Jewelry designer Nada Ghazal showcasing Beirut to the world

 “It’s not a secretary or a nurse for me, an artist is what I want to be”, wrote eight-year-old Nada Ghazal.

Nowadays, Nada is a Lebanese jewelry designer whose work has been recognized internationally.

On the heels of her lustrous London boutique opening, The Beiruter interviewed her to uncover the method behind her artistry, the unique make up that has earned her the accolades.

The death of her father at an early age forced maturity before its time. A deep desire to make her mother, brothers and sisters proud pushed Nada forward during hard times. Today, her husband and children play a vital role in her motivation. Family, above all else, quietly shapes her work.

A window to her soul

Her new London flagship is chic and welcoming. It features bold red furniture and pink curtains with white arched doorways and cream floors. The feminine palette is punctuated by brass fittings and lights, a nod to her signature bold brushed gold rings. Decadent glass domes delicately encase a selection of her refined jewels.

The 170 square meter, two-story store, just a short walk from Harrods, has been nearly nine months in the making.

A subtle duality distinguishes her new boutique: London’s polish meeting Beirut’s soul. Her signature balance of strength and sensitivity, modernity and memory can be felt in every nook of the store.

“I always say that my pieces are like a window to my soul”, says Nada pensively, “and when it comes to design, I am actually an open book”. Through her collections, she expresses memories of childhood, motherhood, joy and pain, a testament to her experiences. 

She prides herself on still being the little girl who aspired to create, grow and share her work with the world, regardless of how it takes shape. As a grown-up, she feels it’s her responsibility to satisfy the child in her and try to make the world a better place.

Jewelry speaking many languages

Her new home in London places her work in a city where luxury can feel impersonal and fast-moving. Transplanting a brand born from Beirut’s intimacy and contradiction does not form a hindrance to her work and its appreciation.

Nada believes her pieces connect with people around the world. “While my collections stem from my personal stories, experiences, heritage and background, I believe our emotions are universal and talk about our paradoxes irrespective of where one is in the world”.

In a market saturated with choice, her work attracts clients seeking pieces that feel personal rather than performative. With collections that often echo Beirut’s textures, its cracks, its resilience, its gold-lit warmth, Nada feels her work is safeguarding a city that is changing faster than it can heal.

Especially after the Beirut blast, she had the gnawing desire to pay tribute to the capital in its glory through her work.

“Beirut is in my bones, I feel its cracks, its resilience, its courage and I feel it when it shines too”, says Nada wistfully.

Nada often describes her work as “intimate sculptures”. One particularly moving purchase that left a mark on the designer is a testament to the passion behind the pieces. Two years ago in the US, a client came back to buy the same ring she had already gotten from Nada. When asked for the reason she’s making the same choice, she told an unexpected story. “I’m used to visiting a blind friend and showing her my latest finds,” the client shared. “One day I had the Nada Ghazal ring on my pinky. She touched it and exclaimed that it was soothing and that she loved the feel of it.” That moment sealed the deal, and she decided to get her blind friend the same ring. “The way it was made, you could see it and feel it just by touching it”, says Nada.

A non-negotiable anchor

The global industry is dominated by trends and commercial imperatives, and many consumers crave what's trending, but in Nada’s opinion, jewelry needs to be permanent, a non-negotiable that anchors her work.

“Real jewelry is not fast jewelry that goes viral on our feed, real jewelry is timeless, soulful, meaningful, storytelling, and has great craftsmanship”, affirms Nada.

Adamant in her view, Nada perceives real jewelry as individualistic, denoting personal identity, not collective taste.

At this stage in her life and career, between Beirut and London, she is delighted at the thought of expansion, growth, and further connections, through her work, with people from the four corners of the world. A cause dear to her heart is supporting her team back in Lebanon. As she continues to grow, her team will grow in turn. “It’s the main reason we never moved our operations out of Beirut”.

She produces in Lebanon for two reasons: the excellent craftsmanship and to give back to her community. “It is our own workshop, so we do not outsource. This way we have quality and timing control”, Nada says.

Inspiring positive change

Ever since she was a child, she believed in making the world a better place. To this day, Nada refuses to grow up, giving her an edge that’s difficult to contest with. Moving forward, her work will keep on distinguishing her and inspire positive change through its creative spark, its compassion and kindness. In doing so, she continues to hold Beirut in her heart wherever she goes.