Fawaz Gruosi

Fawaz Gruosi. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
If ever there was a James Bond on the red carpet it would be Fawaz Gruosi. Tall and brooding, with eyes the color of the Mediterranean, Gruosi, son of a Lebanese father and Italian mother, is a man of mystery with the megawatt, mischievous smile of a teenager. A leader of the jet set, he is often seen on the arm of women donning his high jewelry creations – Bianca Balti, Ming Xi, Hend Sabri, Irina Shayk, and Bella Hadid, to name a few. Gruosi spearheaded De Grisogono, a high jewelry brand he founded in Geneva with just CHF 10,000 in the early Nineties, marking such industry shifts as the introduction of black diamonds. In 2017, his Creation I, a diamond necklace hailed as “groundbreaking,” was sold for US $33 million. With his De Grisogono years now behind him, Gruosi, 69, is entering a new phase, founding an eponymous brand seeped in color, molded with audacious form, and exceptional stones.
Necklace with emeralds and diamonds
“After the chapter of De Grisogono was over, I knew, for me, it wasn’t over. I don’t know anything but creating jewelry; I have been doing it since I was a young man and I have so many more designs to create,” starts Gruosi. “I am at a place where I am free to create what I want with the experiences and knowledge that I have,” he says. “I am proud to put my name on this new brand and embark on the next era of my journey as an artist. Each era of my career allows me to reinvent myself and keep innovating. Of course, you can’t change someone at my age so there may be some things I will continue to do, but that is what makes me who I am.” Born in Beirut, Gruosi spent his earliest days in the city and then moved to Florence. At 17, he worked as a sales assistant at the Florentine jeweler Torrini and later at Harry Winston in London. He worked in Saudi Arabia in the Seventies, from age 23 to 27, recalling, “It was such an enriching experience in my young career. The country is incredible.”

Bracelet in white gold with blue topaz and amethyst
In 1982, at the request of Gianni Bulgari, Gruosi began traveling the world, catering to Bulgari’s VIP clientele. He also went on to have two children, daughters Allegra and Violetta. “My children have always influenced my work; a!er all, they are also my creations. I also had a son who passed away many years ago, I am influenced by him as well. But not just my family – it can be anything or anyone around me.”
Earrings with carved onyx and diamonds
If his years leading De Grisogono were marked with flashing lights reflected in the sparkle of his baubles – expressive forms in maxi size not for the weak of heart (or pocketbook, for that matter) – it was also during this time that he gifted and received two of his most memorable pieces. “I recall offering a necklace to my mother – this was a moment in time I will always remember,” he reminisces, adding that the first piece of jewelry he ever gifted to himself was a watch he designed. Now, at the helm of a new adventure, he describes his jewelry as “a mixture of different forms, unique materials such as amber, and designs that create emotions and make one feel alive.”
The pandemic didn’t stop Gruosi from coming to Dubai in 2021, with Jessica Kahawaty, Eva Longoria, and Halima Aden wearing his jewels for the Abu Dhabi Dream Ball presented by the Global Gift Foundation and Fawaz Gruosi. The event raised more than $1 million towards supporting children. His jewels also lit up the recent Red Sea Film festival. Worn by Youssra, Candice Swanepoel, Hend Sabri, and Tina Kunakey, the jewels reminded of the glamour of Cannes. “I would like women all over the world to discover my designs and feel what it is to wear them – confident, bold, and with character. I want the pieces to be recognized regardless of who is wearing them.” He underscores that, “all stones speak to me,” when asked if there is a gem that beckons his eye. “I am particularly attracted to colored stones. They can impact a person’s state of mind. Stones make me feel different things, different moods – from excitement to peace of mind.” And yet for all the marvel of his work, Gruosi – who reveals that he is “terribly shy” – considers that true beauty comes from within. “I believe beauty does lie in the eyes of the beholder. What may be beautiful to me may not necessarily be beautiful to someone else. For example, I like color, shapes, and roundness, daringness in my designs, asymmetry. Others may not think the same. That’s individuality, which is beautiful itself.”
Sharon Stone wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry
Candice Swanepol wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry
Hend Sabri wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry
Jodie Comer wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry
Originally published in the February 2022 issue of Vogue Arabia

