5 Unforgettable Diamond Necklaces According to “The Diamonds Girl” Tracey Ellison
“The Diamonds Girl” founder Tracey Ellison shares her favorite diamond necklaces of all time.
High school dances, college graduation, your wedding day, a new mom seeing her baby for the very first time—these are all moments we categorize as utterly unforgettable. And having been fortunate enough to experience these moments myself, I thought my next big, unforgettable moment would be holding my first grandchild. Instead, my next unforgettable moment came much sooner in life than expected: the time I had a multimillion-dollar diamond necklace placed around my neck. For a diamond lover like me and the founder of The Diamonds Girl, this moment went above-and-beyond all my expectations—so much so that it inspired this piece. Today, I pick five of my all-time favorite necklaces so that you can indulge in an array of diamond beauty, too.
1. Moussaieff Jewelers
Fun Fact: the very first high jeweler to open their vaults to me after I started The Diamonds Girl—and allow me to try on anything I desired—was Moussaieff Jewelers in 2014. This experience opened my eyes to what “high jewelry” is all about. From their collections, expect to find the most exquisite, rarest diamonds, expertly set in unique designs. Their craftsmanship reaches new levels of luxury and has set the bar against which I measure everything else. Famed for their opulent, regal jewels, I covet nearly everything Moussaieff places before me, but most of all… I obsess over this 50+ carat D IF heart shape diamond pendant. Set on a chain of pear-shaped diamonds, with a fancy vivid pink diamond adding to the charm and romance of this necklace, it is forever a favorite of mine.
2. Lorraine Schwartz
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic red-carpet jewelry moments was at the 2017 Grammys. Beyoncé posed with two Grammys and a 400-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond, leaving everyone—not just fine jewelry fiends—forever in awe of the jewelry house. As The Diamond Girl, I of course had always been a fan of Lorraine’s work, and I love seeing her pieces both on the red carpet and in real life. But, something about the elegance and simplicity of this Y-style rivière necklace captivated me. So, naturally, when given the chance to try it on, I grabbed it! For a brief moment in time, I felt like Queen Bee— powerful, magnificent, and able to accomplish anything.
READ MORE: Diamond Duet: A Look Back at the Lorraine Schwartz Jewels Beyoncé Has Worn to the Grammys
3. Van Cleef & Arpels
When I walk into Van Cleef & Arpels, I’m usually drawn to the more unique and unusual high jewelry pieces. Their innovative designs and expert craftsmanship have gained notoriety for good reason. They produce stunning necklaces with a nimbleness to transform into so many variations. Each time I’m in the presence of their collections, I literally lose count of the various ways to wear a single piece. But this necklace? This necklace rocked my world! Featuring a spectacular design and three D flawless pear-shaped, detachable diamonds (with the two smaller stones then converting to earrings and the larger center stone becoming a solitaire pendant), this necklace is the one essential piece of fine, noteworthy jewelry that exceeds every possible expectation.
4. De Beers
When De Beers announced they would be launching a new high jewelry collection named Reflections of Nature, I waited with eager anticipation. The collection is based on elements in nature and the animals that inhabit it. It features an astonishing array of rough and polished diamonds, as well as colorless and colored diamonds. The stones used in the collection took over seven years to collect. My favorite piece is the Knysna Chameleon Necklace—a truly charming and transformative piece that can effortlessly adapt to any way you choose to wear it (just like a chameleon).
5. Jacob and Co.
READ MORE: How Jacob the Jeweler’s Diamonds Helped Define Pop Culture
This diamond necklace has the honor of being my most reposted The Diamonds Girl picture ever—and with over 500 carats of incredible natural diamonds, it’s easy to see why. The emerald cut center stone alone weighs a whopping 102.11 carats and is suspended on a chain of significant fancy cut diamonds. Jacob and Co. are renowned for producing larger-than-life statement jewelry, and this particular necklace is the crowning jewel of the collection, in my humble opinion.
