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This is Stephen Webster's second visit to Dubai. The award winning jewellery designer came before to talk at a luxury conference where he won the hearts of his audience, as well as a lucrative contract with Harvey Nichols.
"He was so funny and came across so well that we had to bring him on board at Harvey Nicks," says Anastasia Yianni, PR executive for Harvey Nichols.
Webster is no stranger to publicity. After designing Madonna's wedding ring seven years ago, he was shocked to find himself on TV screens across the world.
"It was the first time that everyone was so interested in ring designs," he says.
Pretty simple
"She was one of my first big-time celebrities. For the amount of fuss it caused, the ring was actually pretty simple but it was the first time that people were interested in who made the wedding ring. It wasn't like that before," said Webster.
"The press reaction took me by surprise. It was fantastic. Suddenly I was on Japanese and American TV. I had never had any of that before. It was great. I'm not complaining about it. It changed my life."
"When I first started out in London, some of my clients were women from the Middle East. Women here are heavy jewellery wearers. I think people who wear jewellery are more exciting than people who don't, so it's great to be able to design for Middle Eastern women," said Webster.
Webster started his career in 1976. His bold designs quickly captured the imagination of his fans and his rock 'n' roll style has been a hit in the celeb circuit ever since.
Pop princess Pink described her Webster collection as her first "serious jewellery," and singer Christina Aguilera has been a long-running source of creativity for Stephen.
"Christina Aguilera is definitely my muse. She likes jewellery with a vintage twist. I have worked with her for years and her current look is definitely her best. Whereas her old look used to turn people off, everyone now says what great style she has," said the designer.
Conflict diamonds
"Jewellers are very wary of using jewellery from conflict areas. Seven or eight years ago maybe 10 per cent of diamonds were blood diamonds but now the figure is more like 1 per cent. If you want to get a diamond that you absolutely know has no conflict, you can do it, no problem.
"The message of the recent film, Blood Diamonds, is really important. The legitimate end of the jewellery business doesn't want anything to do with blood diamonds but the issue was already dealt with before the film came out."
Webster won Jewellery Designer of the Year for an impressive eight years and has gone on to become a freeman of the city of London.
He moved to Canada and California in the 80s, where his unusual and bold designs were met with unrivalled success.
Designs on Dubai
Webster has designed for so many stars that he can't recall them all, but swears that celebrity endorsement is the best marketing a brand can have.
"Sharon Osbourne was a judge on Britain's TV talent show X Factor and she would nearly always have my jewellery on. It's so funny - people in England feel they have got to phone you. So we would be out on a Saturday night getting all these calls asking if we were watching TV. They would just want you to know that they know. It's very bizarre.
"You could have the same thing on American Idol but it's different. People just know that Christina is wearing your stuff. But when it's in your front room and it's English, you get this whole different sort of excitement about it."
Webster's tips
Look for things that you can wear to the office or out in the evening.
People like to blend their day wear with evening wear and are beginning to do the same with jewellery.
Look for things that you are comfortable wearing on a regular basis.
If you want to wear colourful jewellery, pick it in the same way as you would your wardrobe. It's no good looking at a ring that's blue if everything in your wardrobe is brown. You need to be able to work them together.
Fans of Webster's jewellery include Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz, Charlize Theron, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Sharon Stone.
Edgy designs
Webster's edgy designs have been popular with pop and rock stars for 30 years. "I went to a college that was very much about learning through making jewellery as opposed to designing it.
I am glad I had that background because I know a lot about the materials I work with and that allows you to explore a broader array that other people might be a bit scared to use.
"You get to know what kind of designs people would like around the world, but it is important that wherever you are, the collection looks like your own."
A wide range of Webster's designs have been introduced at Harvey Nichols in Dubai with stocks selling thick and fast since the launch.
"Most people in Dubai are actually from somewhere else. There is a very international feel, so we've found that what sells well in other places sells well here too, " said the designer.
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