Hend Sabri wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
When Egyptian star Youssra and renowned jewelry designer Fawaz Gruosi stepped out on the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival, it was only fair for the duo to mark the moment of sophistication, elegance, and luxury. Youssra, wearing a white gold necklace set with diamonds, rubies and turquoise drops, shone as brightly as her jewelry set next to Gruosi, who partnered up with the film festival to drape some of its most stunning visitors in his unique creations.

Counting the likes of Sharon Stone among his celebrity loyalists, Gruosi worked closely with Hend Sabri, Irina Shayk, Shanina Shaik, and Candice Swanepoel to bring together the jewelry pieces that worked best with their ensembles for the opening night of the Red Sea Film Festival. And his efforts paid off—As Sabri walked the red carpet in an off-white long sleeve dress distinguished by its simplicity, her neck dazzled with an emerald choker that almost perfectly demonstrated “the Fawaz Gruosi brand coming to life when it is matched with the perfect woman.” In fact, each woman who was seen in Gruosi’s creations that evening seemed to create a moment of magic in Jeddah, proving that no one can do what he does. “For me, it’s not about who I would like to see wearing my pieces, it’s about the women wanting to wear them. If they are drawn to a Fawaz Gruosi design, we would always want to see how we could build that relationship,” the icon shares with Vogue Arabia in a special interview. “I am incredibly lucky to work with some of the world’s most precious gems; and to design and craft them into beautiful pieces that bring real joy to my clients. My team have been with me for many years, and we have taken great pride in crafting a business that is reflective of our values.”
Sharon Stone wearing Fawaz Gruosi at the ‘No Time To Die’ premiere in 2021. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
Fawaz Gruosi’s Lebanese background shines through his bold compositions, often inspired by the Arab aesthetic. “Our Colorissima Collection channels the magic of color that you find across the Gulf, and I often think the Amber Collection is very reminiscent of the color tones of agarwood, which is, of course where the Gulf’s favourite scent, oud, comes from,” Gruosi explains. And when it was time for the Red Sea Film Festival to finally light up the city of Jeddah, the jewelry mogul couldn’t resist becoming a part of the journey. “Film and cinema have always been the home of truly glamorous women, and with the huge changes that have come in Saudi Arabia in the past few years, it felt right to be bringing together the Fawaz Gruosi brand with the RSIFF. It has truly been a joy to be in the Kingdom after all these years, and to see the women looking so fantastic in their gowns and their jewels on the red carpet. This was on a parallel with the other fabulous film festivals around the world such as Cannes or Venice.”
Candice Swanepoel wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
But what of the women who don’t live their lives at film festivals, but love a little glamour nonetheless? With the holiday season slowly approaching, Gruosi advises women interested in becoming a part of the Fawaz Gruosi family to make their jewel choices wisely. “I believe earrings a great place to start as they frame the face and can be worn to any event when you want to sparkle. Of course, a matching necklace or bracelet always elevates the look!” he shares. And for investment pieces, his advice couldn’t be simpler. “First of all, think long-term. This is a serious investment, so you want to be as happy in ten years’ time as you are the day you buy. Secondly, work with your jeweler. At Fawaz Gruosi, we have our fabulous collections but there is nothing I like more than working directly with a client to create something bespoke. Finally, be bold with your jewel choices. There are so many options to play with, from different cuts of emeralds to unusual stones such as tsavorite and onyx. I also love to use different materials such as black ceramic. There’s a whole world to choices to be explored, so be brave!”
Shanina Shaik wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
Tina Kunakey wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
Mayssa Maghrebi wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
Irina Shayk wearing Fawaz Gruosi jewelry. Photo: Courtesy Fawaz Gruosi
Fawaz Gruosi. Photo: Damian Foxe
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