DUBAI: Lebanese jewelry designer Ralph Masri’s burgeoning reputation was given another boost this weekend. Prince Harry’s fiancée, American actress Meghan Markle, was spotted wearing a diamond band from Masri’s “Sacred Windows” collection, inspired by the stained-glass windows of cathedrals.
“Everyone’s favorite princess-in-the-making Meghan Markle has apparently been a fan since quite some time and we’ve only just found out,” the young designer wrote on Instagram on Friday.
Masri is no stranger to royal (or almost-royal in this case) stamps of approval. Jordan’s Queen Rania has also sported accessories from Masri’s hand-worked jewelry, most recently a diamond-and-sapphire signet ring from his “Modernist” collection on her trip to the Netherlands in March.
Nor is Masri the first Lebanese designer to get the nod from Markle. She has previously spoken of her admiration for Elie Saab’s clothes, and the acclaimed Lebanese couturier has been mentioned several times in the speculation about who will get to design Markle’s wedding dress for her big day on May 19 at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, although UK designers Alexander McQueen and Ralph & Russo are the clear favorites. Royal reporter and biographer Omid Scobie told ABC News in January that Markle had selected her wedding dress designer and had requested a gown that was “simple and classy and very elegant.”
Beirut native Masri has established himself as one of the Middle East’s most promising young designers, landing several major awards including an honorary Fine Jewelry Winner prize at the 2016 DDFC/Vogue Fashion Prize, for which he also received a $15,000 grant from Farfetch.
He trained at Central Saint Martins in London and, as a freshman, won the Swarovski Award for his work. The following year, aged 20, he was nominated for a UK Jewelry Award, before graduating in 2011.
Both Masri’s parents were in the jewelry industry, and Masri has said that, growing up, he wasn’t interested in following that path. It wasn’t until he went to study in London— having previously lived in Lebanon, Canada and France — that he discovered his passion for jewelry design.
“I love the tactile and sculptural aspect of jewelry, and especially the preciousness of fine jewelry,” he told “Eye of Jewelry” magazine in 2016. “I really enjoy working with precious materials like gold and gemstones, and seeing sketches on paper come to life.” He added that, if he hadn’t become a jewelry designer, he would probably have become a chef.
Speaking to “In Detail” magazine, Masri described his work as “bold yet feminine, statement yet refined” and explained that he creates “80 percent of the pieces by hand in my studio.”
And with Markle as his latest celebrity admirer, Masri hasn’t given up hope of making onto the guest list for this summer’s most hotly anticipated nuptials.
“Still waiting on my royal wedding invite, Meg,” he added to his Instagram post.
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