Lab Grown vs Natural Diamonds: The Biggest Industry Shift Yet | Lucira | FOWR17 Ragini Varma

Are lab grown diamonds real? Should you buy natural or lab diamonds in 2026? And which one actually holds value?In this Valentine’s special episode, Rupesh Jain — Founder of Candere and Lucira breaks down the truth about lab grown diamonds vs natural diamonds, engagement ring trends, diamond pricing, and what modern buyers in India really want.From building Candere into a leading online jewellery brand to selling it to Kalyan to launching Lucira in the lab grown diamond space, Rupesh shares insider insights on how the diamond industry is evolving and what that means for proposals, weddings, and long-term value.Timestamps:(00:00) – Precap(01:38) – Rupesh’s Introduction(03:13) – Building Candere Online(04:44) – First Ever Order of Candere(06:05) – Why Lucira after Candere(08:34) – Importance of Designs in India(09:26) – Pushback on Lab Grown Diamonds(11:58) – Convincing People to Buy Lab Diamonds(13:50) – When People Buy Lab Diamonds(14:53) – How Lucira is Different(16:25) – Lessons from Candere to Lucira(16:42) – US Engagement Ring Trend(18:02) – Indian Women Shifting to Lab Diamonds(20:33) – Why Lab Diamond Consumption is Low in India(25:27) – Lab Grown Diamond Price Crash(27:58) – Wedding Ring Preferences Today(29:36) – Educating Tier 3 & Tier 4 Cities on Lab Diamonds(31:00) – What to Look for When Buying Diamonds(32:53) – Lab vs Natural Diamond Difference(33:44) – De Beers Marketing Campaign(35:20) – Why to Buy a Lab Diamond(38:03) – The Reddit Post Story(39:02) – Natural = Legacy and Lab = Choice(40:28) – Best Ring Choice for Your Partner(41:25) – The Overdone Trend(42:08) – Strategy of De Beers(43:31) – Rare vs Sustainable: What Wins?(44:50) – Emotional Value in Diamonds(45:36) – Are Customers Being Manipulated(47:14) – Is Luxury Jewellery Worth It?(48:30) – Celebrities Promoting Lab Diamonds(51:07) – City Wise Diamond Preference in India(52:27) – Influence on Consumers Preferences(53:06) – Future of Founder-Led Marketing(54:51) – Biggest Mistakes Brands are Making(56:23) – AI in Jewellery(57:44) – Internet Wants to Know(1:00:15) – Future of Lucira(1:01:28) – Why Listen to this Podcast(1:01:53) – Closing & Thank YouLinks:Fynd Out with Ragini Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fyndoutwithragini/Fynd Out Clips Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fyndoutclips/Ragini Varma Official: https://www.instagram.com/raginnivarma/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FyndOutwithRaginiAbout Fynd – Fynd is a global commerce platform that helps brands, retailers, and businesses build, manage, and scale their digital presence. Headquartered in Mumbai and backed by Reliance, Fynd powers online stores, omnichannel retail, logistics, and AI-driven experiences for over 2,300 brands. From e-commerce websites to AR try-ons, automation, and data-driven insights, Fynd enables businesses to create seamless customer experiences across online and offline channels — building the world’s most loved commerce ecosystem.