From Surat to White House: Story behind Jill Biden’s $20,000 diamond

Jan 17, 2025 | 18:37 IST

The 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted to the US first lady stirred global buzz. Valued at $20,000 by the US, the diamond actually cost much less. TOI+ spoke with the manufacturer of the diamond in Surat, Gujarat to understand how lab-grown diamonds symbolise India’s commitment to not only cutting-edge innovation, but also sustainability

During a private dinner at the White House in June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented US First Lady Jill Biden with a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond (LGD) housed in a Kashmiri papier-mâché box. The diamond, later valued at $20,000 (approximately ₹17.15 lakh) by the US state department, became the most expensive gift received by the Biden family from any world leader that year.

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TOI

From Surat to White House: Story behind Jill Biden’s $20,000 diamond

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TOI

From Surat to White House: Story behind Jill Biden’s $20,000 diamond

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