< Culture & Style / Jewelry Trends
Dainty Diamond Bows Are the Perfect Holiday Accessory
Dreamy diamond bows deserve the top spot on your holiday wish list.
Published: December 17, 2025
Written by: Hannah Militano
Consider diamond bows the finishing touch your holiday wardrobe didn’t know it needed. Wrapped elegantly around the neck, ears, lapel, or fingers, these sparkling motifs feel like beautifully tied gifts—evoking the anticipation and delight of the season’s most thoughtfully chosen presents.
A true must-have for the holidays, diamond bows shine as statement accessories imbued with femininity, optimism, and romance. Designers such as Sophie Bille Brahe and Graff lend the motif a whimsical brilliance, transforming it into a sentimental, heirloom-worthy treasure. For devoted bow lovers, it’s a dream come true.
Below, discover the editor-approved diamond bows on our wishlist—plus the fascinating stories behind famous natural diamond versions throughout history.
Meet the Experts
Born in Copenhagen, fine jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe trained in the traditional ways as a goldsmith and graduated from London’s Royal College of Arts with her master’s degree before returning to Copenhagen in 2011 to establish her eponymous jewelry line, which is sold in some of the world’s most esteemed luxury and fine jewelry spaces and stores, from Dover Street Market to Bergdorf Goodman.
Anne-Eva Geffroy is the Design Director at Graff. She has worked with the British luxury jeweler for the last 15 years. Before her tenure at Graff, Geffroy brought her expertise to Van Cleef & Arpels and Louis Vuitton.
Sophie Bille Brahe Introduces Diamond Bows at Dover Street Market
Just in time for the holiday season, Copenhagen-based fine jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe has partnered with Dover Street Market in New York City to release a special, festive capsule collection dubbed Rubans de Lumière – French for “ribbons of light.”
The assortment toasts to the timeless and modern motif of the bow. Consisting of six pieces, the exclusive collection is made up of two necklaces, three pairs of earrings, and one ring, all crafted in 18-karat recycled white gold and set with Top Wesselton VVS diamonds.
“I’ve always loved working with graduating diamonds – they’ve become a natural part of my design language,” Bille Brahe tells Only Natural Diamonds. “When I started thinking about the bow, I was drawn to the idea of movement and progression within a tied form. The bow is a classic symbol that has been interpreted many times, but I wanted to approach it in a way that felt true to me – something both timeless and modern, and something I would genuinely wear. The collection reflects my way of working with familiar shapes and reimagining them with a contemporary twist.”
She says, “Dover Street Market has been part of my journey since the very beginning of the brand. I’m proud to be represented there and grateful for the ongoing support they’ve shown over the years. Collaborating on this special collection felt very natural, and I’ve truly enjoyed working on it.” The collection is available exclusively in person at Dover Street Market New York.
Graff’s Tilda’s Bow Collection Elevates the Diamond Bow Motif
Diamond bows become all the more coveted when crafted from the world’s finest diamonds, hand-selected by the experts at Graff. The classic charm of diamond bow jewelry has been an enduring motif for the legendary British luxury jeweler. In 2019, the Maison unveiled Tilda’s Bow collection, inspired by founder Laurence Graff’s loving bond with his granddaughter.
“Our jewels have been inspired by the outline of a bow for a number of years. Initially, the silhouette was featured within our high jewelry pieces and, more recently, as part of the Tilda’s Bow collection,” explains Anne Eva Geffroy, Design Director at Graff.
Anne Eva Geffroy exclusively tells Only Natural Diamonds, “We are all familiar with the shape of a bow, and this presented us with a unique challenge. When designing Tilda’s Bow, we recognized that the silhouette had to be distinctive, while also reflecting Graff’s unique style.”
She elaborates, “The process begins with an intricate sketch, which communicates the rhythm of the piece, and then each diamond is carefully chosen to accentuate the design. Within the workshop, clay was used initially to sculpt and form each piece in 3D, and in this way, we were able to harness movement and capture fine detail. Despite it being a complex and time-intensive process, a number of diamonds within the bow are partially obscured from view, but this adds shadows and depth and brings each design to precious life. Liberated from tradition, the final piece captures the moment when a bow is created – with movement and fluidity.”
According to Geffroy, “The bow is a timeless motif that extends beyond the whims of fashion; feminine, delicate, and sensual, it represents unconditional love. However, bows throughout jewelry history have sometimes been depicted as formal and sober, stiff and stylized. We were determined that ours would be entirely life-like.”
With each piece imbued with whimsical movement, Geffroy says, “We spent many hours finessing the design until it captured the harmonious fluidity of silk. Full of vitality, it is as if the bow had been tied by hand mere moments ago. When crafted with diamonds, the bold curves of each bow shimmer and reflect light beautifully, bringing the piece to life.” The collection spans watches, earrings, rings, brooches, necklaces, and pendants.
Why Royal Women Have Long Loved Diamond Bows
Royal women have long sported diamond bows, as brooches, chokers, stomachers, and more. The famed Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, sported a diamond bow around her neck in a legendary 1773 oil painting by François Hubert Drouais.
Queen Elizabeth II adored Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot brooch, which she wore to Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. Queen Mary originally acquired the brooch from Garrard in 1932. The diamond bow features a brilliant-cut diamond, set in silver and gold, tied in a scalloped ribbon.
Queen Sofia’s striking modern diamond bow brooch was a favorite for decades before being passed on to her daughter-in-law, Queen Letizia.
The Legacy of Empress Eugénie’s Diamond Bow Brooch
Perhaps one of the most famous examples of diamond bows in the world, Empress Eugénie’s spectacular diamond bow brooch, made by François Kramerin 1855, surprisingly wasn’t considered mind-blowing enough for her taste. The Empress had it altered to include five diamond streamers and two large tassels. From top to bottom, the jewel is almost nine inches high and is comprised of 94 diamonds. Eugénie wore it as a stomacher, a decoration pinned to the décolletage.
When the bow was sold at the 1887 auction, it was purchased by a jeweler named Schlessinger for Caroline Astor, the doyenne of New York society during the Gilded Age. The Louvre acquired the jewel in 2008 when it went back on the market.
On October 18, 2025, many pieces of the French Crown Jewels were brazenly stolen by thieves from the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) at the Louvre Museum, where they have been housed for decades. The culprits broke in through a balcony and seized pieces adorned with thousands of diamonds, each considered a priceless treasure.
Though the heist was shocking, several pieces from the French Crown Jewels are still secure in the Louvre Museum, including the Regent, the Sancy, and the Hortensia. Among the treasures stolen was Empress Eugénie’s diamond-encrusted brooch, along with a diadem belonging to Eugénie herself. Eugénie’s crown, a masterpiece featuring 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was found outside the Louvre and was damaged.
The Heirloom Appeal of Diamond Bows
From royal jewels to modern design, diamond bows have endured for their ability to feel both decorative and deeply considered. Crafted in natural diamonds, the motif reflects a level of craftsmanship and permanence that resists passing trends. Worn now and passed on later, diamond bows remain heirloom pieces—tied to history, personal style, and lasting significance.
Shop Diamond Bows
Get inspired by festive natural diamond bows—both modern and vintage—from some of our favorite designers.
Lang Antiques Edwardian diamond bow necklace, $6,750, langantiques.com
Ashley Zhang Jewelry Victorian pearl drop and diamond bow ring, $5,050, ashleyzhangjewelry.com
Beladora Tallarico diamond bow brooch in 18k gold, $18,500, beladora.com
