De Beers Launches Larger Lab-Grown Diamonds

RAPAPORT... De Beers will introduce stones of up to 2 carats from its Lightbox lab-grown diamond jewelry line, along with a high-end collection.The company, which previously only offered pieces up to 1 carat, will release the larger-sized pink, blue and white stones in October, it said last week. The new stones will follow the brand's previous pricing of $800 per carat, meaning a 1.5-carat diamond would cost $1,200, and 2 carats would sell for $1,600, plus the price of the setting. Lightbox will also add various new diamond cuts and a 14-karat gold setting for its jewelry in early 2022.Meanwhile, the company has launched a higher-quality product range called Finest, which is created using Lightbox's chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology with refinements that enhance the color of its lab-grown diamonds. This technique guarantees the synthetic stones will be D to F color, with VVS clarity and an excellent cut, De Beers noted. Lab-grown diamonds from the Finest collection will come in white, blue and pink - similar to the original line - but will only be available in sizes up to 1 carat. Prices of those goods will be $1,500 per carat.The Lightbox website will feature the products in October, and they will debut at brick-and-mortar and online retail partners early next year.Image: A woman wearing earrings from the Finest collection. (Lightbox Jewelry)