Not Without My Diamond Jewellery

A courtside gaze at swiftly evolving trends of the fashion landscape, they might spend most of their time concocting ensembles for top celebrities or hacking away at their laptops reporting the next piece of industry intel. But they do it looking fabulous, often in natural diamonds. These jewellery enthusiasts across vocations convene to talk all things natural diamonds –from the everyday essentials to unexpected pairings. 

Tanya Mehta

Fashion Editor & Brand Consultant

Describe a piece of natural diamond jewellery that holds a special meaning for you.

It’s actually the first piece of fine diamond jewellery I bought for myself – a stunning vintage cross replete with Polki diamonds and a Victorian finish. I saw it at a tiny shop in Jaipur but couldn’t buy it then. Years later, I returned and it was still in the window — fate with a side of sparkle.

What are some non-negotiable pieces that are a part of your jewellery box?

I’m drawn to pieces that don’t sit in the locker but can be celebrated everyday. I have a pair of diamond earrings with interchangeable drops in various colours, and a three lined diamond necklace that’s a timeless investment for weddings and other marquee occasions, but has the flexibility to be worn independently for a weekend dinner.

What are some recent diamond jewellery trends you love?

A diamond brooch! You can use it to fasten your scarf skirt, wear it on the lapel of your favourite denim jacket or even make it the focal point of an elegant sari.  

What’s on your diamond wishlist?

A singular diamond ear cuff to layer on the daily – diamonds with a grungy, industrial finish. If I could make a splurge it would be a cord necklace from Dezso. I love how the designer integrates diamonds with unconventional materials like corals and seashells. 

Ruhani Singh

Fashion Stylist & Creative Director

What’s your earliest memory of natural diamonds?

I always saw my mother wear the simplest yet the most impactful jewellery. She wore a simple diamond band that my father gifted her as an upgrade to her wedding ring. Growing up I saw my maternal grandmother wear a beautiful solitaire as a nose pin which soon inspired me to have my own nose pierced. I inherited it many years ago and have never removed it since. 

As a stylist, what role do you think diamonds play in shaping fashion narratives?

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. A cliche but one that stays and for good reason. It has an allure to it which makes you feel special and that is exactly what fashion is meant to facilitate. Imagine your first tennis bracelet – you design everything from the size to the shape, and once you put it on you can’t help but wonder how it was missing from your wrist for all these years.

Share the ultimate hack on how natural diamond jewellery can elevate a look.

A delicate real diamond string will always stand out more than big stones. If your outfit is already extravagant, let not your jewellery drown you.

What’s on your diamond wishlist?

I recently wore a beautiful diamond and ruby necklace by House of Umrao that also can be worn as a bracelet – it was the most understated piece in the entire collection but made me feel like a million bucks.  

Praachi Raniwala

Fashion Editor

Describe a piece of natural diamond jewellery that holds a special meaning for you.

It’s a diamond and white gold ring — the first piece of fine jewellery I had made from a family jeweller around 12 years ago. I’ve worn it everyday ever since. It’s almost like second skin, an extension of me. Something feels amiss if I don’t have it on.

What’s the value of a natural diamond to you?

Definitely sentimental. It’s always been a symbol of celebration and a way to mark a milestone. There’s always a certain sense of pride in adding natural diamonds to your own collection, because they have this lasting quality. When chosen right, you know these are pieces you’ll wear forever.   

How does natural diamond jewellery fit into your personal style?

I often oscillate between minimal and maximal jewellery, currently in the former phase. There are these delicate diamond-studded mini square hoops, a gift from my parents many, many years ago. I didn’t love them back then, but I wear them almost everyday now. Another is a pair of diamond studs that I recently converted into a band, and wear often. I don’t like to wear fussy jewellery when I am writing, so a tennis bracelet is a no-brainer. For dressier occasions, I often borrow my mum’s solitaires. I also love Ananya’s chakra bracelet, as a great stackable investment piece.  

What’s on your diamond wishlist?

I’ve been hankering after Hanut Singh’s diamond dagger necklace for a while. Also on my wishlist: A dainty tennis necklace and Jessica McCormack’s beautiful diamond drop necklaces.

Kaustav Dey

VP Marketing – Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger

What’s your earliest memory of natural diamonds?

My earliest memory of natural diamonds is my mother’s choker, the same one she wore on her wedding night, the one my grandmother wore before her. I remember sitting cross-legged at her feet, watching the light scatter from her neck onto the mirror, making her face look like it was lit from within. That was the first time I understood that jewellery was more than ornament –  it was illumination, both literal and emotional. 

What’s the value of a natural diamond to you?

For me, the value of a natural diamond is rarely financial – it is emotional, almost spiritual. A natural diamond is a crystallised memory: of where you come from, who you’ve loved, and the courage it took to become who you are. When I touch the ones I inherited, I don’t see carats, I see my grandmother’s laughter, my mother’s resilience, my own refusal to conform. 

Unpopular opinion: name a sartorial combination that goes surprisingly well with natural diamonds but isn’t experimented with enough.

Denim. A distressed denim jacket, frayed at the sleeves, paired with a string of diamonds. The clash of grit and grandeur makes both sing louder. I think the future of diamonds lies in these unlikely marriages.

What’s on your diamond wishlist?

A heritage Polki diamond haar, heavy and decadent, the kind once worn by royalty, layered over a stark black bandhgala. And a pair of diamond studs shaped like tiny stars – to remind me everyday that beauty can be both ordinary and cosmic.