The vault: Nazneen Tariq

Nazneen Tariq, jewellery designer of Heavenly Regalia, is a design enthusiast at heart and a complete gem herself. She talks to us about how she got into designing jewellery, the pieces she can’t part with, and designs that are on her radar

How and when did you get interested in jewellery?

I used to make clothes and go to Dubai to buy accessories for the fabric. One day I was at a shop and this man was buying the same things to put onto his jewellery that I was buying to put on my clothes, and I was intrigued. Iasked him if he was making the pieces himself. Turns out he had a workshop and agreed to do a calligraphy design made by my son in silver. I liked it and asked him to make me six or seven pieces more, as I was going to America and thought they’d make great gifts. I was staying at a friend’s house and gave her one, which she loved. When she discovered I had it made, she called a few people over and they actually bought the pieces! That’s how it all started.

What are your favourite pieces of jewellery and where did you get them?

Rings, I just love rings! I have the hands to carry off big chunky rings. My favourite colour is green, because green is to jewellery what black is to fashion. A green piece of jewellery can be worn with any colour. I generally wear a lot of rings, but there are some that I never remove, even in my sleep. These include a topaz ring and a ring I wear on my thumb. I designed it when I was a young girl, so even when I didn’t do jewellery, you could say I did jewellery!



Is there any piece you are emotionally attached to and why?

I will never take my pendant off with God’s name on it. It’s even a bit damaged and hasn’t been polished since it was made but it stays with me. This was my first piece and I’ve been wearing it for seven years. I try not to be superstitious, but every time I remove it, I have lost something, or something weird happens, so it’s become a part of me.

Share a story with us about one of your favourite pieces?

I’ve been going to the States annually for my exhibition for the last 30 years, and once a lady asked for my bracelet, as she said I could go back and have another made. Eventually, besides my watch, she took everything. She then saw my pendant and wanted it. I thought for a second and agreed. As I was taking it off, I felt like someone was taking something from inside my body. I suddenly got this hollow, empty feeling, so I told the lady I couldn’t part with it. Since that day I have never taken it off for a minute. If I have to wear something in my neck, I wear the pendant to the back or keep it in my purse. It’s my security blanket.

Is there anything on your radar that you want to get in the future?

At the Metropolitan Museum in New York, I visited the Greek section, with displays of goddesses and their jewellery. I just loved the jewellery and even bought a book on Greek mythology so I could study it. I became a member of the museum so I could keep going back. I want to create that same antique look as in the excavated pieces, which I’m working on now. I have started with earrings with a coin design and a ram’s head, but now I want to make three layers of chains with pendant antique coins.