When I think of diamonds, I think of special occasions. Engagement rings, big birthday gifts, or perhaps if you’re a celebrity, red carpet events. In essence, I have always kept my precious stones for, well, precious moments! And while buying diamonds isn’t something we do daily, French jewellery designer Valérie Messika says that wearing them certainly should be. Her eponymous label still encourages celebratory jewellery, but its focus is on the idea of “everyday diamonds,” aka spectacular stones that are artfully crafted, beautifully designed, but styled and enjoyed for every day and any occasion.
Before founding her brand in 2005, the born and bred Parisian gained all her expertise from her father, noted diamond merchant André Messika. So you could say this brand has generations of knowledge and expertise despite its young age. Messika’s Parisian upbringing, generational jewellery knowledge, and It-girl status (check out her Instagram) make her the ultimate expert when it comes to jewellery trends and purchasing diamonds. So naturally, I was excited to get the inside scoop about her designs, the changing culture of diamond buying and her tips on styling fine jewellery in untraditional and contemporary ways.
If you like diamonds (let’s face it—who doesn’t?), you will have no doubt already heard the Messika name. A Hollywood favourite, it has built its legacy on free-flowing styles that break the mould of traditional jewellery design. “I wanted to make jewellery fun and dynamic like fashion instead of feeling heavy and serious,” Messika tells me. While many jewellery houses lean on their history, re-creating the same heritage designs over and over, she shuns rigid classicism in both her designs and her techniques. “When I founded Messika, there was a real fear and apprehension around diamonds in that most women only wore them for their engagement rings or with very traditional eveningwear. I wanted to change this and break down any sort of age barrier that had been instilled in diamond styling.”
Despite the timeless nature of her designs and the eternal appeal of diamonds, Messika still manages to make her mark with trends and capture pop-culture moments, which isn’t common for fine-jewellery brands. Not only is the brand’s current campaign faced by Kendall Jenner, but Messika has countless celebrity fans including Gigi Hadid, Vanessa Hudgens, Adele and Rihanna, who famously wore the house’s customised belly chain during her pregnancy (possibly one of the biggest jewellery moments in 2022 and a major milestone for maternity fashion). But it’s not just the belly chains that are breaking convention. The jewellery house’s ear cuffs, headpieces and signature Move collection (which features moving stones set in earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more) prove that Messika has an irreverence for typical jewellery design. Its cool-girl jewels make it the brand to watch, to know and, most importantly, to be seen wearing.
The way Messika’s pieces are worn is where the real magic comes in. Stacking is a core style choice. Wearers will often double or triple up on rings, bracelets, necklaces and more. “Previously, necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings were worn as a set, but today, stacking and asymmetry is fashionable,” Messika notes. Furthermore, mixing and matching different collections has been big. According to Messika, the most popular way to wear her jewellery is “an accumulation of chain bracelets or bangles; earrings and piercings; rings worn on several knuckles or fingers; and chokers, chain necklaces and pendants worn all at the same time.” But if you’re wondering what she loves to wear most, don’t worry—I already asked. She opts for the Glam’Azone Double-Row Ring “to dress up the hand at work” or a combination of the Move Necklace and Move Uno Choker “to bring a touch of boldness to everyday looks.”
So whether your style is punky, bohemian, classic or ultra feminine, the idea is to invest in diamonds that you enjoy wearing regularly and to make them your own. According to Messika, “Jewellery is an opportunity to express your personality. There are no more rules—it’s really about embracing your personal style and making the jewellery yours.”
Want to learn more about everyday diamonds and discover all of Messika’s collections? Head here.
