Valérie was first introduced to diamonds through her father, André Messika, a highly acclaimed and respected diamond merchant. Through him, Valérie garnered industry expertise as she explored every facet of the trade, learning alongside her father for 5 years. Yet, Valérie craved something more, “I loved sharing our common passion, but I was missing the creative part. I needed to be able to express myself and I couldn’t do it through diamonds alone. That’s why I started to create my own jewellery.”
And create her own jewellery she did. The impassioned designer founded Messika Paris in 2005, beginning her journey with just 5 people, as she sought to break down the stigmas of diamonds as traditional and ‘mature’ pieces to be worn in purely formal settings, “When I founded Messika 15 years ago, there was a real fear and apprehension around diamonds and most women only really wore diamonds for their engagement ring or for very traditional evening wear.” The designer implores women to wear jewellery in their day-to-day lives, and to not get caught up in outdated ideals regarding when it is or isn’t ‘appropriate’ to wear diamond jewellery. “That’s why I started Messika Paris, as I really wanted to change this idea and break down any sort of age or style barriers that had been put up.”
One of Valérie’s goals was to transform the diamond into a piece of jewellery – one that could transcend dress codes, style and personality, all the while adding to and strengthening an individual’s unique sense of self. Looking at present day styles and trends, the designer is delighted by the lack of rules and a consumer’s willingness to mix and match jewellery and embrace their own distinctive preferences, “This is the spirit I wanted to inject with my collections. It’s no longer a ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to jewelry.” Valérie sought to create pieces that moved gracefully with the wearer, spending years alongside her Atelier to engineer her “Move” and “Skinny” concepts, which both sit like second-skin on the body. Messika’s Move Collections have now become integral to the brand, the diamonds sliding fluidly within each item of jewellery thanks to an ingenious system of rails, reinforcing Valérie’s desires to give freedom to the diamond. The subtle movement of each stone allows it to be admired to its fullest potential as it catches the light with each swish of the wrist or turn of the head. “For me, a diamond is never as beautiful as when it is in motion.”
For me, a diamond is never as beautiful as when it is in motion.
Valérie Messika
Valérie is constantly looking to up the ante in regards to creating new and alluring jewellery collections, and recently worked with Kate Moss for a heightened collaboration that intertwines the personality and tastes of the supermodel with the key codes of Messika Paris. Although designing alongside another can be a complicated process, Valérie thrives off the challenge. “My team and I had to be innovative and daring to bring forth the collection. The movement of stones, the fluidity of lines, the flexibility of the jewels and the audacity of wearing them – nothing is left behind.” While this was by no means an easy feat, the synergy and understanding within the Messika team and between Valérie and Kate allowed for a stunning collection that the two refer to as “relaxed luxury”.
The harmony within the Messika house is largely thanks to its strong foundations and familial heritage. Valérie co-creates her collections with her cousin, her husband holds the title of general manager and all diamonds are of course sourced from her father. As founder and artistic director of the brand, Valérie attributes her success to not only talent and passion but time, energy and hard work, something which she reinforces to her two daughters. Elaborating on where she finds joy in her work as she juggles a myriad of tasks, she explains, “My perfect happiness in my career has become the balance between family and work.” The mother of two is dedicated to her role as both CEO and mother, in fact giving birth to her second daughter on the opening day of her flagship store in Paris.
The jewellery house has recently opened a boutique in Beijing, with two more following suit in Macau and Hong Kong. Messika Paris will soon be within reach thanks to the expanded presence across Asia, as Valérie slowly but surely seeks to share her versatile, timeless and elegant pieces across the globe.
Editor
Carina FischerCredit
Photo: courtesy of Messika
