Investment Diamonds

Diamonds can help preserve some value, but they are not as liquid as gold, securities or other traditional investments. Investment value is usually held by rare, high-quality natural diamonds whose origin and characteristics are confirmed by a certificate. Even so, price growth is not guaranteed, and selling a diamond for the amount you want can take time.

Smaller diamonds are more often chosen as a lasting gift, a collectable or a purchase with symbolic meaning. When buying, it is worth considering the diamond’s carat weight, cut quality, colour, clarity and certificate.

A diamond is worth buying as a lasting piece of jewellery, a meaningful gift or a collectable, but it is not always a suitable purchase purely for financial return. The retail price covers not only the diamond itself but also retail, certification, storage and other costs, so a lower amount is often offered on resale.

Because of their limited supply, natural diamonds generally hold their long-term value better than lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical composition but cost considerably less and usually lose value more quickly. When choosing, it is important to consider your budget, the purpose of the purchase, the diamond’s quality and the certificate confirming that quality.

The price of a one-carat diamond depends on its origin, cut, colour, clarity, shape and certification. A good-quality natural 1 carat diamond often costs roughly 3 000 to 6 000 euros on the retail market, but depending on its characteristics the price can range from about 1 000 to more than 15 000 euros. A lab-grown diamond of the same weight usually costs from a few hundred to around 1 200 euros.

Diamonds are assessed by four main criteria: carat weight, cut, colour and clarity. Cut quality is particularly important, as it determines the diamond’s brilliance. Round brilliant-cut diamonds usually cost more, while oval, emerald, princess or other shapes can be less expensive.

A certificate helps you verify a diamond’s characteristics and compare its price with other offers. When a natural diamond is resold, often only part of the original retail price is recovered, and the secondary market value of lab-grown diamonds is usually even lower.

Diamonds can be resold, but the buy-back price is often considerably lower than the original retail price. This is because the selling price includes not only the value of the diamond but also the retailer’s margin and the costs of certification, security, rent, staff and marketing. These costs are not recovered on resale.

Diamonds do not have a single, daily published global market price, so any offer depends on the stone’s quality, demand and the individual buyer. Jewellers and buyers usually offer a wholesale price or one closer to the raw material value. The amount stated in an insurance valuation also usually reflects the cost of replacing the piece on the retail market, not the amount you could get by selling it.

Resale value is also affected by the growing supply of lab-grown diamonds. As production becomes more efficient, their prices are falling, so demand for pre-owned lab-grown diamonds remains low.

Yes, lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. Their chemical composition, crystal structure, physical and optical properties are the same as those of natural diamonds. Both are made of carbon atoms, have the same hardness and interact with light in the same way.

The main difference is their origin. Natural diamonds form deep within the Earth over billions of years, while lab-grown diamonds are grown in a controlled environment within a few weeks. Lab-grown diamonds usually cost less and have a lower resale value, as their supply is not limited by natural resources.

Lab-grown diamonds are not diamond simulants. Cubic zirconia and moissanite only look like diamonds, but their chemical composition and physical properties are different. Both natural and lab-grown diamonds can be assessed by carat weight, cut, colour and clarity.