Lab-Grown ‘Taking Over’ Engagement-Ring Spending – The Knot

• February 19, 2026
• Leah Meirovich

US couples are increasingly choosing lab-grown diamonds for their engagement rings, leading to a virtual “takeover” of the market and a lower average spend in 2025.

Some 61% of consumers who took part in a recent survey picked a synthetic center stone for their engagement ring, a 239% increase since 2020, according to a report wedding resource The Knot released Wednesday.

That figure also represented a large rise from 2024, when the number of consumers purchasing a lab-grown center stone passed 50% for the first time.  The growing number of couples buying synthetic diamonds for their engagement rings was the result of “economic pragmatism and evolving values,” with 40% stating it was specifically important that their stone be lab-grown, The Knot said.

On average, consumers paid $4,600 for their engagement rings in 2025, down from $5,200 the previous year. Meanwhile, the average size increased to 1.9 carats, versus 1.7 carats in 2024. Last year, consumers shelled out an average of $7,000 for a natural-diamond engagement ring, with the average size clocking in at 1.6 carats and round the preferred shape. However, the average cost of a lab-grown was $4,300, while the average size was 2 carats and oval was the most popular shape.

Solitaire stone settings were the choice of 38% of those surveyed, with 83% of respondents picking a clear diamond. Moissanite and sapphires were the most popular non-diamond choices for center stones. Round was still the most common shape, with 26% buying those, closely followed by ovals at 25%. Other top ring shapes were emerald, princess, pear and marquise, each commanding 8%.

When it came to metals, yellow gold was in the highest demand, at 39%, up 140% over the past five years, as white gold continued its steady decline, The Knot explained. Nearly 90% of consumers chose to make custom edits, or to custom design their ring. Respondents ranked stone shape as the most important feature of their engagement ring, followed by style and setting, and the type of metal.

More than half of those surveyed believed it was important to shop for rings in person. On average, proposers visited two retailers and looked at 10 rings in a physical location, with 64% making their purchase in-store and only one-third buying online.

The Knot surveyed more than 10,000 couples who got married in 2025.