The study, completed by The Knot, a wedding planning company, involved a survey of more than 10,000 US couples who got married in 2025.
The 2026 Real Weddings Study found that 61 per cent of consumers who participated in the survey had purchased an engagement ring featuring a lab-created diamond, a 239 per cent increase since 2020.
The report found that, on average, consumers paid $USD4,600 for engagement rings in 2025, a decline from the previous year. The average diamond size increased to 1.9 carats from 1.7 carats in the previous survey. 83 per cent of consumers purchased a white diamond, while moissanite and sapphire were the most popular non-diamond selections.
"Research starts early, with 57 per cent of proposers beginning their ring search more than six months before the proposal," the report explains.
"Selection and purchase take place much closer to the proposal date. 77 per cent say they spent four months or less on the selection/purchase process, and 63 per cent purchased the ring within two months of proposing.
"Ring selection is increasingly a joint effort, with 79 per cent of ring recipients participating in the process. Only 21 per cent of rings are selected without any input from the recipients, and one in four couples now shop at a retailer together before the proposal."
Around 38 per cent of participants selected a solitaire stone setting, while round (26 per cent) remained the most popular shape, followed by oval (25 per cent).
Yellow gold was the most in-demand precious metal at 39 per cent, while white gold reportedly saw a decline in popularity. Nearly 90 per cent of participants chose a custom-made ring, or at least altered it in some way.
The study found that more than half of participants believed it is important to shop for jewellery in person, with consumers visiting an average of two stores. More than 60 per cent of consumers made their purchases in physical stores rather than online.
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