Inside the diamond jewellery vault: The Nod office edition

Right now, everyone is obsessed with the archive. Vintage references, inherited pieces, and the idea that longevity signals taste. The heirloom has quietly become fashion’s clearest flex. But when your work revolves around high jewellery and a constant stream of newness, permanence starts to mean something else entirely. Surrounded by exceptional stones every day, what actually earns a lifelong place in your own collection?

That’s why we decided to ask the people in our office what pieces they keep for themselves. What are the natural diamonds they’d sooner guard than trade in or tuck away for another day. From studs that went through a pre-Partition journey to a floating solitaire gifted at the start of a new family chapter, these are the heirlooms they’re low-key gatekeeping.

Priyanka Parkash, jewellery editor

The piece: A 2.5-carat natural diamond in a minimal, “floating” Japanese design

How did this find its way to you?

“When my son was born, my husband got me the most beautiful diamond ring. It’s a Japanese design that he loves, and the way he gave it to me was really special. My baby was maybe just 40 or 50 days old, and he put the ring in the baby's hand. I thought there was something wrong, and when I looked he was just holding the ring—I just saw something sparkling and stunning.”

Why does this ring have a permanent place in your collection?

“I think it’ll be cool even in 2070. It’s a modern heirloom because it’s a legacy that I kind of started and that I hopefully will pass on to my daughter. It has almost replaced my engagement ring. It’s just so much more special now, because not only does it remind me of my husband, it also reminds me of my son and it kind of represents us as a family, not just as a couple.”

What gives a natural diamond more weight for you than an alternative?

“The beauty of this piece is the natural diamond. It is beautiful because of the way the stone is given importance.”

What is the specific memory attached to it?

“It takes me back to that moment where my baby was in his little pillow casing, all swaddled up with that little ring in his hand.”

Is this a “big event” piece or a daily staple?

“I wear it all the time because it’s just such a cool piece of jewellery. Even with just a white shirt and black trousers.”

What is the legacy you want to pass on with it?

“I definitely think the one thing I would want the next person to know is just that it represents family and that it hopefully wouldn’t need to be redesigned.”

Vanshika Jain, content writer

The piece: Natural diamond solitaire earrings and custom-made diamond bangles

What is the lineage of these items?

“The earrings were a wedding gift from my sister-in-law. We went out to place an order and just couldn’t find the right stone in time, and then she just took hers off and said, ‘Take these.’ The second is a pair of custom-made diamond bangles that belonged to my dadi. She wore them every single day. They were passed down to my sister and me; we each received one, along with a set of gold bangles that was the last gift my dadu gave her. I wanted to get a matching diamond piece custom-made to complete the pair, so I chose to trade in the gold bangles (since they weren’t my size) for it.”

What makes these pieces non-negotiable in your jewellery box?

“I’m deeply, almost embarrassingly sentimental. These two are permanent because they’re not just accessories; they’re memory-keepers.”

Why do you choose natural over lab-grown for an heirloom?

“It comes down to history and origin. When I look at a natural diamond, I can’t help but think about where it’s come from; the time it’s taken to form; the journey it’s been on before it even reached my family. There’s something incredibly grounding (and magical, I would like to believe) about wearing a stone that existed long before you and will exist long after you.”

Who do you think of when you put them on?

“Every time I wear the earrings, I smile. It feels like I’m carrying a little piece of my sister-in-law with me. With the bangles, it feels like I’m carrying not just my grandmother’s memories but also the love story she shared with my grandfather.”

How do you integrate these into your wardrobe?

“The bangles are reserved for special occasions, mostly because I’m terrified of damaging them. But the solitaire earrings are part of my everyday uniform. They’re effortless. They work with everything.”

What do you want the next generation to know?

“I want them to understand that these bangles didn’t just ‘happen’. My grandmother built everything from the ground up. She was intentional with her savings, thoughtful with her decisions. So, this wasn’t jewellery bought on a whim. When I look at these bangles, I don’t just see natural diamonds. I see resilience and the beginning of my family’s legacy.”

