Nafisa Idrees: Beyond the Sparkle
With over two decades of experience and more than 8,000 unique jewellery designs to her name, Nafisa Idrees is a master of her craft. From her roots in Kuwait to her growing presence in the UK, she has built a brand defined by elegance, authenticity, and purpose. As a jewellery designer, gemstone expert, and calligrapher, Nafisa blends tradition with modern artistry to create timeless, bespoke pieces. Now, she’s on a mission to educate others on the often-overlooked truths of the jewellery world—empowering buyers to make informed, confident decisions that go far beyond the sparkle.
What inspired your journey into jewellery design, and how has your background in calligraphy influenced Nafisa Designs’ unique identity?
The most inspiring force behind my journey into jewellery design has been the sheer joy and satisfaction that my bespoke pieces bring to clients. Knowing that each creation holds deep personal meaning for someone and becomes a cherished part of their story is what drives me to continue designing. Over the years, I’ve handcrafted more than 8,000 unique pieces, each one is unique and created with the client’s desires, emotions and expectations in mind. Even after years, I see them wearing my pieces with profound love and connection, to m,e that is an honour.
My background in calligraphy has deeply shaped the identity of Nafisa Designs in two profound ways. Firstly, it influences my overall design style, flowing lines, soft curves, organic shapes, and non-symmetrical forms that are often seen in my work, is inspired by how my hand moves when writing a calligraphy script. Secondly, it forms the heart of my personalized name jewellery collection. Every name is written by hand and crafted with care, making each piece unique. These pieces are rich with meaning, memory, and a lifelong personal connection.
You’ve designed over 8000 unique pieces since 2006—how do you stay creative, and what fuels your passion after nearly two decades in the industry?
To this, I want to say that most of the pieces that I created were bespoke, which means meeting, understanding, and dealing with people of various backgrounds. Kuwait is a hub of expats; people come from various backgrounds and global markets. Hearing their stories, understanding the scope of the gap in the wider jewellery market, and the ignorance of the common man in the world of jewellery and gemstones, has inspired me to stay in the industry. Through my work, I have not only created exclusive pieces but also educated people as much as possible and helped them to resolve their problems when it comes to any kind of gold, silver, or precious stones. Honestly, it is very challenging to sustain the pressure of meeting someone else’s expectations. Therefore, my business has elevated both my professional and personal growth. My customers have been my biggest inspiration and motivation.
Tell us about your transition from Kuwait to the UK. How has expanding internationally shaped your brand and approach to design?
The transition from Kuwait to the UK was both a turning point, mainly from physical presence to digital. Kuwait gave me my foundation, a rich, diverse market where I had the opportunity to serve clients from many different cultures. It’s where I honed my craft, built trust, and created thousands of bespoke pieces rooted in personal stories.
Moving to the UK introduced me to a new audience with different tastes, traditions, and expectations. It challenged me to adapt my designs while staying true to my artistic identity. The UK market values craftsmanship, storytelling, and authenticity, qualities that have always been at the heart of Nafisa Designs. So, rather than changing who we are, expanding internationally has allowed me to refine and elevate our brand to speak to a global clientele.
This shift also encouraged me to build a stronger digital presence, streamline our customer experience, and explore new creative directions, while keeping personal connection at the core of everything we do. It’s been a journey of growth, and I’m excited to continue evolving with my clients around the world through the UK.
What sets your bespoke jewellery apart, especially when working with authentic precious gemstones in gold and silver?
What truly sets my jewellery apart is the use of fine, genuine, real gemstones of more than 150 varieties, which gives the collection a very positive vibe with vibrant colours and energy. My strokes are flowy, modern and abstract. Together, the design and craftsmanship make every piece, whether bespoke or ready-made, special and elite. Our bespoke designs are created with a strong focus on the client’s story, style, and emotions, and most of them are in Gold.
The ready collections are designed for everyday formal and casual wear. They are pieces which are graceful and comfortable. I make sure there are no sharp edges or any other element that interferes with the freedom of movement or feels discomfort after a long day’s wear. I choose to use silver for its soft white colour that complements the gemstones and also for its durability. These collections are available online and at select events. They are designed with the same level of intention and aesthetic integrity. These jewellery pieces are perfect for gifts, personal adornment, or even as a way to connect with the energy of specific stones.
Whether bespoke piece or ready-to-wear, my goal is always to create jewellery that is exclusive and becomes a cherished part of someone’s life.
Can you describe your process for creating personalised calligraphy jewellery and the meaning behind these deeply symbolic pieces?
Being born and brought up in Kuwait, I am very inspired by the traditional Arabic art and heritage. The Arabic is one of the most beautiful scripts in the world, and free-hand drawn names in symbolic forms are a huge part of the Middle-East jewellery culture. Creating personalised name jewellery is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. The process begins with a word that the client wants to craft. They can either give their own designs or choose from our templates. People usually give names because they make excellent presents. The Calligraphy Collection is our best seller during Christmas, birthdays or any celebrations.
What makes it special is that I hand-draw each name in Arabic or English calligraphy, no fonts, no templates, just handwritten art, transformed into metal. Each name forms a different design. Every piece is special. The person receiving the Gift can feel the care, efforts and thoughtfulness that have gone into its making.
