Lab-grown diamonds 'like cloning', Dior jewellery chief says

(asiaone.com) - In the 20 years since Victoire de Castellane joined the house of Dior to establish its high jewellery arm, Dior Joaillerie, in 1999, the brand has gone through at least five creative directors for its women's ready-to-wear line. In a fickle industry such as luxury, de Castellane's longevity is an exception, but she's quick to point out that the rarefied milieu of jewellery is a far cry from the fast-paced world of fashion. "Jewellery is not like fashion; it's a different rhythm. It takes me two years to create a collection, and fashion is every two months, so it's very important for Dior to have somebody who embodies the spirit of the jewellery," she says when we meet during the autumn/winter couture shows in Paris at the launch of Gem Dior, the brand's latest high-jewellery range.