How to Wear Diamond Jewelry Like a Street Style Star
Natural diamonds are meant to shine every day.
Rihanna is seen wearing layered diamond necklaces from Briony Raymond on December 28, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images)
During awards season, our favorite celebrities captivate us with their bespoke gowns and audacious diamonds from the most storied of luxury jewelry houses. But lending red carpet jewelry is quite the production when you consider brand ambassador contracts, meticulous insurance protocols, and exact styling requirements. Often, A-listers borrow these dazzling diamond jewels, returning them when the clock strikes twelve, like something straight out of Cinderella. And yet, as spectacular as the red carpet may be, it isn’t where true personal style shines brightest – it’s on the street.
When it comes to the most impactful street style moments, individuality is always at the heart of a well-curated look, and jewelry is the skeleton key to unlocking your most authentic sartorial self. Parisian jewelry designer Marie Lichtenberg tells Only Natural Diamonds, “The street is where the soul shows.” She says, “I love a red carpet – it’s a show. But there’s something visceral about a woman wearing her diamonds while hailing a cab, or mid-coffee-run. It hits different.”
Meet the Experts
Marie Lichtenberg is a Parisian jewelry designer and a former fashion editor for French Elle magazine. She imbues playful humor and pop culture references through her eponymous jewelry line.
Briony Raymond founded her namesake New York jewelry atelier in 2015. She is a distinguished expert in fine jewelry, renowned for creating custom pieces and curating vintage collections for her clients.
Jessica McCormack is a New Zealand-born, London-based diamond jeweler. She launched her brand in 2008 with a mission to breathe new life into heirloom designs.
Born in Copenhagen, fine jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe trained in the traditional ways as a goldsmith before establishing her eponymous jewelry line, which is sold in some of the world’s most esteemed luxury and fine jewelry stores.
Why Diamonds are the Surprising Street Style Essential
Jewelry has the power to completely transform an ensemble. A vehicle to express yourself, lucky talismans, protective amulets, or treasured mementos add a deeply personal element that catches the eye and completes a ‘fit that’s uniquely you. New Zealand-born jeweler Jessica McCormack describes seeing her diamond designs incorporated into street style as “really rewarding.” She says, “To be honest, it’s how I love to see it most! While red carpet appearances are certainly special, there is something very meaningful about seeing diamonds worn authentically in someone’s everyday life.”
The street is where the soul shows.
Some of the most stylish women in Hollywood today could teach a masterclass in democratizing diamonds and redefining everyday jewelry. Stars like Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, Dakota Johnson, and Zoë Kravitz are constant sources of street style inspo, perfecting the art of pairing serious diamond jewelry with looks that feel chic, effortless, and—dare I say—laissez-faire.
New York-based jeweler Briony Raymond tells OND, “On the red carpet, it’s curated and expected – but on the street, it feels more authentic, more reflective of someone’s personal style. I love when pieces are worn with that ease and confidence; it shows that fine jewelry isn’t reserved for special occasions, it’s meant to be lived in.”
Whether they’re a sentimental gesture from a loved one, a sacred family heirloom, or simply a gift to yourself, natural diamonds are undeniably special. But that doesn’t mean they should be reserved for special occasions, relegated to a safe, or carefully stowed away in your jewelry box. Lichtenberg offers her two cents, “My pieces are not meant to wait in safes for ‘special occasions.’” She says, “They are the special occasion.”
Fine jewelry isn’t reserved for special occasions, it’s meant to be lived in.
Natural diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth, highly resistant to scratches, chips, and abrasions, making them durable enough for your daily jewelry rotation. “That’s the whole point, isn’t it? To defy the rules we didn’t write,” says Lichtenberg. “Diamonds aren’t just for gala nights and velvet boxes.” Don’t stifle the magic. At the end of the day, your diamonds are meant to be worn and adored.
Danish jewelry designer Sophie Bille Brahe shares, “I love seeing my jewelry featured in street style moments – it feels more personal and expressive.” She explains, “There is something special about how people incorporate pieces into their everyday look, making them part of their individual style. My vision has always been to design jewelry that goes beyond passing trends – timeless pieces that can be part of someone’s story and can be cherished for generations.”
