Safa Siddiqui Doesn’t Do Quiet Luxury And Her Natural Diamonds Are Proof
The Dubai Bling star talks to The Nod about her statement style, love for sentimental jewellery and natural diamonds, and why subtlety has never been her thing.
Editor’s note: This conversation first appeared as part of The Bridal Edit, a video series hosted by Natural Diamond Council in collaboration with The Nod, where Jewellery Editor Priyanka Parkash sits down with designers and insiders to discuss modern bridal style and natural diamonds.
People dress for the occasion, but Safa Siddiqui dresses like she is the occasion. As one of the breakout personalities on Netflix’s Dubai Bling, she’s built a reputation for her bold, unfiltered personality and her maximalist style. Whether it’s a snakeskin outfit that sparks a little drama or a Birkin dressed up with bespoke diamond charms, Safa doesn’t believe in playing it safe. Her approach to luxury fashion is rooted in making bold statements, but behind the spectacle is a surprisingly intentional philosophy. We sat down with her to talk about her favourite luxury buys, her evolving relationship with natural diamonds, and how she builds her bling collection with longevity in mind.
Do you think luxury can ever be quiet or does it always need a bit of drama?
Safa: You know how I feel about quiet luxury and that kind of culture. I’m definitely on the other end of the spectrum. I’m loud, proud, dramatic, over-the-top, and exaggerated. I just feel that when my pieces are making a statement, that’s when I’m the happiest.
What are your top three luxury buys?
Safa: That is really tough. For me, my bags are something I’ve invested in and I really love them. I think about them everyday. I love jewellery—there’s so much sentiment (attached) to it. And the third would be some of my dresses. They’re really special to me.
When you look at a piece of natural diamond jewellery, what makes you decide you want to invest in it?
Safa: When I’m doing a high value purchase, I think about it a hundred times, because I want it to stay with me as a piece that I can pass on to my daughters. I always try to avoid trends, and stick to pieces that I feel are going to stay in my collection forever. If I’m investing in a high jewellery piece, it has to be something that’s going to make my heart skip a beat. It’s a connection you feel with a piece of jewellery. It means that the energy that it carries is meant for you.
I remember after giving birth to Alina {Safa’s daughter}, I was in postpartum and not feeling the best. But I still had my diamond necklace on because certain jewellery carries certain energies and it passes those energies (to you).
Where does a piece of natural diamond jewellery sit in your hierarchy of luxury?
Safa: Oh, right at the top. I actually wanted natural diamonds before I wanted my Birkin. Even though everyone knows I love my bags, there’s this energy that gets connected with a diamond… and it’s something you can always have on your body. Even as a single girl, I would go and buy diamonds as a little treat. Obviously they weren’t as big. But they were still so special to me. I remember feeling so good when I bought my first diamond earrings. Then I started collecting pieces like a tennis bracelet and a diamond choker. As I was earning more, I would buy better pieces, and that hasn’t stopped.
How do you pair statement outfits with statement natural diamonds so that they each get to shine?
Safa: I just think that my whole personality and appearance is very exaggerated. I find it very difficult to calm things down. I want the big hair, the big jewels, and the big outfit. So it’s very hard for me to contain myself. If I’m walking into an event, I need everyone to look at me and need something (from my look). I want to inspire the other people that I work with. I know I am wearing a good outfit if someone asks me, “Where did you get this from?” or “Who made your necklace?”
There’s expensive and then there’s exclusive. Where do you think natural diamonds fall on that scale?
Safa: Now with natural diamonds becoming more rare and people accessing other types of diamonds, they’re going to be much more exclusive. To me, lab-grown diamonds are more like elevated costume jewellery. Maybe people want to travel with them, but they’re not pieces you want to pass on to your kids. I don’t think it’s very exclusive if you’re mass producing it. Natural is obviously natural and that’s just how it is.
What are some pieces you look forward to passing down to your girls?
Safa: To be honest, all of them. I have so many pieces from Fahad’s {Safa’s husband} mom and from my own mother. They’ll definitely go (to my kids) because they are heirlooms. I have so many pieces that I truly cherish, like my first ever Cartier love bangles—pieces where I started my journey. And I would also like them to choose pieces as they grow through their journey. We did this at Van Cleef… we took them to the store and we said, “Which stone do you like the most?” Every birthday, we’d like them to pick something they can keep. So that by the time they’re eighteen, they have a nice collection that’s actually theirs, not just the things that I’ve given them.
What’s the most extra thing you’ve done with natural diamond jewellery?
Safa: I have a friend and she has this amazing jewellery business that specialises in natural diamonds for bags. She made me CEO charms when I was in my CEO era. She’s got some amazing pieces and putting them on your Birkin is like uniting your two loves—diamonds and Birkins.
To hear more from Safa on her love for natural diamonds, maximalism, and the stories behind her most treasured pieces, watch the full interview below.
