Founded by sisters Maahira and Zahraa Mansoor, the UAE-based fine jewellery house Majesta draws creative inspiration from the landscapes, wildlife, and natural phenomena of Africa, where both founders were raised in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Rather than treating nature as a decorative reference, the pair translate memories of sunsets, feathers, forests and animal forms into contemporary pieces shaped by diamonds, coloured gemstones and sculptural settings. Their latest KALI collection turns to the strength and grace of Africa’s great felines, with claw-like forms wrapping around diamonds in designs that balance softness and structure. A&E speaks to the founders about building the house together, designing from instinct and memory, and taking their vision of African-inspired fine jewellery to a wider audience.
What first inspired the two of you to create Majesta together, and when did you realise jewellery was the right medium through which to tell your stories?
We’ve always shared a love for jewellery and art. Growing up in Africa, we were surrounded by beauty – from the sunsets and landscapes to the wildlife and nature; everything around us felt like art. Majesta became our way of bringing those two loves together and sharing Africa’s beauty with the world through jewellery.
Africa is such a central source of inspiration for the house. What personal connection do you each have to the continent, and how has that shaped Majesta’s visual identity?
Africa is home to us. We were both raised in the Kingdom of Eswatini, surrounded by its landscapes, wildlife and nature, so Africa isn’t simply a theme for Majesta – it’s part of who we are. So many of our childhood memories come from there, and those memories naturally find their way into our designs.
Your collections begin with nature rather than trends. How do you translate something as intangible as a sunset, a feather or a landscape into the structure and details of a jewel?
Our inspiration can come from even the smallest details in nature. For example, our Kali collection draws inspiration from the form of a feline’s paw and claw, which we translated into the distinctive shapes and settings of the pieces. Nature and wildlife are so vast and diverse that inspiration is endless – we take these details and reinterpret them through shapes, colours, diamonds and gemstones.
How do the two of you work together creatively? Do you naturally take on different roles when developing a collection, or is the process completely collaborative?
It’s very collaborative. We’re constantly sharing ideas and inspiration, and because we’re sisters, we can also be completely honest. By the time a piece is finished, it usually carries a little of both of us.
What did you want Majesta to contribute to the fine jewellery landscape that you felt was missing when you launched the brand?
We wanted Majesta to show the world just how beautiful, vast and diverse Africa truly is. Its nature, wildlife, landscapes, and colours offer endless inspiration, and we wanted to translate that beauty into fine jewellery in a way that feels contemporary, artistic, fun, and unexpected. For us, every piece is an opportunity to tell a small part of that much bigger story.
How has being part of the region’s increasingly sophisticated jewellery market influenced the way you approach design, craftsmanship and your client?
We’re incredibly grateful to have first launched in the UAE. There is such a strong appreciation for jewellery and craftsmanship here, but what makes the UAE especially unique is the diversity of people and cultures it brings together. It gave us the opportunity to introduce our story and our interpretation of Africa to such an international audience from the very beginning.
Clients here really understand quality, craftsmanship and stones. It inspires us to be bold with our designs while being incredibly attentive to every detail.
How does each of the brand’s collections express a different side of the Majesta universe?
Each collection tells its own story and captures a different part of our world. Some are bold and sculptural, others are colourful or playful, but they all begin with the same Majesta perspective and our connection to nature, art and Africa.
What draws you to a particular stone, and how much does the character of the gemstone influence the final design?
We’re drawn to stones that immediately make us feel something, whether it’s because of their colour, shape or natural character. Sometimes the design comes first, but other times we find an incredible stone and allow it to lead the entire piece.
How important is creating pieces that carry personal meaning and can eventually be passed from one generation to another?
It’s incredibly important to us. Jewellery has this beautiful ability to carry memories through generations, and we want Majesta pieces to feel just as special decades from now as they do today.
What does craftsmanship mean to you within Majesta, particularly at a time when clients are becoming more interested in how and where luxury pieces are made?
Craftsmanship is at the heart of Majesta. From the setting of a stone to the smallest finishing detail, we want every element to feel considered and beautifully executed. For us, true luxury is found in those details.
As sisters, do you ever disagree creatively, and if so, how do those differences ultimately strengthen the final result?
Of course – we’re sisters! But we’re also very honest with each other, and our disagreements usually push us to look at a design differently. In the end, it almost always makes the piece stronger.
Majesta is still at the beginning of its story. What are your ambitions for the house over the next few years?
We have so many dreams for Majesta. We want to continue building our own recognisable design language, grow our high jewellery and bespoke world, and bring Majesta to an international audience. Most importantly, we want to build a house with longevity while continuing to share the beauty and stories of Africa with the world.
