An award-winning British designer, Anabela Chan, finds greater value in creating jewelry using lab-grown gems and recycled metal from cans rather than using natural diamonds. She highlighted her choice of materials after witnessing what she described as unfavorable working conditions in diamond mines.

Chan’s perspective was expressed, stating that those were among the most precious and valuable commodities in the world, which just did not make any sense to her. Her designs primarily utilize lab-grown diamonds, recycled aluminum from cans, and sustainably cultivated pearls. Even though Chan’s company has not disclosed sales figures, it has experienced high demand since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She earned recognition in the “Game Changer” category at the British Luxury Awards in November. The market for lab-grown jewelry has seen a remarkable annual growth rate of 20%, leading to a $15 billion profit globally, according to Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data. With more manufacturers entering this market, prices for lab-grown diamonds have decreased, prompting brands to distinguish themselves, particularly through innovative jewelry design. Major retailers such as Pandora, known for lab-grown diamonds, acknowledge that these gems offer additional possibilities for jewelry design. Additionally, sustainability has become a key distinguishing factor. Chan collaborates with suppliers who employ technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere during the diamond-making process. This approach aims to transform a negative impact into a positive one, as stated by Chan.