Who is Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus and when did they launch their jewellery brand Kimai?...

WHEN it comes to ethical jewellery, Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus are at the top of their game.

They are now trying to boost investment in their company, by appearing on Dragons' Den.

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Who are Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus?

Hailing originally from Antwerp, Belgium, Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus are best friends who own and run an ethical jewellery business.

Called Kimai, the company uses lab grown diamonds, instead of ones that have been mined.

Our mission isn’t just to sell jewellery - it’s to end an unethical industry.

Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus

The two women have been friends for more than 20 years, and both grew up in the diamond business.

They moved to London to study in 2012, and later went into business together when they grew a passion for lab grown diamonds.

When did Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus launch their jewellery brand Kimai?

The pair launched their company Kimai in late 2018, after using their life savings to get it started.

They started their company with 20 designs using recycled gold and lab diamonds.

Jessica and Sidney previously revealed how at first their families were sceptical.

Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2021, Jessica said: "They thought they were fake.

"Or, they’d say, 'What’s the value in ten years?'"

However she added: "But they weren’t angry. They’re more supportive, the more they know.’

In 2019, they secured £920K in investment, which included designer Diane von Furstenberg, and now have an all-female staff.

They added: "Our mission isn’t just to sell jewellery: it’s to end an unethical industry.

"So, yes, it’s challenging, but it only motivates us more."

What is a lab grown diamond?

Lab grown diamonds are the same quality as mined diamonds.

The only difference is they are made by scientists using state of the art technology, instead of being extracted from the earth.

The laboratory replicates the natural conditions under which diamonds were formed in the Earth’s mantle millions of years ago.

Lab diamonds consist of carbon atoms in a lattice crystal structure, which is exactly the same as mined diamonds, but more ethical.

What famous royal is known to wear Kimai jewellery?

Just two months after launching their lab diamond brand Kimai, Jessica and Sidney found out they had been given a royal seal of approval.

This came after Meghan Markle wore their £495 Felicity earrings to London charity Smart Works.

Speaking about the moment they found out the Duchess of Sussex loved their diamonds, Jessica told the Mail: ‘It was insane. Our sales went crazy.

"She brought credibility to an industry that most people hadn’t heard of, showing even royalty were wearing them."

They're other celebrity fans include Emma Watson and Jessica Alba.