Limelight Diamonds raises Rs 275 crore to scale lab-grown jewellery to 200 stores by 2027

Lab-grown diamond brand Limelight Diamonds secured Rs 275 crore led by promoters Bhathwari Group to expand manufacturing and retail. The Mumbai-based brand targets 100 stores in 2026 and 200 by 2027, building on 75+ exclusive outlets across 45+ cities.

— Source publishedWed, 1 Jul, 2026, 17:56 IST·First seen Thu, 2 Jul, 2026, 09:56 IST·Source ET Retail

What happened

Lab grown diamond jewellery brand Limelight Diamonds raised Rs 275 crore led by promoters Bhathwari Group to expand manufacturing and retail across India,

Key facts

  • Rs 275 crore
  • 100 stores in 2026
  • 200 stores by 2027
  • 75+ exclusive outlets
  • 45+ cities

Why this matters

A vertically integrated lab-grown brand scaling manufacturing and retail simultaneously becomes a prime consolidation or partnership target as the LGD category matures in India.

What to watch

  • Store-count run-rate vs the 100-in-2026 milestone
  • Lab-grown wholesale price index and retail ASP trends
  • Competitor LGD SKU launches and ad spend from Tanishq/CaratLane/Giva
  • Same-store sales and per-store payback disclosures
  • Gold/natural-diamond price swings shifting consumer substitution
  • Follow-on external funding vs promoter-only dependence
  • Secure anchor mall/high-street leases in top 20 cities ahead of 2026 rollout
  • Vertically integrate manufacturing to defend margins against falling stone prices
  • Launch affordability/EMI and lightweight fashion lines to drive footfall volume
  • Ramp brand-trust and certification messaging to counter LGD 'resale value' skepticism
  • Build franchise/FOFO model to fund expansion capital-light beyond promoter round