Diamonds are forever, that much is certain. From Audrey Hepburn’s sparkling splendour in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to a more modern-day muse — Hailey Bieber, donning a chic tennis necklace on the regular with much more unassuming outfits, diamonds, through the ages, have endured as a hallmark of elegance and affluence. And while we all dream of a sparkling bracelet catching the light, or a whopping pair of diamond studs twinkling in our ears, the reality is — for most, they sit well outside of the budget. But that’s all about to change.
There’s a new category of diamonds emerging, making luxury jewellery much more accessible, and ‘everyday diamonds’ entirely possible. We’re talking, of course, about lab-grown diamonds — virtually identical to mined diamonds in every way but their origins and setting a whole new benchmark for everyday luxury.
As Bianca Ray — the new local authority on lab-grown diamond jewellery, officially launches in New Zealand, we sat down with a friend of the brand to talk accessible luxury, mined vs lab-grown, our design process, and more.
Welcome to the world of Bianca Ray.
Tell me about Bianca Ray, how would you describe the brand?
Bianca Ray is an elevated jewellery brand, specialising in pure, ethical, and everlasting lab-grown diamonds crafted for everyday luxury.
When conceiving the brand and our offering, it was all about being inspired by any European holiday we’ve ever taken — where you beach all day, have long lunches by the sea, and enjoy a drink in the sun at any hour. This is where we see our lab-grown diamond pieces living, with you on a coastal holiday, made to be worn — not to sit tucked away in a box for a one-off special occasion. This inspiration is where the brand designs and colour cues came from; our Italian ocean green, the Aperol orange, and the sandstone beige — they all embody this.
Where did the idea come from?
Maya: Talia and I had always wanted coveted certain jewellery pieces — things like a diamond tennis bracelet or necklace, or bigger stud earrings, but they always came with a huge price tag making them unattainable. We set out to find these pieces at a more accessible price point, and in doing so, we discovered (and fell in love with) lab-grown diamonds. They are physically and visually identical to mined diamonds, but just have a different origin, so suddenly all of the pieces you’ve been dreaming of are within your price range. And so the idea was born to develop a brand that leans into using lab-grown diamonds and making pieces that we’ve always wanted as part of our everyday collection — which is exactly what our first range offers.
What are three words that you would use to describe the vibe of Bianca Ray?
Elevated. Everlasting. Effortless. (Also, luxury and chic).
What ignited your passion for jewellery?
Talia: My husband is a jeweller and has always had his own business, so I’ve always been involved in the industry. Then when lab-grown diamonds came onto our radar we thought there was a real gap for a brand to lean into making really premium jewellery pieces using high quality, 14 karat gold and lab-grown diamonds. Maya and I have known each other for years and her background in brand marketing made us a perfect pair. We’ve loved the whole process, and being able to design and create jewellery pieces that we’ve always wanted has been a bit of a dream come true to be honest. We can’t wait to share this with everyone else and work on some exciting new ideas and ranges for summer.
What initially sparked your interest in lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are truly incredible and have blown our minds. They are real diamonds in every sense (physically, visually, structurally) — with the only difference being that one has been mined from the earth, and one was grown in a lab. We love the fact that you can now have those coveted pieces like a tennis bracelet which would cost you $40,000+ in mined diamonds, at a more accessible price point.
Are there any aesthetic differences between lab-grown and mined diamonds? How do you ensure the brilliance and quality of your stones?
No, in fact a jeweller would have trouble identifying the difference and often it’s down to the fact that one is more perfect (the lab-grown). Our diamonds are classed by the four C’s and we only use the best quality stones, with the colour always being D-G and the clarity is always VS+. Every lab-grown diamond over .50 carats sold through Bianca Ray also comes with a detailed and traceable certification from the International Gemological Institute (IGI) — world leaders in grading, education, and accreditation.
It’s no secret that lab-grown diamonds are more affordable. Was making luxury diamonds more accessible to a wider audience important to you when creating Bianca Ray, and if so, why?
Absolutely. Making luxury jewellery more accessible was a big driver behind Bianca Ray. We loved the idea that we could offer these stunning pieces, set in 14 karat gold, for a price tag that invited a much wider audience into the world of diamonds and luxury jewellery. What excites us most about the brand is the fact that you can achieve a previously unattainable set of 3ct diamond studs, set in 14K gold for the same price of a 0.5ct set of mined earrings.
Diamonds have often been associated with glitz and glam, celebrity culture, and special occasion wear. How is your brand redefining the meaning and symbolism of diamonds for the modern wearer?
All of those things still apply, but we want to shift the narrative of the occasion. Bianca Ray’s diamonds are made to wear every day. Our first collection offers stunning, high-quality pieces that you can wear diving into the ocean or soaking up the sun, so our branding and wearing inspiration will always be around these moments more so than glitzy events and special occasions.
There are quite a few misconceptions about lab-grown diamonds, are there any that feel important for you to shift with Bianca Ray?
For us, it’s about communicating that lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds in every way except their origins, and at Bianca Ray, we only use the highest quality materials with designs that are timeless, and made to last forever. Our diamonds are classed by the typical 4 C’s (Colour, Carat, Cut & Clarity), and accredited by the same institutions that grade mined diamonds.
Luxury is often associated with exclusivity and rarity. How do lab-grown diamonds fit into the evolving definition of luxury today?
For us, it’s about being able to offer those pieces at the same refined, premium quality — but for less. We also think today’s definition of exclusivity often includes values like transparency and sustainability, both of which lab-grown diamonds come up trumps in. Another thing we often hear talked about is how lab-grown diamonds might not hold their value as well long-term and that you might not get as much if you sell them later. But the fact is, you’re paying around 70% less for a lab-grown diamond compared to a mined diamond. That means more money in your pocket to invest in other things or to finally take that extended holiday to Europe you've been dreaming about!
Do you have plans to evolve your brand beyond traditional diamond jewellery?
Yes! The everyday range is just a starting point, but we have already been working on a few new ranges to launch before summer and Christmas, so get those gifting wish lists ready.
What’s your favourite Bianca Ray piece, and why?
We both think that the Sunset Studs are so simple, yet so stunning, and the perfect piece to upgrade your current, smaller diamonds to something striking that will have people stopping you in the street. But if you’re looking for a truly special forever piece, the 3 claw Riviera Tennis Necklace is something else.
Interview and words from a friend of the brand x