A Life Adorned: Three Women and Their Diamond Stories

For generations, natural diamonds have carried meanings far beyond their sparkle. They have marked milestones, safeguarded memories, and carried stories across time. For many women, the connection to diamonds begins even before their first piece—through the jewellery worn by mothers, grandmothers, and cultural traditions that place diamonds at the heart of life’s most meaningful moments. In conversations with three women deeply connected to the world of natural diamond jewellery, we uncover how natural diamonds are more than just adornments: they can act as powerful talismans, symbols of identity, and expressions of individuality. 

Noelle Kadar: Diamonds as a Talisman

For contemporary art curator and Jaipur Centre for Art co-founder Noelle Kadar, natural diamonds are deeply tied to memory and protection. Since her early twenties, she has worn an heirloom gold ring set with natural diamonds, passed down from her grandmother. 

“I am not generally a sentimental person, which is the irony of all of this,” she said. “But my grandmother wore this ring every day, and now I wear it almost every day. I won’t get on a plane, or travel without it. It’s a talisman for me.”

Marrying into a family of jewellers has further deepened her bond with natural diamonds. Through her husband’s atelier, Tallin Jewels, Noelle has learned to reimagine her jewellery, breathing new life into cherished pieces. A pear-shaped diamond, a gift from her mother-in-law, has seen three different ring settings, with each iteration acting as a reflection of her evolving style.

“One of the perks of having a jewellery atelier is that I can keep changing my jewellery according to my personal style. Some things will never change, like my grandmother’s ring and the solitaires I was given when I had our twins. But the rest of my jewellery can evolve with me,” she explained.

What remains consistent across the reinventions and the new pieces that Noelle collects is her quest for the highest quality natural diamond. “Growing up, I observed that my mother would rather have a smaller, but higher quality, natural diamond than a flawed one,” she said. “And if it’s not the real thing, we’d rather not have it.”

Rosena Sammi: Diamonds as Identity

For Rosena Sammi, founder and CEO of The Jewelry Edit, natural diamonds hold both cultural and personal weight. Her earliest memories are of her mother’s Sri Lankan jewels—pieces where cut and uncut diamonds shimmered with sacred significance during ceremonies and family celebrations. 

“My mother’s jewellery had natural diamonds—sometimes cut, sometimes uncut—but always powerful and full of story. They felt sacred because they adorned my mother, whom I looked up to, and were brought out only on the most important occasions,” she said. 

Today, Rosena continues the tradition in her own way, wearing her Thali, a Tamil wedding necklace, every day. And in her early career as a lawyer, she also celebrated her professional success with a piece of timeless natural diamond jewellery. “I’ll never forget buying my first pair of diamond earrings with a hard-earned bonus from my early days as a lawyer in New York City,” she said. “It was a reward for all those late nights spent buried in case law and rewriting briefs. 

She brings this approach to her work as a jewellery consultant, encouraging clients to find pieces that resonate with who they are.  

“In my opinion, a real diamond becomes heirloom-worthy when it tells your story, reflects your values, or offers a glimpse of who you are. Yes, a tennis necklace is timeless, but isn’t it more meaningful when it’s something unexpected, something uniquely yours?” she asked. “A diamond is about the personal connection, the story it tells, and how it makes you feel. I also highlight the importance of origin and responsibility when it comes to choosing a diamond.” 

For Rosena, the allure of natural diamonds lies not in the technicalities of the 4Cs, but in the origin, responsibility, and above all, the emotional connection they inspire. 

Ashna Mehta: Diamonds as Self-Expression

Designer Ashna Mehta’s bond with natural diamonds began in childhood, growing up in the Rosy Blue family—one of the world’s largest diamond and gemstone houses. Her earliest memory is peering through a loupe with her grandfather in Antwerp, mesmerised by the fire and kaleidoscope of colours within a diamond. 

“That moment was magical. I was completely captivated by diamonds and their brilliance,” she recalled. 

At Bag Bijoux, the brand she co-founded with her sister Aria, Ashna channels that wonder into playful, contemporary creations that use natural diamonds in fresh ways. From bold bag charms to her basketball hoop earrings in white gold, her designs celebrate the versatility of diamonds as a medium for personal expression. 

Her maternal grandmother also played a role in shaping this approach, encouraging her to redesign traditional family pieces. “That freedom sparked the beginning of my individual style,” she said. 

Natural diamonds are Ashna’s way of expressing creativity while honouring her family’s legacy. “My grandfather built Rosy Blue with the sole focus of it being a natural diamond business,” she said. “And he always taught me to stick to my niche and become the best at it.” 

Though their stories and emotional connections are born in different places, Noelle, Rosena, and Ashna share a belief in the timeless romance of natural diamonds. For them, these stones are not just precious. They are repositories of memory, meaning, and identity.  

As Rosena put it, “There’s an undeniable romanticism to natural diamonds. It’s hardwired into me.”  

Or, as Noelle concluded, “A natural diamond is a commitment to authenticity.”