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Lab-Grown Diamond Jewelry Set Sells for $55K at Charity Auction
Monique Lhuillier and Kay Jewelers collaborated to create the pieces, which were offered at the recent Baby2Baby gala.
The custom lab-grown diamond jewelry set was intentionally designed for the Baby2Baby gala auction, an event hosted by the nonprofit organization to raise support for its mission of providing children living in poverty with basic necessities. Seen here is the “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” necklace, one of the four pieces from the collaborative set.
West Hollywood, Calif.—Fashion and bridal designer Monique Lhuillier has collaborated with Kay Jewelers to create a custom lab-grown diamond jewelry ensemble that was auctioned for charity at the 2024 Baby2Baby gala in November.
The “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” set includes a necklace, ring, bracelet, and earrings, all set in 18-karat white gold and together featuring 350 lab-grown diamonds totaling about 97 carats.
Each piece was auctioned separately, with all selling but the bracelet, in the 24-lot sale featuring fine jewelry and timepieces, artwork, and experiences.
The set (minus the bracelet) realized for a total of $55,000, less than its estimate of $132,000.
The necklace, estimated at $60,000, sold for $30,000; the earrings, estimated at $30,000, sold for $15,000; and the ring, estimated at $20,000, sold for $10,000.
“The Baby2Baby organization does incredible work, and we’re thrilled to contribute to their mission in a meaningful way by donating a one-of-a-kind, custom jewelry ensemble that helped raise funds for a worthy cause and made a positive impact, both within the jewelry industry and in the broader community,” said Lisa Ingram, Signet vice president of merchandising.
The “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” set includes a necklace, ring, bracelet, and earrings, all set in 18-karat white gold and together featuring 350 lab-grown diamonds totaling about 97 carats.
Each piece was auctioned separately, with all selling but the bracelet, in the 24-lot sale featuring fine jewelry and timepieces, artwork, and experiences.
The set (minus the bracelet) realized for a total of $55,000, less than its estimate of $132,000.
The necklace, estimated at $60,000, sold for $30,000; the earrings, estimated at $30,000, sold for $15,000; and the ring, estimated at $20,000, sold for $10,000.
“The Baby2Baby organization does incredible work, and we’re thrilled to contribute to their mission in a meaningful way by donating a one-of-a-kind, custom jewelry ensemble that helped raise funds for a worthy cause and made a positive impact, both within the jewelry industry and in the broader community,” said Lisa Ingram, Signet vice president of merchandising.
This 18-karat white gold necklace features 163 lab-grown diamonds with 5-carat oval- and pear-shaped diamonds dropping from a floral motif. It sold for $30,000, against an estimate of $60,000.
The “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” bracelet is the only piece in the set that did not sell at the Baby2Baby gala charity auction. It was estimated to sell for $22,000.
With 26 lab-grown diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, these earrings, estimated to fetch $30,000, sold for $15,000.
The “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” ring features a 5-carat oval-shaped lab-grown diamond and a 5-carat pear-shaped lab-grown diamond. It sold for $10,000, against an estimate of $20,000.
Each piece features designs reminiscent of the floral motifs, lacework, embroidery, and feminine silhouettes that are found in Lhuillier’s bridal collection and her “Monique Lhuillier Bliss” bridal jewelry line made in collaboration with Kay Jewelers.
It launched in 2021 and has expanded to include colored gemstones, as well as colorless and, most recently, colored lab-grown diamonds.
For her collection, which inspired the design of the auction set, Lhuillier opted to include lab-grown diamonds, because it allowed for the creation of bold, larger-than-life jewelry at an accessible price point.
“We sought to maintain a seamless continuity in both the materials and design elements used in the custom lab-created diamond ensemble, staying true to the essence of the ‘Monique Lhuillier Bliss’ collection,” said Ingram.
Lhuillier and Kay Jewelers’ set was created intentionally for the 2024 Baby2Baby gala auction, as Lhuillier is a member of the nonprofit organization’s board.
The organization hosts celebrities, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists at the annual event to drive support of its cause to provide children living in poverty across America with basic necessities like diapers, formula, and clothing.
“Being a mother myself, I was motivated by children in need. I feel a strong connection to help those who don’t have access to the basic resources many take for granted. I am driven by the desire to make a meaningful impact on children and families living in poverty,” said Lhuillier.
The 2024 gala raised $17.1 million, which Baby2Baby said will allow it to help children whose families are “forced to make impossible choices on a daily basis between buying diapers or feeding their children.”
The continued collaboration between Lhuillier and Kay Jewelers follows the banner’s recent rebrand geared at appealing to the next generation.
Along with a new creative plan, store redesigns, and updated product assortment, the jewelry retailer is seeking to infiltrate pop-culture moments.
Before being offered at the Baby2Baby gala auction, the Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers set made its debut on the red carpet at this year’s Emmy Awards in September.
Hulu’s “The Bear” actress Abby Elliott wore the “Monique Lhuillier Bliss & Kay Jewelers” set to this year’s Emmys as Kay Jewelers targets a new generation of shoppers by “infiltrating into pop-culture moments,” like this awards show.
Actress Abby Elliott from Hulu’s “The Bear” wore the one-of-a-kind ring and earrings from the set to the event, where the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
“Debuting the collaborative custom ensemble with renowned fashion designer Monique Lhuillier at a notable cultural moment like the Emmys allows us to strategically position ourselves to meet our customers where they are, while also reaching new audiences,” said Ingram.
“This also created an opportunity to build awareness of our long-standing partnership with Monique and demonstrate our custom design capabilities that drive consideration to the beauty, quality, and uniqueness that Kay can create.”
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