Dia Sachanandani, commercial director

The piece: Natural diamond studs and a ring

How did these pieces reach you?

“Both were passed down from my nani to my mom and now to me. She gave the ring to my mom after mom and dad were married, and my mom gave it to me on the eve of my wedding day. The studs are something I’ve always remembered my nani wearing.”

What made this earn a permanent spot in your jewellery box?

“We’re Sindhis, so maximalism is kind of our middle name. Finding simple jewellery in our parents’ or grandparents’ wardrobes is a rarity I’d like to enjoy in its original sense.”

What makes a natural diamond feel more authentic to you?

“No one would like to be remembered as the person who passed down ‘fake jewellery’ to their child. Whether it’s a precious metal or a precious stone, authenticity is likely to define or mark a person’s living legacy.”

What is the core memory linked to these diamonds?

“The studs obviously remind me of my nani, who’s been gone for 25 years now. The ring was something my mom held close to her for 33 years. She then had the ring design slightly altered to suit my aesthetic before she gifted it to me. These became the ‘something old’ at my wedding.”

When do you typically wear them?

“I try to wear them both on most special occasions, like my son’s baptism or my first Diwali after marriage. I also wear them individually on the regular since they’re the jewellery equivalent of a white shirt or black pants.”

What is the history you are passing down?

“I’d want whoever wears it to know what a wonderful and kind person my grandmother was. She was born in pre-Partition Pakistan and moved to India in 1947, so there’s a possibility she had this jewellery with her then. The jewellery is small, but it’s old and deeply rooted in history.”

Mahika Gunde, sales and brand executive

The piece: Round brilliant solitaire earrings and diamond bangles

How did these bangles travel through your family?

“My nanu gifted them to my nani. She then passed them to my mom, and now they’re mine. Surprisingly, all three of us have completely different wrist sizes, but they still fit all of us perfectly.”

What makes these specific diamonds so permanent for you?

“I think the most classic are my round brilliant solitaire earrings. I wear them with traditional wear, Indian wear, and even on a daily basis. Others just keep rotating, but somehow these go with everything.”

How do you view natural diamonds in the context of history?

“In terms of heirlooms, a natural diamond just has so much history, and it’s been through so much. It has such a long journey that I feel you somehow learn to preserve it more, and you love it more.”

Which person comes to mind when you wear these?

“It has to be my mom; she’s such an amazing, stylish human being, and she pulls everything off. In fact, all my natural diamond jewellery is from her.”

Do you find yourself wearing them daily?

“Yes, I tend to wear them every day. My solitaire studs are always on my ears. I have a tennis necklace that I wear from brunch to dinner.”

What is the one sentiment you want to pass on?

“That it’s just not a piece of jewellery; it’s several generations, several people connected.”

Dilshad Arora, business head

The piece: An emerald and diamond pendant on a string of South Sea pearls

What is the backstory of this pendant?

“It was gifted to me by my mother, who in turn received it from her mother (it belonged to my nani).”

Why does this piece stay in your permanent rotation?

“It’s highly wearable; while elegant, it is both contemporary and Indian. It pairs beautifully with Western as well as Indian attire. I love wearing it with saris or just a white shirt.”

Why is the ‘natural’ aspect important for an heirloom?

“Because a natural diamond signifies a story, rarity, and permanence. When you’re passing something down, that sense of continuity matters; it has lasting value as something that came from the Earth.”

Who does this piece remind you of?

“My mom always looked stunning in it. Each time she wore it, I loved it on her. I admired it so much that she eventually gifted it to me.”

Is it an occasion piece or an everyday luxury?

“Both. I have worn it for special occasions, but also at work or for personal events.”

What is the one thing the next person should know?

“I would pass it down to my daughter, Meher. Her name means ‘blessing’, and the gift is a blessing from her nani to her.”