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Lab-Grown Diamond Brand Jewelbox Raises $3.2M to Fuel Nationwide Expansion

Backed by V3 Ventures and others, Kolkata-based startup aims to grow retail presence, bolster brand visibility, and expand its team across India.

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Kolkata-based lab-grown diamond jewellery brand Jewelbox has secured $3.2 million in pre-Series A funding, led by V3 Ventures, with participation from Atrium Angels, Dexter Ventures, Infinyte Club, Samarthya Capital, and existing investor JITO Incubation & Innovation Foundation (JIIF).

The company, co-founded in May 2022 by siblings Vidita Kochar Jain and Nipun Kochar, plans to use the fresh capital to scale operations, enhance brand visibility, and hire talent across core functions.

Currently operating eight stores across six Indian cities—Delhi, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Guwahati—Jewelbox is eyeing rapid growth, with a goal to expand to 30 retail locations by the end of 2025.

“The competition in the lab-grown diamond space is heating up, but we welcome it,” said Jain. “Whether it’s legacy brands, established entrepreneurs, or startups entering the space—it validates the category.”

Jewelbox, which sells its jewellery both online and offline, closed FY25 with an annual revenue run rate (ARR) of ₹38 crore, more than doubling from ₹16 crore in the previous year. The brand had earlier raised ₹3.7 crore in seed funding from JIIF in March 2024.

The funding comes at a time when lab-grown diamonds are gaining traction as a more sustainable and affordable alternative to natural diamonds. The segment is seeing increasing investor interest and consumer adoption.

The broader category is also drawing new entrants. Last month, Priyanka Gill, co-founder of the Good Glamm Group, launched Coluxe, a new lab-grown diamond brand that has already secured early-stage funding. Meanwhile, Bengaluru-based jewellery brand Giva is reportedly in talks with Creaegis to raise $80–100 million, valuing the company between $470–500 million, following its entry into lab-grown diamonds.

On the regulatory front, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently confirmed there are no plans for additional regulations, citing the industry’s healthy growth under a self-regulatory model.

Jewelbox and other emerging players—including Aukera, Giva, and Green Lab Diamonds—have also approached the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to dispute the classification of lab-grown diamonds as “synthetic,” arguing that it misrepresents their nature by equating them with lookalike simulants like cubic zirconia.

Commenting on the investment, Arjun Vaidya, co-founder and managing partner at V3 Ventures, said: “Less than 6% of Indians own diamonds today. With rising aspirations and growing awareness, lab-grown diamonds can democratize luxury in India—and Jewelbox is well-positioned to lead that change.”

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June Marked A Strong Rebound In India’s Gem and Jewellery Exports, Surging 26.51% Year-On-Year On Robust Demand Across Key Products and Global Markets

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India’s gem and jewellery exports recorded a strong recovery in June 2026, with gross exports rising 26.51% year-on-year to US$ 2.21 billion (Rs. 21,010.78 crore) compared to US$ 1.75 billion (Rs. 15,023.07 crore) in June 2025. The robust monthly performance was driven by healthy demand for gold jewellery, cut and polished diamonds, silver jewellery and platinum jewellery, lab-grown diamonds across key international markets.

For the April–June 2026 period, India’s overall gross gem and jewellery exports remained stable at US$ 6.61 billion (Rs. 62,588.61 crore), registering a marginal 0.04% growth in US Dollar terms and a 10.76% increase in Rupee terms over the corresponding period last year, demonstrating the sector’s resilience amid continued global economic uncertainties and elevated precious metal prices.

Commenting on the export performance, Shri Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said,

“The strong rebound in June exports reflects the resilience of India’s gem and jewellery sector amid an evolving global trade environment. While exports during the April–June quarter remained broadly stable, the sharp recovery in June is an encouraging sign for the months ahead. Continued demand from key markets, market diversification, and the benefits of recently concluded trade agreements such as the India–UK CETA are expected to further strengthen export growth. GJEPC will continue to work closely with the Government and industry stakeholders to enhance India’s global competitiveness and unlock new export opportunities.”

