Valérie Messika on Bringing Her Diamond Dream to India

Manifest: We are thrilled that Messika has launched in India. What made now the right time for Messika to enter the Indian market?

Valérie Messika: “It feels profoundly special. India’s relationship with jewellery is emotional and multigenerational, and I’m humbled to add Messika’s contemporary vision to that story. Our pieces are light, bold, and made to live with women every day, not only for grand occasions. This year marks Messika’s 20th anniversary—a milestone after becoming a global name—so the timing felt meaningful. We’re ready to meet clients here who already understand jewellery deeply and are looking for a more contemporary, effortless way to wear diamonds.”

M: Where do you draw inspiration from today, and has that evolved since the brand’s beginning?

VM: “I’m inspired by couture, architecture, art, and, above all, by the way light moves across the body. But it is also the people I meet, the cities I travel through, and the music I listen to: rhythms, silences, and contrasts that translate into lines, volumes, and movement. Travel sharpens my eye for craft and colour; music gives pieces their tempo and ease. Over time I’ve become bolder—more graphic structures, new proportions—and this year I introduced coloured gemstones in our new High Jewellery collection, while staying true to Messika’s DNA.”

M: You spent a few days exploring India before the launch. Did anything about the culture, people, or fashion particularly surprise or inspire you?

VM: “I explored New Delhi, the Taj Mahal, and travelled through Rajasthan—Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaipur. The colours, craftsmanship, and hospitality moved me. Everywhere, I felt the same thread: jewellery here is identity, memory, and joy. I noticed the art of layering textiles, colours, and jewels, and it felt incredibly modern and inspiring. The visit to the Taj Mahal was unforgettable, and a conversation with artisans in Jaipur reminded me of how emotion and technique must coexist. That balance is exactly what I aim for in my creative journey.”

M: How do Indian style and values align with the Messika woman?

VM: “There’s a strong meeting point: confidence, elegance, and a love for detail. Indian style embraces meaning and beauty; the Messika woman does, too… She chooses pieces that feel like her second skin, powerful yet effortless.”

M: Messika has always celebrated powerful women. Who has inspired your journey?

VM: “First, the women closest to me—our clients, my friends, my mother, and my daughters, Noa and Romane. I’m also endlessly inspired by the iconic models of the ’90s—their magnetic presence and effortless attitude taught me that style is as much energy as it is form. And of course, the artists and performers who wear Messika with their own rhythm, each of them push me to design pieces that amplify a woman’s confidence rather than speaking over it.”

M: In a constantly shifting world, what does modern femininity mean to you?

VM: “Modern femininity is freedom: to choose, to change, to be complex. Messika translates that into diamonds you can truly live in. Pieces that empower without restricting, and look elegant with an evening dress or a white shirt.”

M: In the last 20 years, what’s the one lesson that’s stayed with you?

VM: “Trust your intuition and stay in your lane. From Day One, I chose to focus on what felt true to me. Diamonds that move, catch the light, and are meant to be lived in every day rather than locked away. That vision of lightness, comfort, and fluidity became our signature, and I protected it without being distracted by what others were doing. Over the years it taught me that discipline around your own codes creates timelessness. The ‘Move’ idea from my childhood memory of sliding diamonds between my fingers, the joy of making stones dance, and the belief that jewels should feel effortless on the body. When you hold that line consistently, the brand’s voice becomes unmistakable.”

M: What does this milestone represent to you as a designer, entrepreneur, and mother?

VM: “Gratitude and responsibility. I’m proud of the name we’ve built and the teams behind it, and I feel a renewed duty to keep innovating creatively, ethically, and sustainably for the next generation.”

M: If you could give a piece of advice to your younger self, what would you say?

VM: “Be brave, be patient, and protect your vision. It’s all going to work out in the end.” M: What legacy do you hope Messika leaves for future women designers and entrepreneurs? VM: “That you can rewrite the codes…create jewellery that is free, modern, and deeply human. If Messika opens doors for more women to lead, innovate, and design without fear, that will be our brightest diamond.”