it will take several months before it becomes clear whether those increases will be passed through the supply chain or meet resistance by consumers.

For now, success will depend on offering products within the price ranges consumers have already demonstrated they are willing to pay, rather than significantly above or below those levels.