“The strong rebound in jewellery exports in June 2026 was supported by a significant correction in international gold prices. Gold prices declined by 10.28% month-on-month, falling from US$ 4,723.88 per troy ounce in May 2026 to US$ 4,238.32 per troy ounce in June 2026. The decline in bullion prices lowered raw material costs, enabling Indian exporters to offer more competitive prices in global markets. This improved price competitiveness, coupled with stronger demand in key overseas markets, boosted export volumes and strengthened buyer sentiment. Additionally, the successful participation of Indian exporters in major jewellery exhibitions in Kuwait and Sharjah further supported export orders and contributed to the strong recovery in June exports.  However, the problems in availability of gold to exporters continue due to a technical regulatory issue of GST applicability at the import level by the Nominated Agencies notified by RBI. Council is working with the Govt to resolve this issue.”

June 2026: Product-wise Export Performance

  • Gold Jewellery (Plain & Studded) exports surged 54.50% year-on-year to US$ 1,087.74 million (Rs. 10,330.51 crore).
  • Plain Gold Jewellery exports grew 25.34% year-on-year to US$ 453.76 million (Rs. 4,311.43 crore). The growth was driven by strong demand from the UAE, USA, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UK.
  • Studded Gold Jewellery exports surged 85.35% to US$ 633.97 million (Rs. 6,019.08 crore), with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK emerging as the key export markets.
  • Cut & Polished Diamonds exports increased 8.71% to US$ 846.73 million (Rs. 8,039.30 crore), supported by healthy demand from the UAE, Hong Kong, Belgium, Canada, and the USA.
  • Silver Jewellery exports declined 23.98% to US$ 58.77 million (Rs. 557.52 crore) in June 2026.
  • Platinum Jewellery exports grew 34.77% to US$ 17.44 million (Rs. 165.55 crore), with the USA, UK, UAE, Germany, and Hong Kong being the principal export markets.
  • Polished Lab-Grown Diamonds exports recorded a robust 52.25% growth to US$ 101.35 million (Rs. 961.92 crore), driven by strong demand from Hong Kong, the UAE, Thailand, Canada, and the USA.
  • Coloured Gemstones exports declined 23.63% to US$ 26.26 million (Rs. 249.63 crore).

April–June 2026: Product-wise Export Performance

  • Gold Jewellery (Plain & Studded) exports stood at US$ 2.78 billion (Rs. 26,357.04 crore) during April–June 2026, registering a 2.35% decline compared with US$ 2.85 billion (Rs. 24,372.70 crore) in the corresponding period last year.
  • Plain Gold Jewellery exports declined 23.30% to US$ 1.13 billion (Rs. 10,704.54 crore) during April–June 2026, compared to US$ 1.47 billion (Rs. 12,611.39 crore) in the corresponding period last year.
  • Studded Gold Jewellery exports grew 20.10% to US$ 1.65 billion (Rs. 15,652.50 crore) from US$ 1.38 billion (Rs. 11,761.31 crore) in April–June 2025.
  • Cut & Polished Diamonds exports declined 4.13% to US$ 2.72 billion (Rs. 25,773.90 crore) compared to US$ 2.84 billion (Rs. 24,271.10 crore) in the corresponding period last year.
  • Silver Jewellery exports nearly doubled, rising 97.78% to US$ 431.30 million (Rs. 4,060.27 crore) from US$ 218.07 million (Rs. 1,865.38 crore) in April–June 2025.
  • Platinum Jewellery exports increased 27.66% to US$ 58.67 million (Rs. 554.81 crore) from US$ 45.96 million (Rs. 393.23 crore) during the corresponding period last year.
  • Polished Lab-Grown Diamonds exports increased 14.92% to US$ 296.24 million (Rs. 2,805.39 crore) from US$ 257.77 million (Rs. 2,204.84 crore) during the same period last year.
  • Coloured Gemstones exports declined 15% to US$ 82.25 million (Rs. 778.57 crore) compared to US$ 96.76 million (Rs. 826.93 crore) in April–June 2025.
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