Farrah el dibany

Vagues étincelantes necklace in white gold with diamonds, Souffle de diamants ring in white gold with diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; dress, Gemy Maalouf. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo
Having begun her journey in the musical sphere at the young age of 14, Farrah El Dibany is no stranger to the fine arts. The mezzo-soprano isn’t just the first Egyptian-African singer to join the Paris Opera Academy, she also holds a master’s degree from the Berlin University of the Arts and a bachelor’s in architecture at Technische Universität Berlin. Given her eye for the most intricate details, it would be safe to assume that this multifaceted woman aims at excellence in every sphere of her life—fashion included.
Often seen draped in elegant gowns, Farrah El Dibany takes over the pages of Vogue Arabia’s November 2022 issue sparkling in a new collection by Van Cleef & Arpels. This month, the French luxury jewelry house is celebrating its Legend of Diamonds line, which comprises two chapters: The 25 Mystery Set Jewels, and the White Diamond Variations. Here’s everything you need to know about both.

25 Mystery Set Jewels
Châtelaine earrings with detachable pendants in white gold with diamonds, Collerette Mystérieuse transformable necklace in white and rose gold with diamonds, pink sapphires and rubies, Hollywood bracelet in white and rose gold with diamonds, Collerette Mystérieuse ring in white and rose gold with diamonds and rubies, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; dress, Gemy Maalouf. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo
Over the years, Van Cleef & Arpels has repeatedly highlighted the undeniable beauty of colored gemstones with collections including Collection of the Century (2002), Pierres de Caractère (2006), Pierres de Caractère – Variations (2013), Émeraude en majesté (2016), and Treasure of rubies (2019). Now, the fashion house unveils the 25 Mystery Set Jewels, a collection of 25 statement creations, all of which feature painstakingly cut diamonds that come from one rough diamond of 910 carats, the Lesotho Legend. “Finding a stone of this size in its natural state is truly emotional,” the Director of the Van Cleef & Arpels Stones Department shared. “It’s the kind of thing we dream of but don’t dare to imagine. We are here at the beginning of this diamond, after its formation, when there has not yet been any human intervention. When I see a rough stone like this, I would like to keep it this way, because it is so beautiful.”
The Lesotho Legend, which is counted as the fifth largest rough diamond in both size and quality ever mined, found its 67 brilliant fragments embedded in a series of stunning jewelry pieces. The Van Cleef & Arpels Design Studio ensured that the brand’s trademark style was recognizable throughout. Designers worked closely with expert gemologists and the High Jewelry Workshops to design precious settings inspired by the history of the Maison. For an extra dimension, Van Cleef & Arpels accompanied each diamond with precious gems, bringing together curved lines, and an intense play of colors—via rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
White Diamond Variations
Châtelaine earrings with detachable pendants in white gold with diamonds, Roaring Twenties transformable long necklace in white and rose gold with diamonds, Hollywood bracelet in white and rose gold with diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; dress, Alexandre Vauthier. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo
The second chapter in the Legend of Diamonds series, the White Diamond Variations collection, takes us back to the importance diamonds hold in the world of Van Cleef & Arpels. Celebrated since the time the very first VCA piece was sold in 1906 – a heart set with brilliant-cut diamonds – the diamond takes centre stage in this 82 piece line, which takes inspiration form the Maison’s rich heritage.
From cascading necklaces that take inspiration from the Roaring Twenties, to sparkling chandelier earrings that can be transformed into a clip, the White Diamond Variations pieces truly convey the absolute versatility of this most precious of stones. Jewelry enthusiasts will also delight in the Dear Liz earrings (inspired by the 1920s Bow brooch that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor), the Vagues étincelantes necklace, which is crafted to sit gently on the skin like a foam of diamonds, and the gorgeous Boogie-woogie bracelet, reminiscent of the Maison’s archival designs from the late 1930s through the 1940s.
Below, take a closer look at Van Cleef & Arpel’s captivating creations, as seen on Farrah El Dibany.

Diamond Chandelier transformable earrings in white gold with diamonds, Diamond chandelier clip in white gold with diamonds, Collerette Mystérieuse ring in white and rose gold with diamonds and rubies, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; jacket, pants, Alaïa. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo
Diamond Chandelier transformable earrings in white gold with diamonds, Fabulous Fifties necklace in white gold with diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; dress, Gemy Maalouf. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo
Diamond Chandelier transformable earrings in white gold with diamonds, Fabulous Fifties necklace in white gold with diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry; dress, Gemy Maalouf. Photo: Joseph Degbadjo

Style: Anna Klein Digi tech:Dope ParisProduction: Danica Zivkovic Hair: Annesofie Begtrup at Wise & Talented Makeup: Annabelle Petit at Wise & TalentedNails: Adrienne at B-agency Photography assistant: Patricia Zheng

El-Dibany on stage with the Macrons. Photo: Courtesy of Farrah El-Dibany
Egyptian mezzo-soprano Farrah El-Dibany was invited to perform the French national anthem ‘La Marseillaise’ at the celebration of the re-election of French president, Emmanuel Macron. The performance took place at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower on April 24 in Paris. “I was contacted by the production team behind Macron’s campaign on Saturday afternoon, asking if I could sing in the event that he won,” El-Dibany shared with Vogue Arabia. “I was in Geneva then, so I took the train Sunday morning, and as soon as I arrived, I went to the Champ de Mars to do the repetitions and to decide whether to perform with an orchestra or acapella. Monsieur and madame Macron took the decision that they preferred I sing La Marseillaise acapella.”
For the occasion, El-Dibany was dressed in a strapless metallic red gown from Gemy Maalouf’s Fall/Winter 2022-23 collection. Explaining how she came upon the selection of the dress, the singer said that she had previously seen the red number, and after the invitation, enquired whether it was available. “I immediately contacted Giorgia Viola for my look, who dressed me in Gemy Maalouf. She is a Lebanese designer whose clothes I wear whenever I can. Red was the perfect color, as the Macrons wore blue, and I was in red, and of course, it is one of the three colors of France’s flag. The dress was also validated by the Elysée.”
Photo: Getty
El-Dibany added that she was immensely moved by the invitation to perform. “What touched me the most is that I’m originally Egyptian, and not French, and for me to have the honor to be invited to sing the La Marseillaise to all of France was very moving,” she said. “President Macron thanked me warmly, but I thanked him in return, as it was such an honor for me.”
In 2005, El-Dibany entered the Arts Center of the Library of Alexandria and five years later moved to Berlin to venture into the realm of music. There, she attended the Hanns-Eislet Academy of Music and moved forward to obtain a master’s degree at the Berlin University of the Arts and a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Berlin’s Technische Universität. Hailing from Alexandria, Egypt, she became the first Arab and Egyptian opera singer to join the Academy of the National Opera in Paris in September of 2016. She has also received the prestigious Prix Lyrique de l’Arop award in 2019, marking her as the best opera singer at the hands of the Paris Opera.
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