Surging Demand for Diamond Verification Tech as Lab-Grown Market Booms

Suppliers of diamond verification equipment are reporting a measurable uptick in orders and inquiries, according to a trade brief published Feb. 19, 2026. The brief lists laboratory devices, handheld testers and lab services and says suppliers report "double-digit growth" in demand for authentication tools, a direct response to rising consumer and retail interest in lab-grown diamonds.

The shift to retail-facing testing accelerated after De Beers unveiled a verification instrument at JCK Las Vegas in March 2024. Datamintelligence describes the device as delivering rapid, accurate results with a "zero percent false positive rate" and able to screen both loose diamonds and those set in jewelry. Datamintelligence frames the instrument as a technological advancement that brings synthetic-diamond detection into a consumer-friendly format.

Market size and forecasts underline why verification is becoming business-critical. Finance / Yahoo traces the lab-grown segment from under $1 billion in 2016 to nearly $12 billion by 2022. Datamintelligence puts the global lab-grown diamonds market at US$25.68 billion in 2024 and projects US$55.45 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 10.10% for 2025–2032. Futuremarketinsights separates the CVD segment, estimating USD 14.3 billion in 2025 and USD 30.4 billion by 2035 (CAGR 7.7%), while KenResearch reports the broader "Global Synthetic Diamond Market" valued at USD 20 billion on a five-year historical basis. These figures refer to different slices of the market—CVD-only, jewelry-grade lab-grown, and synthetic industrial volumes—but all point toward rising scale.

Buyers and retailers cite sustainability and price as primary drivers. Futuremarketinsights notes that "consumers increasingly choose diamonds that align with their values, favoring lab-grown diamonds free from the ethical concerns associated with traditional diamond mining." Finance / Yahoo quantifies the cost edge: lab-grown diamonds are generally priced 30–40% lower than natural diamonds, a differential that "has directly contributed to a dramatic surge in sales." KenResearch cites the International Gemological Institute finding that "70% of millennials prefer lab-grown diamonds due to their lower environmental impact."

Regional dynamics are shaping how verification tools are deployed. Asia Pacific captured a 44.1% market share in 2023, driven by China and India, according to Finance / Yahoo. Futuremarketinsights expects CVD lab-grown diamonds in China to register an 8.6% CAGR through 2035. In India, Limelight Diamonds is targeting 200+ stores by 2027 as organised retail expands alongside consumer confidence in lab-grown product assortments.

Industry volumes and retail strategies are converging on authentication. KenResearch projects global lab-grown demand could reach 7 million carats in future, increasing the likelihood that retailers and brands will install testing equipment or rely on lab services. At the same time, vendor performance claims such as De Beers' "zero percent false positive rate" are being presented to reassure consumers and staff that screening can be rapid and definitive.

Verification hardware and accredited lab services are becoming infrastructure for a maturing lab-grown market. As projections from Datamintelligence, Futuremarketinsights and KenResearch diverge in scope and horizon, one constant remains: retailers expanding assortments and volumes will need accessible, reliable testing to maintain consumer trust as lab-grown diamonds move from niche to mainstream.