In conversation withJoanna Dahdah
Designer Interview
28·10·2024
The Lebanese jeweler digs deep to design the most personal of charm jewelry, infused with the symbolism of her cultural heritage.
Joanna Dahdah’s bestselling charm is the Mila Heart, a richly embellished symbol of love, decorated with bright enamel, colored gemstones and ringed with glittering diamonds. She designed the motif to mark the birth of her daughter, and that single small idea has blossomed into a full collection of meaningful charms.
Alongside her feminine, elegant main luxury jewelry line, her pendants and charms have become a go-to for anyone who wants to build a personal jewel to chart their journey through life. As she expanded the line, she looked to her Lebanese heritage, reinterpreting motifs infused with the culture of her home country. Now, pistachios — one of her personal favorites — pomegranates, a symbol of fertility and good fortune; and tiny fez hats sit alongside classic ruby-red hearts, gem-set evil eyes, diamond Zodiac signs and emerald horseshoes. Joanna explained to us the very personal genesis of her brand.
Tell me about your journey into jewellery.
I knew I wanted to get into jewelry design after I took a summer course in jewelry-making when I was 16 years old, during a summer camp in the US. I went on to graduate from the prestigious Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, where I studied Jewelry Design and Making. I then continued my studies at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) where I qualified as a gemologist, specializing in diamonds and colored stones.
What was the inspiration for your signature motif, the Mila heart?
My Mila heart is very personal to me. It is my way of expressing my love for my daughter Mila, who was born on Valentine’s Day. From the first heart I designed, the collection quickly grew and the heart charm now comes in five different sizes and an infinity of different color and gemstone combinations.
Your sunburst motif also has a special meaning. What can you tell me about that?
I designed the Mila Sun Pendant for my two boys, it’s a play of words on the words ‘sun’ and ‘son’. The Sun pendants are also fully customizable and also come in five different sizes.
What does your own charm necklace look like?
I wear a large Mila heart in white enamel, and a pistachio charm on one of our large diamond hook chains.
“ I would love to have true icons such as the Lebanese singers Majida el Roumi or Nancy Ajram wearing my pieces ( — Nancy has a daughter called Mila too!) “
To what extent does your homeland of Lebanon influence your work?
A lot of my jewelry is inspired by my Lebanese heritage — my Tarbouche collection is entirely inspired by it. The pistachio is a symbol of friendship, it reminds me of the long summer nights spent in the mountains hanging out and laughing with friends. The pomegranate is symbolic of fertility, the evil eye for protection, and the birds for freedom.
Shop Joanna Dahdah
- Small Pomegranate Charmby Joanna Dahdah
- Festock Charmby Joanna Dahdah
- Blue Enamel Large Mila Heartby Joanna Dahdah
- Turquoise Enamel Mini Mila Heart Earringsby Joanna Dahdah
