Talent: Gaga Murray. Photographer: Dina Zhulii. Dress, Gaurav Gupta Couture. Necklace and rings, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
Gaga Murray, founder and creative spirit of Gauhar, unveiled her jewelry house in 2018 at just twenty-five, guided by an aesthetic shaped by her Eurasian and Middle Eastern heritage. Raised between worlds and now rooted in Miami, she brings a cultivated sensibility to each creation: Pieces that slip effortlessly between day and night, tradition and modernity. Her designs speak to a woman of quiet strength and singular style, offering a whisper of glamour in every detail. From the restless rhythm of New York to the elegance of Dubai, Gaga’s artistry brings a fresh, poetic voice to the contemporary jewelry scene.
Dress, Gaurav Gupta Couture. Necklace, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
A dream sparked the journey of Gauhar
From an early age, Gaga Murray nurtured the dream of building a jewelry brand that would embody both personal meaning and refined craftsmanship. “I graduated from undergrad at 23 – which was a bit later than usual –but it was the path I chose, and I have no regrets. I studied in Boston, and even during my university years, the dream of starting my own jewelry brand was already taking shape. Instead of going home during summer breaks, I stayed and took jewelry-making and illustration classes – two summers in a row.
Dress, Gaurav Gupta Couture. Necklace and rings, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
After graduation, I moved to Miami, and to ensure I had a solid foundation, I enrolled in gemology school. That period was incredibly valuable. It gave me a deep understanding of stone grading systems and the technical aspects of both colored gemstones and diamonds”, she recalls.
Those early sessions became the quiet architecture of a creative language Gaga would later express through her designs, a language that balances technical precision with emotional depth.
Dress, Lena Erziak Couture. Necklace and ring, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
By 2018, just two years on, Gaga Murray was ready to make the leap and bring Gauhar to life.
What began as an intimate vision gradually unfolded into a growing brand, rooted not only in design acumen but in resilience, sincerity, and an unwavering belief in herself.
Yet Gaga Murray remains grounded in the face of success. “I’ve come to realize that in this industry, you’re always learning”, she reflects. “Even now, every day brings something new”.
Launching a brand in her twenties was not without its trials. To navigate the refined, relationship-driven world of fine jewelry required not just creativity but clarity of mind, and a generous reserve of patience.
“One of the most challenging aspects for me was learning who to trust and how to build the right relationships within the industry”, she shares.
Top, Wolford by Etro. Skirt, Christian Siriano. Jewelry, Gauhar.
“When you’re just starting out – especially in your twenties – it’s easy to feel uncertain or be misled if you don’t fully understand how things work”, Gaga reflects. “It took time to build real connections and develop a clear sense of what actually makes sense for the business. I overcame those early hurdles by being cautious, asking the right questions, and surrounding myself with knowledgeable, experienced people who helped guide me. That support system made all the difference”. These early challenges became a quiet training ground.
Her multicultural upbringing, spanning Kazakhstan, Dubai, and Miami, also sharpened her eye and broadened her understanding of beauty in its many forms. “Living between these places has given me a truly global perspective. It’s made me realize how different the Eastern and Western markets can be. People from different parts of the world are drawn to completely different styles”, she continues, “noting how in some cultures, bold, statement pieces are prized, while in others, subtlety and minimalism reign”.
Top, Wolford by Etro. Skirt, Christian Siriano. Jewelry, Gauhar.
Jewelry that speaks to the soul
At the heart of Gaga’s design philosophy is a deep belief in jewelry as a vessel of feeling.
“Beauty in jewelry reveals itself in the way a piece makes you feel when you wear it”, she explains. For Gaga, beauty is not confined to the eye. It lives in sensation, in movement, in the quiet surge of confidence a piece can awaken. “It’s about how a piece sits on the body, how it moves with you, and the confidence it brings”.
Her creative process follows the same instinctive rhythm, an inward flow sparked by fleeting moments and textures that linger. “Inspiration can come from anywhere: nature, architecture, or even a texture I notice in passing. If I have a specific idea in mind, I gather a lot of reference images to explore variations”.
