Culture & Style
Who’s Who in Diamond Jewelry: Briony Raymond
Briony Raymond on her favorite red-carpet moments, what she would grab in a fire, and her fantasy jewels.
June 17, 2025
Written by: Jill Newman
If it feels like you are seeing Briony Raymond’s name everywhere, it’s because you are. She’s a favorite of A-list celebrities, from Rihanna and A$AP Rocky to Lewis Hamilton and Sarah Jessica Parker, who flaunt her stylish jewelry for big red-carpet moments—and for every day. The blond, effervescent jeweler, who worked at Van Cleef & Arpels before starting her namesake business in 2015, offers super chic vintage jewelry along with her signature designs and bespoke pieces. Unlike most brands, Raymond doesn’t pay for celebrity placements, rather they come to her for the very personal experience (she’s involved in every single detail). “I want everyone—celebrities, stylists, my clients—to have the same high touch experience and feel appreciated,” she said.
Raymond has unbridled enthusiasm for jewelry and working with people, and it shows. She’s always excited to share her latest acquisitions and designs, and while she isn’t one to brag about clients, Naomi Watts showed up at her salon when we were on our call.
Meet the Author
- Jill Newman is a jewelry authority, editor, and storyteller with over 25 years of experience, having reported from diamond mines in Africa, cutting workshops in India and Belgium, and ateliers around the world.
- She serves as Editor-at-Large for the Natural Diamond Council, with additional bylines in The New York Times, Town & Country, Elle Décor, and Robb Report.
Only Natural Diamonds: Favorite red-carpet moment?
Briony Raymond: A$AP Rocky at this year’s Met Gala. I made him a custom bedazzled diamond umbrella. I love seeing men wearing accessories and jewelry in an unconventional way, it’s cool, different.
OND: Inspiring celebrity moments?
BR: I like seeing hyper-masculine men like Lewis Hamilton and A$AP Rocky wear what’s considered traditionally feminine motifs, like posey flowers and clusters, and look awesome.
OND: Your personal signature jewel?
BR: I always wear one of my gold Sloane rings, sometimes alone or I dress it up with a stack of bands. It’s the quintessential second skin gold ring.
OND: Your most important jewel?
BR: My vintage Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring, it’s a classic 1960s bombé style ring with a Ceylon sapphire and pave diamonds.
OND: Did your husband pick out the ring?
BR: When I was working at Van Cleef, I sourced vintage rings for a client, and when I saw this one, I said to my colleague, ‘if I ever get engaged, this is my dream ring.’ She told my boyfriend at the time, and six months later he got down on one knee and proposed with this ring.
OND: What’s the fantasy piece that you would love to get your hands on?
BR: I would love to find a juicy 1950s or 1960s Van Cleef & Arpels piece that belonged to either Elizabeth Taylor or Grace Kelly. I love the idea of uncovering a long-lost treasure with a really cool provenance. I always think of these women as having the most beautiful Van Cleef jewelry.
OND: What do clients ask for the most?
BR: Antique diamonds. I love antique diamonds, the big glassy facets, and I love a stone that has history and previous life. I love to repurpose stones in new designs. From the beginning I sold mainly vintage diamonds, and they still resonate with me, and I set them in new pieces. People tell me, ‘I fell in love with antique diamonds because of you.’ With antique diamonds, there will never anymore, you can’t go back in time and make more, and that makes them all the more special.
OND: Most popular jewelry gifts people purchase?
BR: People tend to choose safe things for gifts. I sell a lot of daily wear gifts, like my zodiac medallions, handmade gold chains, classic diamond posey earrings. When it comes to self-purchases, people tend to look for more esoteric, unusual pieces.
OND: Favorite part of the job?
BR: I love it all. I love working with my clients, designing jewelry, sourcing vintage, curating vintage collections for clients, and creating custom pieces. I can’t choose one thing.
OND: Why natural diamonds?
BR: I’m a classicist, I’m rooted in authenticity, I care about the real things, so if it didn’t come from the earth, it’s not for me.
OND: What comes first, the outfit or the jewels?
BR: I get dressed at the office. I commute from Connecticut in jeans and a button-down, and when I get to work, I get dressed (I keep of closet of clothes here), and then I walk around the showroom and pick out my jewelry, and I get a lot of input. I morph into Briony worker version, and at the end of the day I take it all off, head home and turn into mama.
OND: Best advice on finding value?
BR: If someone is lusting for a signed piece from a big house, I recommend they seek out a vintage version rather than new. There is generally better value in the vintage version. Also, I love the patina on older pieces, something with a little wear.
OND: What to splurge on?
BR: It’s going to sound cliché, buy what you love not necessarily what you see on Instagram or what your friend group tells you. That piece will stay with you through your life, so you need to love it.
OND: You are very active on Instagram, how has that helped business?
BR: Instagram transformed my business because I can connect with people all over the globe on a personal level. I make the comments, I respond, and it’s an interesting way to get live feedback.
OND: Your most meaningful piece?
BR: If there were a fire, I would grab my father’s Breitling watch first. He was a competitive sailor, and wore this lightweight titanium Breitling, and when he died my mom bequeathed it to me. I can’t imagine anything more precious. I’m so grateful to have a physical momentum from him that I can wear on my skin.
OND: What do you love most about the jewelry world?
BR: There is a theory that jewelry is frivolous, and I think we have to lean into that because there is so much joy in this business. Life can be dark and challenging, and this is so much fun and it brings joy to people.
