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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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National News

Modest Uptick in Gold and Silver Prices as Global Macroeconomic Factors Continue to Influence Market Sentiment

The Surge in Energy Costs has Concurrently Kept the U.S. Dollar Elevated, Creating a Complex Trading Environment for Domestic Commodities

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There was a modest uptick in gold and silver prices as global macroeconomic factors—specifically crude oil volatility and a firming U.S. Dollar—continue to influence market sentiment. Gold and silver showed the following movements on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX): Gold (MCX): Traded at Rs 1,48,745 per 10 grams, representing a 0.14% increase from its previous close. Silver (MCX): Surged to Rs 2,38,699 per kilogram, an appreciation of 0.57%.

This follows earlier morning volatility (09:37 IST), where gold briefly dipped 0.08% to Rs 1,48,410 before recovering in response to shifting global indicators.

The upward movement in precious metals coincides with Brent crude oil prices stabilizing near the $110 per barrel mark. This sustained pricing follows the recent U.S. decision to extend the blockade around Iranian ports, fueling supply-side concerns. The surge in energy costs has concurrently kept the U.S. Dollar elevated, creating a complex trading environment for domestic commodities.

Brent crude at $110 remains a significant headwind for the domestic economy. As long as energy prices remain at these elevated levels, investors anticipate a persistent downside risk to India’s growth and a heightened upside risk to inflation.

While futures markets indicate a broad upward trend, retail gold prices continue to vary across Indian cities based on local taxes, duties, and purity levels (22K vs. 24K). Investors are advised to monitor the Federal Reserve’s upcoming announcement, as it will provide further direction for interest rate trajectories and the subsequent valuation of non-yielding assets like gold.

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