DiamondBuzz
Firefly Diamonds Raises $3 Million to Expand Retail and R&D for Lab-Grown Diamond Jewellery
The funding will help Firefly Diamonds increase its retail footprint across India and accelerate the development of new jewellery collections, as the lab-grown diamond market gains momentum.
Firefly Diamonds, a startup specializing in lab-grown diamond jewellery, has secured $3 million in a seed funding round led by WestBridge Capital. The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand its retail presence and accelerate research and development for new jewellery collections. Currently, Firefly operates stores in four cities—Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—and aims to grow its presence to over 20 locations within the next two years.
This investment comes amid growing competition in India’s $2.6 billion lab-grown diamond (LGD) market, which has seen a surge in startup activity. Many of Firefly’s competitors, such as Aukera Jewellery, Limelight Lab Grown Diamonds, and GIVA, have either raised funds or are in the process of securing investments.
Adit Bhansali, co-founder of Firefly Diamonds, said, “Our brand is built on a legacy of trust, innovation, and craftsmanship. With over 60 years of expertise in jewellery manufacturing and design, we ensure that every piece reflects unparalleled quality and excellence. With this funding, we wish to usher in a new era of Indian luxury, celebrating beauty, individuality, and fine craftsmanship.”
Founded in December 2023, Firefly offers a range of lab-grown diamond jewellery set in 14K and 18K gold. The brand also provides several customer initiatives, such as the Firefly Try at Home service, the Firefly Sparkle Plan (an instalment-based savings plan), an Old Gold Exchange program, and Firefly Reserve, a bespoke line of high-end jewellery.
The lab-grown diamond market in India is rapidly growing, with an estimated value of $2.61 billion in 2023. It is expected to reach $8.31 billion by 2032, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.73%. While traditional jewellers continue to dominate the market, no clear leader has emerged in the LGD segment, providing room for startups like Firefly to grow in the space.
As of now, India is home to 2,836 internet-first jewellery startups, with 262 receiving funding. However, only 79 of these startups have raised Series A funding, underscoring the competitive nature of the market.
DiamondBuzz
Diamond Slump forces Debswana to diversify into copper, platinum and solar
Diamond-centric mining models is giving way to broader resource portfolios
Debswana Diamond Company, the 50–50 joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers, is moving to diversify into copper, platinum and renewable energy as the prolonged downturn in natural diamond demand pressures earnings and forces the industry to rethink its growth strategy.
The company’s board has approved plans to invest in a portfolio of non-diamond projects after revenue fell 46% in 2024, the latest available financial year, highlighting the scale of the downturn in the global diamond market.
The move signals a strategic shift toward commodities with stronger long-term demand fundamentals, particularly copper, which is central to global electrification and energy-transition infrastructure.
Debswana’s diversification reflects a broader industry pivot as diamond producers confront weak consumer demand, rising competition from lab-grown stones and elevated inventories across the supply chain.
The shift is also visible among smaller exploration companies. Botswana Diamonds recently rebranded as Botswana Minerals, signalling its own strategic focus on copper exploration rather than diamonds.
Together, these moves underscore a growing consensus across the sector: the era of diamond-centric mining models is giving way to broader resource portfolios anchored in energy-transition metals.
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