Despite initially pursuing a career in physics, then finance and luxury PR, London-based Dalia Daou always felt as though jewellery was her calling. ‘The longer I stayed away, the stronger my motivation became,’ she says. ‘And of course, fine jewellery is part of my heritage.’
Three years ago, Daou reignited the namesake brand that her late grandfather, Georges Daou, founded in Beirut in 1930. Continued by George’s son AG Daou, it made royal appointment to King Hussein of Jordan in 1966, and in 1967, the house created a decorative cross for his Holiness Pope Paul VI. ‘It seemed disrespectful to not speak to that story that is part of me and my understanding of jewellery,’ she explains.
Daou’s collections are a thoughtful culmination of past and present, melding select references from the brand’s archive – such as the use of vivid gemstones and fine opals – with a modern femininity. ‘There’s a light energy in the designs, they look elegant and feel beautiful to wear,’ she says.
Bird of Paradise’ archive brooch, in yellow and white gold with coral, diamonds and ruby cabochons
For her autumn/winter 2017 outing, she sought inspiration from the mythological phoenix to signify the renewal, resistance and rarity of Daou jewellery. Flickering flames and the ruffle of coloured plumage are interpreted imaginatively throughout. Solid gold feather ear climbers display a shock of turquoise cabochons, a delicate pendant necklace mirrors the silhouette of an exotic bird in flight, while a cluster of rose quartz, opal and pink tourmaline stones form cocktail earrings.
The ear climbers, Daou explains, are a direct take on a pair of feather earrings that her father designed in the early 1970s. ‘He was way ahead of his time,’ she says. ‘They were once described to me as Wonder Woman earrings, which sums up the Daou wearer perfectly – self-assured and independent.’
In the spirit of the collection, the lookbook proudly showcases pieces against a backdrop of vintage Daou photographs. ‘For me personally, jewellery is intrinsically linked to our family. It has love, longevity and richness in myriad ways,’ she concludes.
Left, ‘Phoenix’ ring with opal, morganite, diamonds, aquamarines, sapphires and topaz. Right, ‘Feather Aquamarine’ ring with round brilliant cut diamond and pear cut aquamarine, ‘Feather’ ring and ‘Phoenix ring’. All in yellow gold
’Phoenix’ ear climbers with diamonds and opals, ‘Feather’ ring and ‘Feather Aquamarine’ ring with round brilliant cut diamond and pear cut aquamarine, ’Feather’ earrings. All in yellow gold
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Daou Jewellery website
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy designCreativity leaps the screen at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s record-flying roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
The modernist home of musician Imogen Holst gets Grade II listingThe daughter of the composer Gustav Holst lived here from 1964 until her death, during which time the home served a locus for her own composition work, which included assisting Benjamin Britten
-
This fun and free-spirited photography exhibition offers a chromatic view on the world‘Chromotherapia’ at Villa Medici in Rome, explores how we view colour as a way of therapy, and how it has shaped photography over the last century (until 9 June 2025)
-
As London’s V&A spotlights Mughal-era design, Santi Jewels tells of its enduring relevance‘The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence’ is about to open at London’s V&A. Here, Mughal jewellery expert and Santi Jewels founder Krishna Choudhary tells us of the influence the dynasty holds today
-
Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
-
Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden HourLate summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
-
All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to knowThese independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal piecesA host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a momentWe've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
-
Eternity rings for the modern coupleEternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
