Lab-GrownOct 31, 2024
Q&A: Constance Polamalu on Selling Natural and Lab-Grown DiamondsLab-GrownDec 02, 2024
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.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Lab-Grown
The Latest
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
Weekly QuizApr 16, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
MajorsApr 20, 2026
Kendra Scott Names New CFO, Chief Business OfficerThe jewelry retailer plans to open 20 new stores this year and expand into new product categories.
TrendsApr 17, 2026
New (Groundbreaking) Floral Jewelry for Spring 2026Flower motifs are the jewelry trend blooming amongst the new collections that debuted this spring.
MajorsApr 17, 2026
QVC Group Files for Chapter 11 BankruptcyThe retailer reported an 8 percent decline in annual sales as it struggles under the weight of billions of dollars of debt.
CollectionsApr 17, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Earrings Are the Devil on Your ShoulderThe “Devil” drop earrings, our Piece of the Week, are part of designer Edina Kiss’ new namesake jewelry line that she will show at Couture.
CrimeApr 17, 2026
FBI Issues Warning to Refineries, Retailers Due to High Price of GoldThe alert states that burglary crews are targeting jewelry businesses and details how jewelers and refineries can protect themselves.
WatchesApr 16, 2026
Cartier Brings Back the RoadsterThe “watchmaker of shapes” debuted the reworked version of the vintage sports car-inspired timepiece at Watches & Wonders.
IndependentsApr 16, 2026
Edge Retail Academy Updates Leadership TeamAs demand for jewelry retail coaching grows, the company has established a dedicated business coaching leadership team.
MajorsApr 16, 2026
Stuller’s Latest Mountings Catalog Is Out NowThe “Mountings 2026-2027” catalog showcases Stuller’s largest and most diverse assortment to date with more than 400 new mounting styles.
PodcastsApr 15, 2026
Episode 4: The Natural Diamond DilemmaSally Morrison and Mark Klein discuss De Beers’ first beacon in 16 years and the mistake the industry made with lab-grown diamonds.
MajorsApr 15, 2026
Spark Creations’ Randy McKenzie Dies at 72 McKenzie spent 45 years with Spark Creations and is remembered for being kind, dedicated, and hardworking.
WatchesApr 15, 2026
These Are the New Rolex Watches for 2026Rolex focused exclusively on the Oyster Perpetual this year, as the model is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
FinancialsApr 15, 2026
Kering’s Jewelry Shines in Q1, Gucci’s Struggle ContinuesThe luxury giant discussed the Middle East conflict and its transformation plans, hinting at a stronger jewelry presence in North America.
SourcingApr 15, 2026
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2026 BoardKalpesh Jhaveri was re-elected as president for a third year.
TechnologyApr 15, 2026
This Jewelry Brand’s Video Series Is Up for a Webby Award“Diamond Divas,” a social media reality series by Shahla Karimi Jewelry, is nominated in the “Best Social: Fashion & Beauty” category.
SourcingApr 14, 2026
De Beers Expands ‘Desert Diamonds’ Beacon Into BridalThe campaign seeks to reignite desire for natural diamond engagement rings by highlighting the “distinct character” of warm-toned diamonds.