McCormack shares a similar sentiment. “Street style reflects how people truly live, move, and express themselves, so when our pieces become part of that narrative, it speaks to their versatility, which is very much intentional.” She says, “It also affirms my belief that jewelry should not be confined to formal events and should be loved and worn every day.”
Zoë Kravitz is the “It Girl” of Diamond Street Style
A beacon of carefree cool-girl street style, Zoë Kravitz knows the power of diamond jewelry. Before appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers this summer, Kravitz stepped out in New York City wearing a custom Saint Laurent look, featuring a tailored black vest paired with black pinstripe low-rise trousers. True to her reputation for impeccable accessorizing, she elevated her outfit with a black bandana, sport-mode sunglasses, and Jessica McCormack diamond jewelry. “I will always love how Zoë styles our pieces—she really makes them her own,” says McCormack. The actress completed her look with a dainty diamond ear stack, including Gypset hoop diamond drops and the Lost Boys Carré-Cut Diamond Cross Gypset Hoop earrings.
But the star of her look was very far from “dainty.” She effortlessly sported the 20-carat Oval Eclipse diamond pendant, suspended from a black cord, wrapped around her neck as a choker. “The diamond she wore is truly exceptional,” says McCormack. “20 carats with a beautiful D color and wonderful clarity – to style this immense stone with a headscarf and low-waisted trousers is just so perfectly casual and cool – and shows us that even the best and biggest diamonds can be worn every day,” she explains. “The look created for Seth Meyers, with the diamond on the cord, was so unique and memorable – we’ve all fallen in love with it.”
Even the best and biggest diamonds can be worn every day.
After being introduced through mutual friends in 2020, Kravitz quickly became both an admirer and a loyal client of the brand. What began as a creative connection soon evolved into an official partnership, with the actress named Jessica McCormack’s first-ever brand ambassador in May 2024—just as the British luxury jeweler was expanding into the U.S. This spring, the brand celebrated another milestone with the opening of its Madison Avenue boutique in New York City.
“Zoë is a true creative, and I have such admiration for her perspective and her artistic vision,” McCormack explains. “There’s an ease with which she wears jewelry that aligns perfectly with the way I design – pieces that become part of you, that feel deeply individual. Her style is distinctive, self-assured, and always compelling; she has the ability to make even the most intricate diamond piece feel cool, modern, and entirely her own. She is not only a client but also a friend, and in many ways, she represents everything I hope for in the way women wear my designs.”
Dakota Johnson’s Effortless Diamond Street Style
McCormack can count more A-list actresses as fans. Dakota Johnson is known to wear her Jessica McCormack diamond and blackened gold button-back pinky ring, as well as a Ball n Chain diamond pendant necklace, often paired with various iterations of the diamond Gypset hoop earrings, pieces that frequently appear in her effortlessly cool street style moments.
Another bauble that’s been heavily featured in Johnon’s jewelry rotation is the Verdura “Night” Band Ring. Crafted in 18-karat gold and bulbous blue enamel, the ring is set with round brilliant-cut natural diamonds, resembling the starry night sky. The jewel was inspired by the iconic cufflinks Verdura created in 1939 in honor of his friend, composer Cole Porter. Now, the “Night & Day” design is one of the jeweler’s most beloved creations and a consistent addition to Johnson’s signature ring stack.
The actress recently stepped out for a summer stroll around Midtown Manhattan, wearing $123,858 worth of natural diamonds. Johnson paired a caramel suede Khaite jacket, Gucci shades, and classic blue jeans with Ophelia Eve’s Emerald Victorian Slider Necklace and Sophie Bille Brahe’s sparkling Collier de Amis diamond necklace. Crafted in 18-karat certified recycled yellow gold, the latter combines marquise, round, and heart-shaped diamonds, totaling 12.29 carats.
“To me, fine jewelry should never feel restrictive. Diamonds are meant to be worn, lived in, and enjoyed,” Bille Brahe explains. “Rihanna and Dakota Johnson both embody the essence of a dream girl for me. They each have an innate sense of style, effortless coolness, and confidence. It’s been a long-standing dream to see them both in my designs.”
Rihanna is the Reigning Queen of Diamond Street Style
It’s safe to say that no one does street style quite like Rihanna. With her signature more-is-more mentality, the multihyphenate superstar often piles on the jewels in her everyday life—layering diamond necklaces over a hoodie and jeans just as effortlessly as she does when dressing to the nines for a night out.
