Ive been seeing this same type of article for decades now. I bought a 2 karrat flawless lab grown diamond in 2005 for around $2k, and according to this article that size sells for $3,500. Prices have increased it seems. I assumed they would drop as more were made.

You shouldn't have gotten a 2 carat diamond that cheap at that time. Either you got a really great deal for some idiosyncratic reason or your recollection is off.

Here's an example article from the era: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2004/02/14/y...

Inflation is probably why the number is higher now.

A year ago I picked up a 1ct hearts and arrows (D/E. VVS1/2, IGI certificate) from AliExpress for $360. I can see the hearts and arrows and it tests as diamond. A few months later an article came out about how lab diamonds stack up against mined, and the author had also bought one with similar characteristics from AliExpress for even less.

I just checked the same store and they're (not H&A but same other stats) running around $125 plus a $14 tariff.

According to the inflation calculator at bls.gov, $2000 in June 2005 has the same buying power as $3,317 in June 2025. So in real terms the price is about the same.

The _new_ price has doubtless gone up, as inflationary valuation benefits to the manufacturer / vendors.

The resale value of your item has gone down.

A price appreciation of about 75% over roughly 20 years.