E D I TO R ’S LETTER
KEEPING UP WITH LAB-GROWN
T
The latest Muzo x Argyle collaboration, Majestique, is a dazzlingly luxurious collection. In my dream jewelry box: these Ivy earrings in 18-karat gold with octagonal step-cut, no-oil emeralds of 1.50 and 1.25 carats, 3.99 carats of white diamonds, and 0.32 carats of intense-pink diamonds.
8 JUNE 2022
DIAMONDS.NET
Sonia Esther Soltani
EDITOR IN CHIEF
S O N IA . S O LTA N I @ DIA MO N DS.N ET
IMAGES: MUZO; SHUTTERSTOCK
EDITOR'S PICK
rust Kim Kardashian to create a buzz — and a controversy — at a highly publicized event. Wearing the dress in which Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1962 was a move guaranteed to grab headlines. Surely the iconic gown belongs more to a museum than the Met Gala. But it was her partner Pete Davidson’s choice of jewelry that I found more interesting. His custom-made pieces came from Antwerp-based Or & Elle, a fourth-generation family business that has embraced lab-grown diamonds. With a few man-made creations popping up at recent red-carpet events, it seems that synthetics have made it. Celebs are investing in lab-grown ventures, and stylists are adorning their clients with jewels branded as sustainable. Our editorial team has put together a special report on this segment of the market (starting on Page 20), from how the lab-grown narrative has evolved to why some heritage houses are moving on from natural stones. The report also addresses the burning issue of pricing, as well as the role Lightbox has played in the way we view synthetics. I hope you’ll take the time to read it and let us know your thoughts. And if you’re seeing this in Las Vegas, I wish you a successful and fun time at the shows!