Jewellery startup using lab-grown diamonds secures new funding

A start-up that makes jewellery using lab-grown diamonds and counts the Duchess of Sussex as a fan, has secured new funding to expand.

London-based Kimaï said it has raised $1.2 million (£927,000) from Talis Capital, a backer of cybersecurity tech group Darktrace, and others including former Cartier director Coralie de Fontenay and fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff.

Childhood friends Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus launched Kimaï in November last year.

Matus Maar, co-founder and managing partner at Talis Capital said his firm has been impressed by the founders' “vision and brilliant execution”. He added: "They know how to use technology to better engage with their customers and create ethical but also beautiful designs straight to your door.”

Minkoff said: “I’ve been impressed by Sidney and Jessica's expertise and vision for the future of the diamond industry and am excited to see the impact they will make.”

The diamonds are created in labs in the US and China, with the jewellery made in Belgium.

The finished products, which typically cost from £200 to £1000, are sold worldwide.