Surat's 16.95-carat artwork with 32 lab-grown diamonds travels to space on India's Vikram-1 rocket, claims historic first

A Surat-based jewellery company has claimed that its lotus-shaped lab-grown diamond design is now travelling in space aboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket, marking what it says is the first time diamonds from India's diamond city have been sent into orbit.

The claim comes after Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket, under Mission Aagaman from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota.

Surat firm's lotus-shaped diamonds sent into space

According to PTI, Nityas Gems and Jewellery CEO Rajnikanth Chanchad said the company supplied its specially designed lotus-shaped collection of lab-grown diamonds for the mission.


"The launch of the Vikram-1 rocket is a moment of great pride for India. And Surat also has a special reason to share. This is the first time that Surat's diamonds and jewellery are shining in space," Chanchad was quoted as saying by PTI.

He also claimed that the diamonds can be seen sparkling in videos captured from space when sunlight falls on the rocket.

Lab-grown diamond lotus took six months to create

According to PTI, the intricate design was developed over six months by a team of around 20 skilled artisans in Surat.

The decorative piece features 32 pear-cut lab-grown diamonds with a combined weight of 16.95 carats and an estimated value of Rs 10 lakh. Each stone has been carefully set in gold to resemble the petals of a blooming lotus.

Designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space

As cited by PTI, Chanchad said the lotus-shaped design was engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of launch and space travel.

According to him, the diamonds were mounted on a specially designed aerospace-grade aluminium plate and securely embedded in gold to endure intense vibrations, atmospheric pressure and extreme temperatures during lift-off.

"It consists of 32 pear-shaped diamonds designed as petals of lotus," Chanchad was quoted as saying by PTI.

Lotus design inspired by Lord Brahma

According to PTI, Chanchad said the lotus motif was chosen because it symbolises Lord Brahma in Hindu tradition.

He added that the company secured the project based on its expertise and product portfolio and worked closely on the design specifications to ensure the piece met the mission's technical requirements.

"Since it was to be sent into space, we together designed and drew its parameters, and decorated it," Chanchad said, according to PTI.

Skyroot's Vikram-1 marks a milestone for India's private space sector

The successful launch of Vikram-1 under Mission Aagaman represents a significant milestone for India's private space industry, with the rocket becoming the country's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle.

The mission has also attracted attention for carrying a range of unique payloads, including the lotus-shaped lab-grown diamond artwork claimed by the Surat-based company.

Inputs from agencies