The brand making diamonds an everyday wardrobe staple
With diamonds supposedly being a girl’s best friend, it’s not often that we are able to indulge in the precious stone’s lustre. Seemingly reserved for special occasions and engagement rings, isn’t it about time we dust off some day diamonds?
With this in mind, Talia Rushton and Maya Brown of Bianca Ray delved into the world of lab-grown diamonds, and created a fine jewellery brand dedicated to making diamonds an everyday staple for the modern woman.
In an effort to learn more about the lab-grown diamonds that sit at the heart of the Bianca Ray brand, Remix caught up with the friends and founders on their mission to make luxury pieces more accessible than ever.
Bianca Ray founders, Talia Rushton & Maya Brown
Can you tell us about Bianca Ray? What inspired you to venture into the world of lab-grown diamonds?
We absolutely fell in love with the proposition of lab-grown and the fact you can get a 3-carat set of stud earrings at a size we could never have dreamed of owning, for under $4,000 NZD, set in beautiful 14 karat gold is a game changer. So we thought let’s start a brand that leans into that and start with a launching range featuring all those coveted jewellery pieces that had always been unattainable for us — things like a diamond tennis bracelet or necklace, or bigger stud earrings, but they always came with a huge price tag. For our next range we’re keen to launch some more day diamonds, things you’d wear to a long lunch holiday by the beach, as the inspiration behind the whole brand really is a European holiday in Italy — where you beach all day, have long lunches by the sea, and enjoy a drink in the sun at any hour. This is where we see our lab-grown diamond pieces living.
Is there a deeper meaning behind the name Bianca Ray?
Our brand and product inspiration comes from personal inspiration and embodies coastal holidays and European long lunches. All our pieces are designed for everyday wear not to sit in a box only for a one-off special occasion. The pinnacle of our designs is in our name, 'Bianca Ray'. Meaning ‘white’ or ‘pure’, Bianca represents our commitment to using only the best and purest lab-grown diamonds, while Ray speaks to not only the captivating light which reflects off the facets of a diamond, but the rays of sunshine reflecting off the sea on a summer’s afternoon.
Can you explain the difference between lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds? Is there a difference?
The only real difference is their origin, mined coming from the earth and lab grown being exactly that, grown in a lab. They have the same chemical, physical, and optical properties as mined diamonds and in fact a jeweller would have trouble identifying the difference and often it’s down to the fact that one is more perfect (the lab-grown). They are even graded by the same institutes and each of our lab-grown diamonds comes with a detailed and traceable certification from the International Gemological Institute (IGI), world leaders in grading, education, and accreditation.
What are some myths about lab-grown diamonds that need to be debunked?
I think the main thing is that Lab-grown diamonds are genuine diamonds, created in a lab using advanced technology, and they have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as natural diamonds. All our diamonds are also graded by the same standards, including the 4Cs: carat, cut, colour, and clarity. They are all graded in the same way mined diamonds are, and our Bianca Ray pieces come with detailed and traceable certifications from the International Gemological Institute (IGI) - world leaders in grading, education, and accreditation. They are less expensive than mined diamonds, and it's said they have a much lower carbon footprint and are more ethical due to their production process.
What does the process of making a Bianca Ray jewellery piece look like?
At Bianca Ray, our starting point is always timelessness. We will never jump on trends, and always, first and foremost, focus on making timeless pieces that you’ll wear forever. From there, we work with our master jeweller (who also happens to be Talia’s partner) who has been in the industry for over 25 years, to refine our ideas and designs. We’ve learnt so much about how a piece is designed through to how it sits perfectly when worn, and labour required over each design to ensure its wearable as well as being striking. These considered details really set Bianca Ray apart and add something quite unique to our pieces.
Finally, what are your favourite pieces from the Bianca Ray collection?
You can’t go past the Sunset studs, just such a stunning staple.
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