The Henan cluster produces over 50% of the world's lab-grown diamonds. Here's who makes what, where the real power sits, and how to source intelligently.
If you're buying lab-grown diamonds, you need to understand Henan. Three cities — Zhengzhou, Xuchang, and Shangqiu — form a triangle that produces the majority of the world's HPHT and a rapidly growing share of CVD diamonds. This isn't marketing fluff; it's physics, policy, and industrial heritage converging in one place.
Henan didn't become the diamond capital by accident. In the 1960s, China needed industrial diamonds for manufacturing and infrastructure — drill bits, cutting tools, abrasives. The government placed synthetic diamond research in Zhengzhou, home to the country's leading super-hard materials institute. Over 60 years, that industrial base evolved from grinding grit to gem-quality stones.
Three historical advantages locked in Henan's dominance:
What they're known for: The HPHT powerhouse. 15 years of focused HPHT expertise. They consistently deliver D-F color in commercial volumes — their color yield (30-40% D-F) is among the best in the industry. Also the leader in large-stone HPHT (2-3ct routinely achievable).
Our take: Go-to supplier when you need high-color HPHT stones in volume. They're a public company, so transparency and audit trails are built in. Lead times are competitive for HPHT.
Base: Shangqiu (柘城)
What they're known for: The only major player with meaningful scale in both HPHT and CVD. Their dual-technology position gives them flexibility that single-tech competitors can't match. International quality standards — they've invested heavily in export-grade production lines.
Our take: Best choice when you need a mixed batch (HPHT center stones + CVD accents). Their international compliance is stronger than most. Publicly listed, good for due-diligence-conscious buyers.
Base: Xuchang (长葛)
What they're known for: Military-grade CVD. As a subsidiary of China's state-owned arms conglomerate, they bring defense-sector quality control to diamond production. Their VVS clarity rates are industry-leading because they operate under standards designed for precision optics, not jewelry.
Our take: The choice for premium CVD. Batch-to-batch consistency is their superpower. Downside: as a state-owned enterprise, they're less flexible on pricing and custom specs than private competitors.
Base: Nanyang
What they're known for: The agile HPHT specialist. Smaller than Liliang but leaner on cost structure. Their D-F color yield is comparable to Liliang's, and their pricing can be 5-10% more competitive on spot orders because they carry lower overhead.
Our take: Great for cost-sensitive HPHT orders. Private company, so relationship matters more than with the listed players. We've sourced successfully here for clients who prioritize price without sacrificing color.
Base: Shangqiu (柘城)
What they're known for: The veteran. One of the earliest entrants into gem-quality HPHT, with deep technical roots. Their equipment is often older-generation but impeccably maintained — think of them as the craftsman's choice. Lower volume, higher per-stone attention.
Our take: Best for boutique orders — unusual sizes, custom specs, or quality-over-quantity runs. Not the choice for high-volume commodity orders.
Base: Zhengzhou
Buying from Henan isn't just about picking a factory. The cluster's real power is the ecosystem around the factories:
We're physically present in the cluster. When a supplier tells you "the stones are ready," we walk into the factory and verify. When color grading looks borderline, we bring a comparison set and check in person. When a batch has quality variance, we catch it before it ships — not after it lands at your door.
That's the difference between "sourcing from China" and being represented in China. Let's talk about your next order. →