Surat: In a first for India’s lab-grown diamond industry, a Surat-crafted lotus made of 32 LGDs and gold has travelled to space aboard Vikram-1, India’s first privately built orbital rocket, unfolding in orbit nearly 450 km above Earth.Named Cosmos Bloom, the payload opened up when exposed to sunlight in space, showcasing the brilliance of lab-grown diamonds crafted entirely in Surat. From growing the diamonds and polishing them to designing and manufacturing the jewellery, every stage of the creation was completed in the Diamond City.“It is a matter of immense pride that we were chosen for this project. We worked closely with the COSMOS Diamonds team, and the design underwent several refinements to meet the exact specifications required for a space mission,” said Rajnikant Chanchad, director of Nityas Gems and Jewellery Ltd, which manufactured the diamond.For Sanjana Tripuramallu, founder of Cosmos Diamonds, Cosmos Bloom’s journey is both a celebration of Indian craftsmanship and a reflection of the country’s growing space ambitions.“The decision to create a lotus was deliberate. In Indian cosmology, the lotus symbolises creation—the first form to emerge from the primordial universe. A lab-grown diamond follows a similar journey, beginning as carbon and, under intense pressure and heat, transforming through human ingenuity into something extraordinary,” she said.The diamonds used in the lotus were grown by Sanginimaitri Labs (SML) in Surat before being cut and polished by artisans at Nityas.“It is a historic moment for Surat and the lab-grown diamond industry. Seeing LGDs grown in our city travel into space demonstrates not only their brilliance but also their ability to withstand extreme conditions,” said Velji Sheta, partner at SML.“For everyone associated with this project—from the scientists behind the rocket to the artisans who crafted the lotus—it is a proud example of the Make in India vision. Watching a Surat-crafted lotus bloom in space is a milestone for India’s jewellery industry,” Chanchad added.
