This morning, Diamond Foundry premiered, a new California-based lab-grown diamond producer that is backed by Leonardo DiCaprio as well as “10 billionaires,” including the founder of Twitter. DiCaprio, who starred in Blood Diamond, tweeted about the company today.
Unlike other lab-diamond manufacturers, it is selling its stones with jewelry—and designer jewelry at that. Here, head of commercial relations Alon Ben-Shoshan talked to JCK via email about this intriguing new company.
JCK: How do you produce your diamonds? Is it a variation of HPHT, CVD, or microwave?
Alon Ben-Shoshan: Our process is an evolution of CVD technology, with profoundly different reactor technology based on a 10x more intense plasma as well as 10x higher energy efficiency.
We designed our technology from scratch to handle semiconductor-grade production standards.
All of our diamonds are warranted by us. We proudly identify their origin. We support the mining association’s efforts of clear labeling.
JCK: Will you be selling these pieces as jewelry?
Ben-Shoshan: Yes, we are also launching a curated marketplace of designers online. We are starting with two dozen distinguished designers including JCK [Jewelers’ Choice] Best Ring design award winners.
JCK: Will they be sold wholesale?
Ben-Shoshan: I strongly believe in embracing the existing industry, and that means working through traditional sales channels as well.
JCK: Will you offer any kind of marking that specifies their origin?
Ben-Shoshan: We are committed to educating consumers about this new option that they now have when shopping for a diamond. One of our key tenets is transparency, and we are very proud of our diamonds’ origin.
