IGI Reports Lab-Grown Demand Led Its Latest Certification Revenue Growth
IDEX reports on IGI's latest certification results and the split between its lab-grown and natural diamond business. Read the full article for the segment figures.
Read original on IdexonlineExecutive Summary
IGI's latest results set out how much of its certification growth now comes from lab-grown stones versus natural diamonds. The shifting mix is a useful read on where retail volume is actually going, and the breakdown is at the source.
Industry Impact
Certification volume is one of the cleaner proxies for what consumers are buying because a stone is graded when it is about to be sold. A grading laboratory leaning more on lab-grown work tells the natural trade that unit volume at retail is tilting toward the synthetic product, even where natural still carries more value per report. For natural-diamond manufacturers, the signal is about where the floor of commercial demand sits, not the high end, which behaves differently. Dealers should watch which laboratory a given parcel is certified by and whether grading cost and turnaround still fit the margin on lower-value goods.
Next Steps
- Read certification mix as a volume signal for where retail units are moving.
- Keep natural and lab-grown performance separate in every demand assessment.
- Check grading cost and turnaround against the margin on lower-value natural goods.
- Confirm which laboratory your customers require before committing certified inventory.