Episode 29: Making Progress on Lab-Grown Diamonds

This week, The Progress Girls are joined by special guest Madeline Duneier, the woman behind State Fair Jewelry, and we are getting into the tea on lab-grown diamonds. Madeline went from Teen Vogue beauty assistant to launching her own jewelry brand in 2025, and she breaks down everything you actually need to know. We talk natural vs. lab-grown, why people still get weirdly judgey about it, and if anyone can actually tell the difference (spoiler: absolutely not without fancy equipment). We also get into status, value, dating culture, and the biggest misconceptions people still have about diamonds in general. Plus, the story of how Madison and Madeline met at a Hamptons trunk show—and why that convo totally changed Madison’s perspective. Basically: we laughed, we learned, and if you’ve ever wondered if lab-grown diamonds are actually that girl… this episode is for you.