Dress, House of Gilles. Shoes, Miu Miu. Jewelry, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
“It’s not rigid or formulaic. But if it’s something more abstract, like a form found in nature, I’ll research it deeply and begin imagining how it could be translated into a wearable piece. It’s intuitive, emotional, and very personal”. Indeed, her process is less design than discovery, an act of translating emotion into form, memory into metal and stone. “Each stone has its own energy, and I choose the one that feels like it tells the right story in that particular moment”, she says. “My mood plays a big role, as does the time of year. In the summer, I naturally gravitate toward bright, vibrant stones: Colors that feel alive, joyful, and full of energy. In contrast, winter inspires me to work with deeper, more muted tones. Cool, elegant, and a bit mysterious”.
Dress, House of Gilles. Shoes, Miu Miu. Jewelry, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
Among her designs, two pieces hold personal significance. The first is a sapphire-and-diamond tennis necklace crafted to celebrate the birth of her first son. She designed it with an intentionally imperfect, mixed-pattern arrangement of stones – symbolic of her son’s vibrant and dynamic spirit. The second is a cocktail ring featuring a pear-shaped emerald inspired by her second son’s striking green eyes. “They’re far more than jewelry. They’re cherished keepsakes filled with love and memories”. For her, jewelry is a vessel for emotion, memory, and meaning rather than simply adornment.
Dress, Christian Siriano. Necklaces, earrings and rings, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
Gaga Murray’s cherished moments and memories
Among the many highlights of Gaga Murray’s journey, a few moments stand out with lasting significance. “One of the most memorable moments for me was when Kelly Rutherford wore one of my very first designs, a silver ring I made while still a student in Boston”, she recalls. The chance encounter happened at a lunch in the South of France, where Gaga gifted the piece to the actress she had long admired. “It was such a surreal moment, especially because I was a huge fan of Gossip Girl”, she adds.
Another cherished connection is with model and friend Vita Sidorkina, who has worn several of Gaga’s designs over the years. “What means the most to me is that she genuinely wears them often”, Gaga says. “It’s always fulfilling to see someone you admire enjoy your work not just for show, but because it becomes part of their personal style”.
Dress, Christian Siriano. Necklaces, earrings and rings, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
Wellness, style, and joy in motherhood
Outside the studio, Gaga Murray finds balance in a rhythm of wellness and quiet rituals. “When I’m not designing, I like to stay active and balanced”, she shares, noting a weekly routine of Pilates, sessions with a personal trainer, and the occasional game of tennis or paddle tennis to keep her energy flowing. “My guilty pleasure is sneaking away to a café to quietly enjoy a matcha or a peaceful lunch”, a rare luxury in a household shared with her two lively sons, aged five and three. “You can imagine the energy they bring, but I’m incredibly grateful for it”.
She describes her wardrobe as rooted in simplicity, often in a white T-shirt and jeans, paired with Chanel ballerina flats or Nike Dunks. Her accessories as thoughtfully chosen to complement her look, such as structured bags or layered pieces. “My style is about feeling like myself while keeping things clean, comfortable, and stylish”, she says.
Dress, Lena Erziak Couture. Necklace and ring, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
The future of Gauhar
As Gauhar grows, Gaga Murray remains grounded in the values that first inspired her. She envisions the brand evolving with intention: expanding bespoke offerings, incorporating traditional Kazakh techniques and continuing to forge deep emotional connections through design. “I’m not chasing scale for the sake of it”, she says firmly. “I want to create things that feel intimate, that make people feel seen, and that are crafted with integrity. It’s not about fame or recognition. It’s about the craftsmanship, the cultural heritage, and the raw beauty of each piece”.
Dress, Lena Erziak Couture. Necklace and ring, Gauhar Fine Jewelry.
That reverence for heritage, artistry, and meaningful storytelling fuels her vision for the future – a future where Gauhar continues to be a bridge between the personal and the timeless, between global perspectives and individual stories. “The true brilliance of jewelry”, Gaga says, “is not just in the stones themselves, but in the emotion they carry and the moments they commemorate”.
She believes that the future of luxury lies in embracing real stories and meaningful connections –values that resonate deeply with her own journey.
Dress and cape, Anamika Khanna. Necklace, earrings and rings, Gauhar.
Model: Gaga Murray.
Photographer: Dina Zhulii.
Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist: Liliya Mufazalova.
Hair Stylist: Konstantin Kondryanu.
Digital Tech & