National News
Lucira secures $5.5 Million in Seed Funding led by Blume Ventures
Ex-Candere founder Rupesh Jain’s second innings attracts heavyweight backing from Blume Ventures, Spring Marketing Capital, SiriusOne Capital Fund, and marquee D2C founders
Lucira opens its first retail store in Mumbai this month; sets sights on aggressive omnichannel expansion
Lucira Jewelry, a design-first fine jewelry brand redefining sustainable luxury in India, today announced the completion of its $5.5 million fundraise, the largest ever seed round raised by a jewelry startup in the country to date. The round was led by Blume Ventures with participation from Spring Marketing Capital, SiriusOne Capital Fund and several individual investors, including the founders of Dot & Key, Livspace, Snitch, and Bewakoof.
Founded by jewelry veterans Rupesh and Vandana Jain, Lucira is on a mission to disrupt India’s fine jewelry market by blending world-class design, sustainability, and trust. The fundraise marks a high-conviction bet on Rupesh Jain’s “second innings” after building Candere into one of India’s earliest digital jewelry success stories, later acquired by Kalyan Jewellers.

Rupesh Jain, Co-Founder, Lucira expressed, “This fundraise is a strong validation of the white space we see in India’s fine jewelry market. Indian consumers are moving beyond buying jewelry only for investment, they are seeking design, authenticity, and a brand they can emotionally connect with. With this backing, we aim to make Lucira the most trusted design-first fine jewelry brand from India.”
In a short span since launch, Lucira has created a portfolio of more than 1,000 customizable lab grown diamond designs, each certified by IGI / GIA / SGL / BIS and backed with lifetime exchange and buyback guarantees.
The brand is launching its first retail store in Mumbai this month, signalling the beginning of its retail journey. With fresh capital, Lucira plans to open four new flagship stores by the end of FY2026, further strengthening its digital-first buying experience, and investing in technology-led personalization.
“Rupesh has already proven his ability to build and scale in this category with Candere’s successful exit,” said Karthik Reddy, Managing Partner at Blume Ventures. “What excites us most is Lucira’s omnichannel vision that is seamlessly blending cutting-edge digital experiences with physical retail. The speed of execution, combined with Rupesh’s deep understanding of Indian jewelry consumers, makes Lucira a strong contender to build the next category-defining brand.”

Building for the Long Term
The fresh capital will power Lucira’s next phase of growth. Plans include opening new flagship retail stores in FY2026, enhancing its digital-first customer journey, and strengthening its technology backbone. The company is also investing in scaling its design studio and hiring top talent to build a culture of craftsmanship and innovation.
“Our vision is to cement Lucira as India’s most design-first fine jewelry brand, and that requires building strategically on three fronts, design leadership, omnichannel presence, and consumer trust. This fundraise is a vote of confidence from partners who understand we’re not just selling jewelry, we’re shifting mindsets.” added Rupesh Jain. “We’re investing heavily in our design studio, scaling physical retail alongside digital, and ensuring every piece comes with trusted certification and guarantees. This structured approach is how we see Lucira becoming the go-to fine jewelry brand for a new generation of Indian consumers.” Cumulative Ventures acted as the sole advisor to the transaction. Novolex served as legal advisor to Lucira Jewelry.
National News
GJEPC Presents Pre-Budget Recommendations to Boost Exports and Ease of Doing Business
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) submitted its set of pre-budget proposals to the Government of India in New Delhi on 7th November, aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business and driving export growth.
The delegation, led by Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, along with Anoop Mehta, Convener, Diamond Panel; K. Srinivasan, Convener, Gold Panel; and Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, presented key recommendations addressing critical industry needs.
Among the major proposals were a liberalised taxation framework for rough diamond trading in Special Notified Zones—aligned with international hubs such as Israel, Dubai, and Belgium—and an extension of customs duty exemption on lab-grown diamond seeds beyond March 2026, to support India’s rapidly expanding LGD sector.
GJEPC also sought retrospective applicability of the ±0.01 mm height variance rule (2014–2025) for re-imported diamonds sent for certification and grading, ad-valorem duty drawbacks for gold and silver, and the inclusion of platinum jewellery and gold articles in the drawback scheme.
To attract foreign tourists, the Council recommended a comprehensive tax refund mechanism covering GST, Basic Customs Duty, and Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC), supported by digital integration and refund counters at airports.
Further proposals included greater flexibility for SEZs—allowing reverse job work, domestic sales on duty payment, and “Bill to, Ship to” procurement—to streamline logistics.
GJEPC also urged the reduction of import duty on cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones from 5% to 2.5%, abolition of duty on rough gemstones, and enhancement of personal carriage limits for overseas exhibitions and business tours.
Highlighting industry challenges, the Council appealed for relief from transfer pricing penalties under Section 271(6), citing the industry’s thin profit margins and established judicial precedents supporting its compliance approach.
-
GlamBuzz1 week agoKushals Fashion and Silver Jewellery shines bright with Sanya Malhotra as its Brand Ambassador in the North and Priyanka Mohan in the South
-
GlamBuzz9 hours agoTamannaah, Samantha, and Janhvi Kapoor Dazzle in Stunning Jewellery and Couture Moments
-
National News7 hours agoANOR Redefines Luxury: Pioneering Premium Lab-Grown Diamond Jewellery for India’s Elite
-
BrandBuzz2 days agoWhen your Love Speaks its own Language, Seal it with Platinum Love Bands


