Diamond resale collapse: natural stones down 30-60% as lab-grown captures Indian jewellery demand

Natural diamond prices have crashed 30% on sub-1 carat and 40-60% on large solitaires from 2022 peaks. Only 700 of Mumbai's 7,000-8,000 jewellers still deal in diamonds. Lab-grown supply, Russia sanctions, weak China luxury demand, and millennial preference shifts are reshaping the category, with resale illiquidity and certification gaps now flagged by Indian retailers.

— Source publishedWed, 24 Jun, 2026, 11:06 IST·First seen Wed, 24 Jun, 2026, 11:11 IST·Source Mint · Money

What happened

Indian Diamond Jewellery Market · Natural diamond prices have crashed 30-60% from 2022 peaks due to lab-grown competition, Russia sanctions, and weak China

Key facts

  • 30% price drop sub-1 carat
  • 40-60% decline in large solitaires
  • 700 of 7,000-8,000 Mumbai jewellers deal in diamonds
  • 10% market

Why this matters

Hunt distressed diamond-heavy jewellers and certification/resale platforms at reset multiples, but ring-fence natural stone inventory risk in any deal structure.