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Candere Founder Rupesh Jain Launches Lab-Grown Diamond jewelry Brand Lucira; Taps into Booming Industry Potential

The company plans aggressive two-year roadmap for phased omnichannel expansion

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Rupesh Jain, the digital jewelry pioneer who built Candere into one of India’s most successful online fine jewelry platforms before its acquisition by Kalyan Jewellers, is returning to the spotlight with a bold new venture, Lucira. A modern lab-grown diamond jewelry brand, Lucira is built for today’s conscious, design-forward consumer and aims to transform the way people engage with fine jewelry.

Positioning itself as the unrivalled “Rings King,” Lucira focuses exclusively on celebrating proposals, weddings, anniversaries, and personal achievements with intentional design and ethical brilliance. Lucira is born out of a simple but powerful idea: that luxury can be meaningful, personal, and responsible. Inspired by the Latin word Lucent, meaning “to shine,” the brand represents purity, brilliance, and a commitment to illuminating life’s most cherished moments with jewelry that reflects values as much as beauty. Merging heritage craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation, Lucira combines AI-led personalization, certified lab-grown diamonds, and a seamless digital-first experience to build trust and intimacy in an industry that has traditionally relied on opaqueness and excess.

The launch of Lucira comes at a time when lab-grown diamonds are reshaping the fine jewelry landscape, both in India and globally. These diamonds are physically, visually, and chemically identical to mined diamonds, offering the same brilliance and longevity—but at a significantly lower financial cost. Certified by IGI, GIA, SGL, and Hallmark, Lucira diamonds offer complete transparency and assurance of quality. Each piece is handcrafted by artisans who blend traditional techniques with contemporary elegance, creating jewelry that celebrates individuality and connection.

Currently available online with nationwide delivery, Lucira will soon debut its flagship experience stores in key metros, followed by an ambitious retail expansion across India and global markets. With a phased omnichannel growth strategy, the brand is poised to become India’s first global lab-grown diamond luxury house.

Rupesh Jain, Founder of Lucira said, “Our vision is to create a premium, design-led fine jewelry destination that begins online and extends into beautifully curated physical spaces. With AI-powered customization, virtual try-ons, and seamless e-commerce, we’re meeting customers where they are digitally native, value-conscious, and experience-driven. Our upcoming flagship stores will bring this vision to life, blending the ease of technology with the emotion of touch. As we expand across India and into global markets, our goal is simple: to make Lucira synonymous with modern luxury that’s personal, purposeful, and proudly Indian.”

Lucira is carving a niche in the fast-evolving bridal jewelry space, with a sharp focus on solitaires, bespoke engagement rings, eternity bands, and convertible pieces for everyday wear. The brand has introduced five exclusive signature cuts, each designed to maximize light, emotion, and brilliance. These aren’t just rings, they’re declarations of love, symbols of milestones, and heirlooms reimagined for a new generation.

Jain added, “Lucira is about elevating meaningful moments with timeless design and ethical brilliance. We’re not just shaping rings, we’re shaping what they represent in today’s world.

For Rupesh Jain, Lucira is more than a comeback, it’s a vision for the future of fine jewelry. One where innovation, ethics, and emotional resonance converge. India’s robust diamond manufacturing ecosystem and supportive government policies provide an ideal backdrop for Lucira’s ambitions. Jain believes India is uniquely positioned to become a major supplier and brand builder in the global LGD market, which has already seen strong demand in international markets as well.

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Gold loans surge: Borrowers pivot to secured credit on  soaring gold prices

Driven by surging bullion prices, regulatory tightening on unsecured debt, and evolving consumer perceptions

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Driven by surging bullion prices, regulatory tightening on unsecured debt, and evolving consumer perceptions, gold loans in India are expanding at their fastest pace in years. Recent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows bank loans against gold jewellery jumped 88.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) in July 2026, while Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) recorded a 68.5% y-o-y increase. 

​This trajectory significantly outpaces broader retail credit lines. In comparison, combined NBFC retail loans grew by 21.4% y-o-y, and overall bank personal loans expanded by just 16.2% over the same period. 

​​Key Market Drivers Fueling the Boom

​Soaring Collateral Value: Domestic gold prices nearly doubled from ₹74,152 per 10 grams in September 2024 to ₹1,51,687 by September 2026. This appreciation allows borrowers to secure higher loan values against the same physical gold. The average gold loan ticket size grew from roughly ₹1 lakh in FY24 to ₹1.7 lakh in FY26.

​Tighter Regulatory Norms for Unsecured Credit: Following the RBI’s 2023 risk-weight hikes on consumer credit (raising weights from 100% to 125% for personal loans and up to 150% for NBFC credit cards), lenders shifted focus toward gold-backed collateral.

​Higher Loan-to-Value (LTV) Caps: Under revised regulatory frameworks effective April 1, 2026, the RBI replaced the flat 75% LTV cap with a tiered structure, allowing up to 85% LTV for loans up to ₹2.5 lakh, enabling greater liquidity access for small-ticket borrowers.

Streamlined Origination & Lower Rates: Gold loans remain highly cost-effective, typically priced between 8.5% and mid-20% per annum compared to 10–30% for personal loans. Loans under ₹2.5 lakh require minimal documentation, bypassing formal income proof and mandatory credit checks.

​Expanding Borrower Demographics

​The gold loan portfolio outstanding reached ₹22.7 trillion in August 2026, accompanied by broadening demographic participation.

Data from CRIF India reveals expanding participation among women borrowers—who now account for 42.3% of the outstanding portfolio—alongside a rise in “low risk” credit profiles (increasing from 41% to 48.6%), indicating widespread adoption among financially stable households and younger borrowers viewing gold as an active financial instrument.

​Advisory for Borrowers

​Industry experts urge borrowers to exercise prudence despite easy accessibility:

​Evaluate Total Costs: Beyond headline interest rates, assess processing fees, valuation charges, and renewal costs before committing.

​Choose the Right Structure: Match earnings cycles to repayment modes—EMIs suit steady salary earners by reducing principal interest over time, whereas bullet payments suit lump-sum incomes but accrue higher cumulative interest.

​Avoid Over-Leveraging: Borrowing at the maximum 85% LTV limit leaves no buffer against potential market price dips, which could prompt unexpected margin calls or additional collateral demands from lenders.

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