Vogue x NDC present a first-of-its-kind Diamond Festival
The Diamond Festival, a unique event that was the first of its kind both in India and globally, focused on important conversations in the industry. The two days of special programming had appearances and discussions from the world’s foremost experts, who voiced their perspectives on the magic and power of diamonds. On August 20 and 21, the inaugural Vogue India and Natural Diamond Council’s Diamond Festival, streamed live across Vogue India’s social media channels.
Expert panellists brought their viewpoint to important conversations trending in the diamond and jewellery industry. For instance, what constitutes a modern heirloom? What does a sneak peek into the history of royal jewellery be like? The reason behind the rise of gender-fluid jewellery. Millennials and their love for minimalistic diamonds. How to style T-shirt diamonds; and much more. Jewellery expert Katerina Perez and long-time editor Nonita Kalra highlighted the best of diamond trends to look forward to. From shoulder-dusters to the statement cuff, they shared their predictions on future diamond trends.
If you weren’t able to catch your favourite session, head to Only Natural Diamond India’s YouTube handle to immerse yourself in this one-of-a-kind experience. Here are some highlights for you from the sessions.
Kiara Advani, Actor
“The first piece of jewellery I bought for myself was a pair of solitaires, but I thought the beauty of it would be in gifting them to my mum. After that, whatever I’ve bought has been customised— very wearable, everyday stuff.”
Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Designer, Fine Jewellery & Couture
“The younger generation has oodles of confidence and I want to create jewellery that is a homage to that confidence.”
Aditi Rao Hydari, Actor
“My [maternal] grandfather gave me a piece [of jewellery] that belonged to my great-grandmother. It was a large set, similar to a Satlada, but my grandfather converted it into smaller pieces and gave one to each of us. It was actually given to my great-grandmother when she was really young. I wear it now, and even when I was a teenager because it’s simple and pretty, and very wearable.
H.H. Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad Of Baroda
“Jewellery was and is meant to imply power and prestige, and important pieces were picked up by important members of royal families. There has always been the desire to own important stones.”
Valérie Messika, Artistic Director, Messika Jewellery
“The modern heirloom can be worn in a cool and casual way, while at the same time being sophisticated. For me, it’s most important that a diamond helps you feel feminine and secure about yourself.”
Nonita Kalra, Editor-in-chief, Tata Cliq Luxury
“We grow up with so much storytelling around our jewellery. From the time you’re a little girl, your mother will put out a piece that was your grandmother’s and say ‘this belongs to you’. We form an attachment to the stones. They’re not just stones—they become our mothers and grandmothers.”
Gaurav Gupta, Fashion & Jewellery Designer
“I forayed into jewellery design as there is so much thought that goes behind couture. Couture is the actual birth of ideas, the purity of design and the purity of art. For me, it was getting very cheapened by commercial jewellery and I wanted to start a new language in precious jewellery altogether.”
Lucia Silvestri, Jewellery Creative Director, Bvlgari Jewellery
“The natural cut and touch of the diamond is very important as they are forever.”
Francesca Cartier Brickell, Bestselling Author, ‘The Cartiers’
“Each jewel tells a different story. It’s rarely in the same hands forever. It gets passed around, either down the generations or it gets passed as we go through cataclysmic world events.”
Hanut Singh, Jewellery Designer
“My education on jewellery comes from the pieces my family adorned so my designs weave together the past and the present. The common link between men and women buyers is the emotional value of diamonds which I think is powerful and endearing.”
Hamish Bowles, International Editor At Large, US Vogue
“Each piece of mine speaks about travel, friendships, love, and family and that is what I would like to bring back to the jewellery ethos of today. From Maharajas and the Mughal bling to the charm of trinkets, I’d love to see it all becoming a part of my jewellery repertoire.”