Her Time To Shine: Getting Ready with Julia Chafé
Meet the creator behind the viral videos decoding iconic jewellery worn by celebrities. We caught up with Julia Chafé as she dressed in natural diamonds to attend the Ambani wedding.
Ear Climbers, Maang Tikka Sajjante • Choker Anmol Jewellers
It was a weekend of many firsts for Julia Chafé. The New York-based jewellery content creator visited Mumbai to attend the “wedding of all weddings”—the recently-concluded nuptials of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani. Her first trip to India also included her first time in Indian couture and wearing a real diamond headpiece, making it “more than a dream come true”, as she put it.
Spotting and decoding awe-inspiring fine jewellery worn by celebrities and billionaires, turned Julia’s passion for gemstones into now viral videos on Instagram and TikTok.
With over a million followers across platforms, she discovered the world of Indian modern royals (and their jewellery vaults) such as the Ambani and Poonawalla families when her super engaged audience nudged her to talk about them. “I got hundreds of DMs and comments about the Ambani family members’ looks and those videos ended up being my best performing videos ever”, she adds. So, when the year-long obsession turned into a real-life invite to one of the most talked-about celebrity weddings in the age of social media, Julia had to put her best foot forward and dress up in traditional pieces topped with natural diamonds.
Naturally, her outfit of choice for the night was a classic lehenga by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, the designer duo behind some of India’s most iconic couture moments. To compliment the neutral colour palette, she picked a maang tikka and paisley-inspired modern diamond earrings by Sajjante that “take up your whole ear” as Julia loves. Completing the look was a mixed-cut natural diamond choker and matching ring from Anmol Jewellers.
Julia has become a go-to source for jewellery enthusiasts and fans alike. Join us as we explore her favourites, insights on jewellery trends, and her debut experience wearing Indian diamond jewellery.
What sparked your interest in natural diamonds and how did you begin your journey on social media?
My love for natural diamonds started pretty young. I grew up around my best friend’s family, who are all diamond dealers. By spending time with them, I naturally began sharing their love for diamonds.
I started creating content on social media in 2021 because of Bruno, my husband. I was looking for someone on TikTok to promote my family’s wholesale gemstone business and I couldn’t find any! To my surprise, there was no influencer talking about jewellery. So, he suggested that I channel my passion for jewellery and start my own platform. He persisted for an entire month until I made my first video.
“She’s sustainable like that” is one of your go-to expressions in your videos. What does sustainability mean to you?
It began as a catchphrase to point out when celebrities rewear their favourite jewellery more than once. To me, the greater idea is that jewellery never dies. You can have it for a hundred generations.
My favourite example of “she’s sustainable like that” would be me at my own wedding. All my wedding jewellery belonged to my great grandma who loved jewellery so much. When she moved from Iran, my father and his brothers started their own gemstone business, and she would always keep her money aside to buy more jewellery. Her personal collection has some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen, including my wedding necklace. Fun fact: the necklace was too long for my dress, so I turned it into a pair of earrings! It goes to show that not only is real diamond jewellery sustainable because it survives generations, but you can also recreate them into something new.
What do you love about diamonds?
My favourite thing about natural diamonds are the stories behind them. Most of my jewellery comes from members in my family—that I inherited from my grandmothers or “stolen” from my mother—so they come with multiple lives and stories. Some of the pieces I own carry tales of my Persian family when they left Iran and how it travelled with them. Having these stories is so valuable and integral to my life today.
Keep on reading to know more about Julia’s go-to jewellery styles and what’s next on her wish list.
What was the first piece of fine jewellery you ever bought?
A heart-shaped ring with pavé set sapphires that I bought from my cousin who had just started her own jewellery line. It was my first big purchase for myself and I will never get tired of it.
If you could collaborate with a jewellery designer or brand, who would it be and why?
It would have to be between Lorraine Schwartz and Bulgari. I love Lorraine for her use of huge, beautiful gemstones and Bulgari does very intricate, exotic designs that makes them my two favourites.
Which celebrity’s jewellery box would you raid?
Isha Ambani! I can’t choose just one piece but her taste in natural diamonds is *blows chef’s kiss*
The one piece of natural diamond jewellery you would wear for the rest of your life…
My engagement ring. I plan on upgrading it throughout my life!
A “violently iconic” Indian personality when it comes jewellery and diamonds today?
Natasha Poonawalla.
The coolest jewellery trend on social media right now is…
Rainbows! I love wearing diamond jewellery with pops of colours in between.
A go-to jewellery piece that every 21-year-old should own?
Mini natural diamond hoops that are comfortable and light. I wear mine every single day.
Which traditional Indian jewellery style are you ready to take to New York?
When I get back, I will be wearing a maang tikka to weddings. I needed a new place on my body to bejewel and I love how it brightens up my face. All natural diamond pieces make me feel beautiful, but there’s just something special about a headpiece, especially a maang tikka that frames my face perfectly. Now I have an excuse to wear more diamonds!