The style maven has been spotted wearing jewels like Sophie Bille Brahe’s 5.25-carat diamond Collier de Venus necklace and Messika’s diamond Cascade necklace while out and about with her partner, A$AP Rocky, making date night a glittering affair.
Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala, Rihanna revealed her pregnancy in quintessential New York street style. Shielding herself from the rain outside the Carlyle Hotel, the star wore a light grey Miu Miu sweater set that revealed her burgeoning baby bump, diamond stud earrings, and a Messika Precious Flow High Jewelry necklace and ring. Draped over her arm was a brown fur stole adorned with an array of natural diamond brooches from Joseph Saidian & Sons Jewelry, Lang Antiques, and a Victorian “En Tremblant” piece from Briony Raymond.
“It was such an extraordinary moment,” recalls Briony Raymond. “That piece is over a century old, crafted to articulate with every step, and to witness her give it new life in such a personal, history-making moment was incredibly moving.” The New York-based jeweler says, “Rihanna has always been a fashion icon, but to see her choose an antique jewel to announce her pregnancy – on the streets of New York before the Met Gala, no less – was a powerful reminder of how these pieces transcend eras. It felt like the perfect meeting of past and present, and a moment I’ll never forget.”
One prized jewel that remains a staple in Rihanna’s rotation is her diamond and gold Scapular necklace by Marie Lichtenberg. True to her maximalist sensibilities, the Fenty mogul layers it with even more diamonds, often doubling up on different iterations of the style, an approach that has become a signature of her street style influence.
“Seeing Rihanna, the high priestess of cool, draped in my jewelry? It’s beyond fashion,” says Lichtenberg. “It’s exactly how the jewels were meant to live: in movement, in contradiction.” Lately, Rihanna is rarely seen without her go-to Scapular necklace, always paired with her yellow gold Renato Cipullo “R” pendant. The singer seems to be building a collection of diamond initial necklaces, including her custom Briony Raymond Aurora Diamond Initial Medallion.
“Rihanna is the ultimate street style star,” says Raymond. “She has this fearless way of making every look her own. To see her choose one of our pieces in that context underscores how jewelry can carry its own presence, no matter what it’s paired with. It’s a testament to her ability to elevate the everyday and to the versatility of great design.”
Rihanna’s penchant for “R” pendants could just as easily be self-referential as it could be in homage to her growing family, further fueling her influence on modern street style. Her partner, A$AP Rocky’s birth name is Rakim Mayers, while her children, RZA and Riot, have just been joined by a new little sibling. Rihanna gave birth to her daughter, Rocki Irish Mayers, in September.
Not only does the diamond-engraved initial necklace come with the perks of personalization, but it’s also the most stylish way to convey a sentimental or meaningful message. You can opt to wear your own initial or a loved one’s, inscribed in natural diamonds.
Hailey Bieber and the Rise of Personalized Diamond Street Style
Hailey Bieber, for instance, rarely steps out without her diamond bubble “B” initial pendant, a signature piece she wears day and night. Designed by New York–based jeweler Alex Moss in collaboration with Bieber herself, the pendant has become a true pièce de résistance—and a defining element of her street style. Moss credits Bieber with sparking the idea for the playful bubble letter, which he envisioned as an inflatable balloon before bringing it to life in diamonds.
Given the high profile of Bieber’s pendant, the necklace may be one of the most recognizable personally owned celebrity jewels outside of an engagement ring. Carrying the initial of both her maiden name, Baldwin, and her married name, Bieber, the Rhode founder’s monogrammed bauble reached viral status almost instantly, becoming an instant internet sensation, cementing its place in modern street style culture.
“I believe diamonds have an extraordinary ability to elevate even the most understated looks,” says McCormack. “Incorporating them into casual ensembles, like with jeans and a t-shirt, creates a striking look that feels both modern and refined. My design philosophy has always centered on making diamonds wearable and versatile, without compromising on quality or craftsmanship.”
Diamonds and denim are a girl’s best friend. These precious pieces go the distance, seamlessly fitting into every facet of your life and style. There’s no formula to follow, no rulebook required. Whatever your chosen uniform, flip the script by adding a touch of luxury to even your most effortless looks. And above all, don’t skip your daily dose of diamonds.
