BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., May 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pompeii3, a family-owned fine diamond jewelry manufacturer and retailer operating since 1919, today released findings from a survey of customers who purchased an engagement ring through the company between January and April 2026. Sixty-seven percent of respondents chose a lab-grown diamond over a natural stone. That rate exceeds the broader 61 percent industry figure reported by McKinsey and reflects a shift that Pompeii3 says has accelerated faster than most industry forecasts anticipated.
"The conversation has changed," said Chris Tags, Director of Marketing at Pompeii3. "Two years ago, couples asked us to explain lab-grown diamonds. Today they arrive having already decided. The question is which certified stone and which setting best fits their vision."
What the Survey Found
Price per carat ranked as the top decision factor among the 67 percent who chose lab-grown, followed by stone size within budget and ethical sourcing. The order is significant: couples are not leading with values and finding a cost benefit as a secondary reward. They lead with financial value and confirm the ethics as additional confidence in the choice.
The size advantage is measurable. A one-carat GIA-certified lab-grown diamond traded between $800 and $1,200 in Q1 2026, compared to approximately $3,895 for a comparable natural stone. That gap allows couples to purchase significantly larger center stones within the same total budget. According to BriteCo's annual research (https://briteco.com/jewelry-insurance-cost/jewelry-insurance-report/), the average center stone in a lab-grown engagement ring nationally grew from 1.31 carats in 2019 to 2.45 carats in 2025.
Among Pompeii3's survey respondents who chose natural diamonds, the top reasons cited were certification provenance and long-term value retention. That segment has remained stable in size but has not grown.
Industry Context
The lab-grown share of U.S. engagement ring purchases has grown 40 percent since 2019, according to market data compiled by Gitnux (https://gitnux.org/lab-grown-diamond-industry-statistics/). Two-thirds of Gen Z buyers now choose lab-grown, and 70 percent of couples across age groups report that ethical sourcing influences their decision, even when budget is not a constraint.
The economics reinforce the trend. Lab-grown diamond prices fell nearly 40 percent between 2024 and 2025. Gold, which constitutes the band, rose 66 percent over the same period. A couple allocating $5,000 to a lab-grown ring today receives a larger stone and greater setting flexibility than a couple spending $7,600 on a comparable natural diamond ring, based on average spend data from BriteCo (https://briteco.com/jewelry-insurance-cost/jewelry-insurance-report/).
GIA and IGI certify lab-grown diamonds using the same four-criteria system applied to natural stones: cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The certification standard is identical. Pompeii3 carries only GIA- and IGI-certified stones across both categories, which the company describes as the baseline requirement couples should apply when evaluating any retailer.
Pompeii3's Lab-Grown Collection
Pompeii3 manufactures its engagement rings in the United States and carries certified lab-grown diamonds across its full bridal line at Pompeii3 Lab-Grown Engagement Rings (https://www.pompeii3.com/engagement-rings/lab-grown). Couples seeking precision-cut lab-grown stones may also explore the EX3 Diamond Line (https://www.pompeii3.com/ex3-diamonds). All purchases include a 180-day warranty and direct resizing service.

About Pompeii3
Pompeii3 is a family-owned fine jewelry manufacturer and retailer headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, operating since 1919. The company manufactures rings in the United States and sells GIA- and IGI-certified diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands, and bridal jewelry directly to consumers at www.pompeii3.com (https://www.pompeii3.com). All purchases include a 180-day warranty and direct customer service. Pompeii3 operates independently of the Signet Jewelers network.

Media Contact

Chris Tags

Director of Marketing, Pompeii3

(847) 367-7022

www.pompeii3.com