Gold & Diamond Market Update: 2026

Posted on | August 31, 2026 | No Comments

New URL, same blog. It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I was surprised to see that my last post in April of 2025 was about $3,000 gold. Now it’s been floating at $4500 per ounce! It even went to $5,500 earlier in the year. The same economic factors that caused metals to spike a year ago are still in play now. Inflation, weakening dollar, uncertain times and war all contribute to the gold spike. I think it will stay steady for the next year, but there will be big swings when the fed or president make comments about interest rates and the economy.

A more interesting and long lasting shift is occurring in the diamond market. Lab grown diamonds, or as they are now being labeled, synthetic stones, have taken their long awaited spot as low cost fashion jewelry. The diamond market got completely ROCKED (pun intended) for the past 5 years, as 50% bridal consumers shifted to lab grown. What happened was, the one carat engagement ring completely died. In turn, 1-1.5 carat diamonds have been super soft in the market.

Deco Old European Cut Ring

However, there is one bright spot in diamonds that caters to our clientele and specialty. OLD cuts are hot! Old mine, Old European and long old cushion cut diamonds have all made comebacks, thanks to Taylor Swift, and thanks to people wanting unique diamonds, not common modern cuts. We used to take our old cuts and recut them into “ideal cuts.” Remember those? Now, we want them to hold that old classic look from the early part of the 20th century. Vintage is back and we LOVE old, vintage and classic cut diamonds.

So, as I’ve always said, it’s adapt or die. Did small diamonds get crushed? Yes, but big old rocks are here to stay!