Once the calligraphy is finalized, we handcraft the piece on silver or gold depending on the customer’s preference. The result is a unique, wearable piece of art that is rich with identity, emotion, and memory.
What should people know before buying jewellery with precious gemstones—are there common misconceptions or pitfalls to avoid?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all gemstones are equal or that a beautiful look is enough to justify the value. In reality, there’s a world of difference between natural, treated, synthetic, and imitation stones. Many people unknowingly buy gemstones without understanding their origin, treatment, or authenticity, and often end up overpaying or purchasing something entirely different from what they believed they were getting.
Another common pitfall is not knowing how to assess the quality of gold or silver settings, or how certain designs may or may not suit everyday wear. Many clients come to me with jewellery that looked beautiful at first but didn’t last, wasn’t wearable, or turned out to be plated or poorly made.
That’s one reason why, after years of working closely with clients and seeing these gaps in knowledge, I’ve started developing educational courses focused on jewellery and gemstones. My goal is to empower people, especially buyers, with the knowledge they need to make confident, informed decisions. These courses will cover topics like gemstone identification, understanding treatments, valuing gold and silver, and spotting red flags when purchasing from the buyer’s perspective.
Jewellery is not just a luxury; it’s often a meaningful investment. I believe everyone deserves to buy with clarity, not confusion. Through both my work and these upcoming courses, I hope to bridge that gap and make the world of jewellery more transparent and accessible.
How can buyers distinguish between genuine and imitation gemstones, especially when shopping for high-value pieces?
These days, technology and innovation have made it very difficult for a layperson to tell the difference. However, some aspects of natural formation cannot be replicated by imitation. Only a careful observer and a basic skill set can pick the fakes easily. Buyers can distinguish between genuine and imitation gemstones by considering several key factors, especially when investing in high-value pieces. First, they should purchase from reputable, certified jewellers who provide documentation such as gemstone grading reports from recognized labs like GIA or AGS. Visual inspection can also help; natural gemstones often have slight inclusions or imperfections, whereas imitations tend to appear overly flawless. Testing methods like checking hardness (using the Mohs scale), examining light refraction, or using tools like a jeweller’s loupe or a UV light can reveal differences. When in doubt, professional gemological testing is the most reliable way to confirm authenticity.
Your jewellery beautifully blends modern elegance with timeless craftsmanship—how do you achieve that balance in each collection?
Achieving the balance between modern elegance and timeless craftsmanship is at the heart of everything I create. For me, jewellery should feel both current and enduring; it should speak to today’s style while carrying the kind of beauty that never fades with time.
I start every design with the wearer in mind. Whether it’s hand-drawn calligraphy, stone setting, or metalwork, I use time-honoured techniques that bring soul and integrity to the piece. I pair my ideas with minimalist contemporary aesthetic. My work is widely inspired with nature, like waves and floral patterns. Clean lines, fluid shapes, and thoughtful proportions together create excellence. Such that the final piece feels wearable, elegant, and relevant across generations.
You’ve published three volumes of jewellery catalogues. What inspired you to create them, and what do you hope they contribute to the industry?
The inspiration behind creating my jewellery catalogues came from a desire to document and celebrate the journey of bespoke artistry and create a visual showcase. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with ordinary housewives to dignitaries and royal families. Each with its own story, emotion, and significance. Publishing these catalogues was my way of preserving that creative legacy and offering a glimpse into the depth and diversity of jewellery design.
Each volume is more than just a product showcase. They offer inspiration to those seeking meaningful, custom-made jewellery and serve as a reference point for anyone who values originality. I have documented my pencil sketches, fair drawings and the final completed pieces. This explains the process and the build-up from design to reality.
I also hope they contribute to the wider jewellery industry by highlighting the importance of slow, intentional design, where every piece is made with care, authenticity, and heart. In an age of fast fashion and mass production, I believe there is great value in returning to craftsmanship that is deeply personal and timeless.
What legacy do you hope to leave through your work, and how do you envision educating and empowering future buyers and jewellery designers?
My greatest legacy is to leave behind thousands of beautifully crafted jewellery pieces that connect emotionally to the wearer. Moreover, in combination with my ready collections and bespoke put together, I want to reach thousands of people with the beauty and glory of authentic natural gemstones, empower their life and personalities through their positivity. My mission is to help people all over the world experience the natural energy and charisma of real gemstones and also educate them in this subject, because a jewellery purchase is an important decision, man or woman, both need to pay for it at some point of time and it is an investment for the hard earned or hard saved money for a lot of people.
Beyond individual clients, I’m passionate about uplifting aspiring jewellery designers, particularly women with creative talent who may not yet have the tools or confidence to pursue their passion. I am creating courses that teach not just design skills, but also practical knowledge about metals, stones, and the bespoke jewellery process. These courses are designed for beginners who want to learn how to bring their ideas to life, understand the jewellery market, and eventually create meaningful pieces of their own.
Shortly, I plan to expand this educational platform even further, offering mentorship, resources, and a supportive community for creative women who want to enter the industry with integrity and purpose.
Ultimately, I hope my legacy lives on through both the jewellery I have created and the individuals I have helped empower. Making the world of jewellery more accessible, honest, and transparent gives me the joy of doing something right.
