Founded in December 2023, Astrea London is a high-end luxury lab-grown diamond brand reshaping the landscape of fine jewellery. But Astrea is more than a fashion brand—it’s at the forefront of fashion tech and conscious jewellery, driving a new era where innovation, sustainability, and ethical luxury go hand in hand.
Tell Us About Astrea London
I launched Astrea London in 2023 with a former business partner, and earlier this year, I took full ownership of the company to focus on scaling it with purpose and precision.
Astrea London was born from a desire to revolutionise the industry, creating beauty, luxury and ethics that reflect the values of today’s high-end consumer. Luxury is no longer just about sparkle; it’s about substance. And people today want both. At Astrea, we work exclusively with lab-grown diamonds of the highest grade – Type IIa stones, which are the rarest and purest, representing less than 1% of all mined diamonds globally (to give an idea Cartier only sells 5% of D and E colour).
Using advanced CVD and HPHT technology, we can grow these diamonds in a matter of weeks rather than billions of years. They’re chemically, structurally and optically identical to mined diamonds but come with a fraction of the environmental impact. One carat of mined diamond emits about 57,000 grams of CO₂. Ours? Just 0.028 grams.
Our pieces are worn by actors, supermodels, and international ambassadors who care about design, beauty and integrity. Every diamond is fully certified by GIA or IGI (similar to mined diamonds), and our commitment to craftsmanship is uncompromising. We’ve built a brand that represents what we call “conscious luxury” – where beauty, innovation, and ethics go hand in hand. For me, Astrea isn’t just about evolving the diamond industry -it’s about helping shape the new luxury. One that values transparency, intelligence, and meaning.
How Did You Come Up with the Idea for Astrea London?
The idea for Astrea came unexpectedly after lab-grown diamonds were mentioned at a school gate. That spark of curiosity turned into over a year of in-depth industry research, revealing a clear opportunity in the market: no premium, ethical brand was truly owning the high end of the lab-grown space. Astrea was launched to fill that gap.
Before launching Astrea, I built and led several successful businesses in wealth management, including Signia Wealth and Hay Hill Wealth Management, and helped launch the international proposition at Coutts. I also bought a few vineyards around the globe. All of that experience helped shape the way I’ve built Astrea – from the importance of trust and value creation to knowing how to scale a business with intention.
What Is Your Advice To Aspiring Entrepreneurs?
I do a lot of entrepreneurial talks to women founders, but also to the next generation, and I don’t sugar-coat it. It will be tough. You’ll get knocked down, and you’ll have to pick yourself back up. But that resilience becomes your super strength. You don’t have to do it perfectly – you just have to keep showing up. Surround yourself with trusted people, and stay focused on what you’re building. And never give up, that’s what makes the difference.
What Most Excites You About the Lab-Grown Diamond Industry?
We’re seeing a tipping point. Sales are up again, but it’s about more than numbers – it’s a shift in values. For younger buyers and high earners alike, a diamond still symbolises forever, but now it also needs to stand for something: fairness, transparency, and modern ethics. The new consumer isn’t just buying beauty – they’re buying clarity, purpose, and integrity.
The industry is evolving. The focus is moving from extraction to innovation – from sourcing to sustainability. This isn’t the end of luxury; it’s the beginning of something more intelligent, more conscious, and more connected to the world we live in.
What Do You Say To People Who Say Lab-Grown Diamonds Are ‘Fake’?
While early perceptions once labeled lab-grown diamonds as fake or synthetic, that narrative is dissolving. They’re scientifically proven to be chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds – the only difference is their origin.
A diamond is a diamond – whether it comes from the earth or a lab – as recognised by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which updated its Jewelry Guides in 2018 to state that lab-grown diamonds count as true diamonds, as long as their origin is clearly disclosed.
Lab-grown diamonds are made from carbon, transformed under heat and pressure – just by science, not geology. This is a natural evolution in the industry. Modern consumers are embracing it: a diamond that sparkles the same, but tells a different story. It’s all about conscious luxury.
What Can We Hope To See From Astrea In the Future?
We’re scaling, but we’re doing it with purpose. We have standalone boutiques in Fairmont Windsor Park and Villa La Coste, and a flagship is opening soon alongside three stores in Dubai – at the Mandarin Oriental Dubai, another five-star hotel, and a curated afternoon tea experience at our factory.
We’re building a brand for people who care – about craftsmanship, yes, but also about what their choices say about them. It’s not just a diamond; it’s a natural innovation in the jewellery space. It’s both a trend and a cultural shift that can’t be stopped.
We’ve built an exceptional team – from PhD scientists and world-class gemologists to award-winning designers — and that calibre is what sets us apart.
We’re also committed to giving back. Through the non-profit Sumbandila, which is very close to my heart, we help fund education for talented children in underprivileged communities in Africa. That sense of purpose is core to what Astrea stands for.
As the mined diamond sector slows, we’re participating in a new category on the up. Consumer attention is definitely moving to high-quality lab-grown diamond jewellery. The message is very clear and inevitable – and people aren’t just switching products (as the product is essentially the same); they’re switching values. Astrea London will continue to lead in this space.
For those seeking something beautiful, modern, and meaningful – this is just the beginning. We’re creating a movement where beauty and ethics go hand in hand, and where the next generation of luxury consumers chooses clarity – in every sense of the word.