For Sylvie Saliba, jewellery has always been more than an accessory; it has been a passion, a form of self-expression and ultimately a career built around discovering beautiful pieces and bringing them to a wider audience. What began with an early fascination for gemstones, inspired by her father, grew into a distinctive name in Lebanon’s jewellery scene. Over the years, Sylvie has built a reputation for identifying emerging international brands, introducing them to the Lebanese market and creating a trusted destination for women looking for jewellery that feels both contemporary and personal. Today, her name has become synonymous with a carefully curated selection of international jewellery houses and a strong understanding of what modern women want to wear.
What was your first encounter with jewellery, and when did you realise that this was something you wanted to pursue professionally?
I’m an interior architect by training. I come from a family of jewellers; my dad is a diamond specialist. I started in 2003 with two brands. At that time, no one believed in international jewellery in Lebanon. But I believed in it. I started small, with passion, and step by step I built Sylvie Saliba. For me, jewellery is like art, like furniture, like a painting. It has a signature, a soul.
You have spoken about your father introducing you to gemstones and your early exposure to the world of jewellery. How did those early experiences shape your eye and your understanding of the industry?
Growing up around my father, I learned to look beyond the weight of gold. I learned to see the stone, the cut, the signature. That’s what shaped my eye. For me jewellery was never just a product. It was art, identity, and emotion.
When you first started, what was the vision you had for Sylvie Saliba, and what gap did you feel existed in the Lebanese jewellery market?
Because I wanted to bring something different. I wanted to introduce design, creativity, and a signature. Traditional gold is about weight. Designer jewellery is about art and identity. And Lebanese women were ready for that. They wanted pieces with a story.
Building a business is one thing, but building your own name and reputation is another. How did you establish “Sylvie Saliba” as a name people could trust and associate with quality and taste?
Our relationship with the client and our eye. We don’t just sell jewellery. We find the piece that matches your character, that you will wear your whole life. And we were the first. We opened the door to international design in Lebanon. That trust and that experience make us unique.
You were among the first to bring a number of international jewellery brands to Lebanon. How did you discover these brands, and what made you confident that they would resonate with the Lebanese woman?
I simply contacted the brands and I went to visit them. That’s how I obtained the exclusivity. When I imported the brands, I protected them. I worked on them very well. I gave myself fully, without thinking about time. Since 2003, I have lived in a daily relationship with the brands and their teams. For me, the brands are my babies. Because I was serious and loyal, the brands trusted me. And step by step, we grew together.
Over the years, how did your role evolve from discovering and introducing brands to becoming a recognised authority and tastemaker in jewellery?
It’s my intuition and my sixth sense. Since I was young, I have always felt what is going to be trendy. With clothes, with fashion, with jewellery. I feel the trends coming. For me, a brand must have a signature, like a piece of art. It must have a soul. I have a close relationship with each brand. They are my babies. And I’m still curious. Every day I discover new talents. This universe is magical and beautiful.
You now bring together more than 40 brands under one roof. What goes into your selection process, and what makes you decide that a jewellery brand deserves a place within the Sylvie Saliba universe?
It’s the same principle. The brand must have a signature, a soul, and something new to say. I choose with my eyes and with my intuition. If I feel the brand, if I see it on a woman and it tells a story, then it deserves a place here.
Jewellery is deeply personal it can reflect personality, mood and even a woman’s sense of identity. How has your understanding of the modern woman influenced the way you curate your collections?
Lebanese women want pieces with a story, not just weight. Today they understand that with branded jewellery, you pay for the design and the signature. So, I curate for women who want jewellery that matches their character. Pieces they will wear their whole life.
Looking back at your journey, what have been the most defining challenges and milestones that shaped the business and, ultimately, the Sylvie Saliba name?
The first six years of the business were financially difficult. I had to invest a lot, and I didn’t want to ask for help. The return on investment only came in the sixth year.
Second, the copycats. And explaining that with branded jewellery, the price is in the design, not in the weight. Fortunately, many clients understand this today.
Third, when sales became easier, other merchants wanted to take my brands. It was hard for me to see my babies leave.
But that challenge made me stronger. It pushed me to discover more brands and to go further.
Milestones: 2003, the trust of the brands, and today, Sylvie Saliba becoming a reference for designer jewellery in Lebanon.
After building such a strong legacy in the Lebanese jewellery market, what is next for Sylvie Saliba? How do you see the business and your own name evolving in the years ahead?
My dream is simple: to continue. To keep discovering, keep loving, and keep choosing the beautiful for my clients. Jewellery that matches their character. Pieces they will wear their whole life. I want to keep my passion precious. To live it like it was the first day. And to always be worthy of expectations.
