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Nicole Richie Reimagines House of Harlow with Natural Diamonds
The designer brings back her beloved brand, reborn in fine jewelry and radiant with natural diamonds.
Nicole Richie wearing the Nova Collection by House of Harlow (Courtesy of House of Harlow/ Photographed by Vijat M.)
When you think of Nicole Richie’s jewelry brand, House of Harlow, words like bohemian, ethereal, and free-spirited probably come to mind. Richie wasn’t just part of the early 2000s boho-chic movement; she defined it. With her oversized sunglasses, flowy kaftan blouses, skinny jeans, and that perfectly slouchy Balenciaga bag, she was (and still is) the epitome of the LA cool girl style aesthetic. Her style was lauded and emulated because it was so inherently grounded in individuality. It’s no wonder that when she turned her attention to jewelry, it seemed like a natural extension of her innate style.
Meet the Author
- Meredith Lepore is an accomplished writer and editor with over a decade of experience contributing to Travel + Leisure, The Zoe Report, Refinery29, InStyle, Marie Claire, and more — with work cited by The New York Times and New York Magazine.
- Former deputy editor at Ladders and editor-in-chief of The Grindstone, with a strong focus on career, entrepreneurship, and women’s leadership.
- Holds a master’s degree in Magazine, Newspaper, and Online Journalism from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, and has interviewed leading figures including Martha Stewart, Zooey Deschanel, Tory Burch, Mindy Kaling and Lupita Nyong’o.
This wasn’t simply a case of a celebrity lending her name to a brand. Richie founded House of Harlow 1960 in 2008 with jeweler Pascal Mouawad because she wanted to be a part of people’s lives, not just their wardrobes. “I wanted to build a world around personal meaning. Jewelry has always been my way of telling the world about myself. Through symbols, through stones, through objects that feel like talismans,” she tells Only Natural Diamonds.
That authenticity fueled the brand’s success. As House of Harlow grew—and later expanded to include clothing and shoes—Richie evolved alongside it. Over the years, as she took on other creative projects and balanced her acting career with raising two children with her husband, Joel Madden, she stepped back from the brand’s day-to-day operations.
Now, Richie has returned to House of Harlow with full creative control, working hand in hand with her husband to shape its next chapter. Together, they’ve reimagined the brand—streamlining its structure, removing the “1960,” and relaunching House of Harlow as a modern luxury jewelry house.
Only Natural Diamonds sat down with Richie to talk about this exciting new chapter, marking both House of Harlow’s first fine jewelry collection and her debut in natural diamond design.
Introducing Nova: A Rebirth in Diamonds for House of Harlow
House of Harlow ushered in its new era with the Hathor Collection, inspired by Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of beauty. The collection highlights bold necklaces and statement earrings, along with stackable rings and bangles adorned with natural stones like malachite, tiger’s eye, and onyx, set in 14k yellow gold–plated sterling silver.
Now, Richie is taking that evolution a step further with Nova—her first fine jewelry collection featuring natural diamonds, available starting November 14th. “I wanted to return to the core of why I create—Intention, Symbolism, and pieces that feel lived with. Nova marks a moment of rebirth for the brand and for me personally. Using natural diamonds opens a new vocabulary of light, clarity, and depth,” she says. “Natural diamonds hold an ancient light. They carry history within them, and that resonance aligned perfectly with the themes of Nova. I wanted clarity, honesty, and that sense of permanence.”
Natural diamonds hold an ancient light. They carry history within them.
Richie believes that natural diamonds are an extension of her signature bohemian sensibility. “To me, bohemian is about freedom, and spirituality is about intention. Natural diamonds align with both. They bring refinement, yes, but they also hold energy, symbolism, and a sense of grounding. They elevate the mysticism that has always been at the heart of the brand,” she says.
Nicole Richie Believes in the Power of Natural Diamonds
Richie sees diamonds as a powerful medium. “Diamonds literally refract light, but spiritually they do the same. They take something simple, a beam, and multiply it. That alchemy mirrors the celestial narrative of Nova. Each piece feels like it carries its own orbit,” she explains. “The inspiring part is their purity and power. There is nothing like watching light move through a diamond. The challenge is honoring them. They demand precision, balance, and respect in the design process.”
Richie says when it came to pairing the diamonds with stones, she treated diamonds as the constant—the fixed stars—while other stones became their own worlds, each with distinct energy: clear quartz to amplify, onyx to protect, tiger’s eye to ground, and green tourmaline to heal. She adds that pairing them with diamonds was about building a complete energetic system. “There is nothing like watching light move through a diamond. The challenge is honoring them. They demand precision, balance, and respect in the design process.”
Together, they form a complete energetic system, she says. “The clear quartz pendants and diamond shakers feel like ‘weapons of light’ to me—symbols of protection through clarity, where light itself becomes a kind of armor, not through force, but through truth and illumination.” She hopes that when people wear pieces from the Nova Collection, they will feel, “Protected, illuminated, grounded… and rich. Like they’re carrying something meaningful, not just ornamental.”
A New Creative Freedom for House of Harlow
As Richie enters this new era with House of Harlow, she reflects on how her design process has evolved.
“Early on, I designed from instinct; I still do, but with a deeper awareness of craft, meaning, and longevity,” she says. “My process has expanded; Nature, Music, Mythology, and personal history are all places I return to for inspiration.”
With Nova, Richie aimed to return to the reason why she creates in the first place: intention, symbolism, and creating pieces that feel lived with. “Nova marks a moment of rebirth for the brand and for me personally. Using natural diamonds opens a new vocabulary of light, clarity, and depth.”
To celebrate Nova, Richie partnered with Violet Grey, a content-meets-commerce curated platform that connects beauty consumers with the industry’s most trusted voices, to curate “The Jewelry Box”—a holiday experience merging beauty, energy, and intention. The event showcases the connection between fine jewelry and wellness through crystals, light, and ritual.
Natural Diamonds Are a Return to Timelessness for House of Harlow
In an era of fast fashion, Richie sees fine jewelry—and especially natural diamonds—as an antidote to the rush. “Fine jewelry slows you down,” she says. “Natural diamonds remind you of scale—how small we are and how long beauty can endure. These pieces aren’t disposable; they’re meant to be lived with, passed on, and woven into memory.”
That belief in longevity and emotional resonance is reflected not only in her designs, but also in her personal jewelry—especially her stunning Neil Lane engagement ring. “Neil and I designed this ring together,” Richie shares. “No one has a better eye for vintage-inspired jewelry. He was my first and only choice. It has that old-world quality I’ve always been drawn to. I was part of the process, and it felt deeply connected to who I was at that moment in my life.”
It’s clear that for Richie, whether she’s creating for herself or others, jewelry is never just about adornment—it’s about connection. “To be perfectly honest, my proudest moments are when I see my friends wearing my jewelry,” she says. “They are my daily inspiration—stylish, hardworking, grounded people. Watching the pieces live in their world means more to me than anything else.” However, it is nice when your friends who wear your jewelry include Adele, who is Richie’s neighbor and a longtime wearer of House of Harlow pieces.
As for where she sees House of Harlow going next, Richie wants to get even more intentional with her designs. “Elevated materials, symbolic storytelling, and pieces that feel both ancient and modern. Nova is the doorway to a more refined, soulful era for House of Harlow,” she said.
