New Delhi, May 29 -- Malabar Gold & Diamonds is exploring an entry into the lab-grown diamond market with a distinct branding strategy, joining a small but growing list of jewellery retailers eyeing the nascent segment. The company is studying consumer interest in lab-grown diamonds and evaluating how best to position its offering, said M.P. Ahammed, chairman of the Kerala-headquartered group. "We want to come with a different proposition with a separate identity and not mix it with natural diamonds, as customers are different," he said on the sidelines of a press conference in Delhi. Malabar has not yet set a timeline for its venture. "Malabar is always open to understanding customer needs. Lab-grown is definitely in the market. We are still doing the research and understanding whether consumers like it. We don't want to do anything with a short-term view," added O. Asher, managing director. If it moves ahead, Malabar would be among the few national jewellery chains in India to enter the space. Last year, Senco Gold Ltd began piloting lab-grown diamonds under the sub-brand Sennes. India's overall diamond market is estimated at $6.2 billion in FY25, with lab-grown diamonds accounting for just $0.4 billion, according to Wazir Advisors. Both segments are expected to grow, with natural diamonds projected to hit $8.6 billion and lab-grown $0.6 billion by FY28. While India and China have emerged as major lab-grown diamond producers, retail adoption in both has been slow, executives said. Lab-grown diamonds are typically priced at a significant discount to natural ones and have found takers among a mix of jewellery startups and traditional family-run jewellers looking to diversify. Malabar, with gold jewellery as its mainstay, operates over 390 stores across 13 countries and reported an annual turnover of $6.2 billion calendar year 2024....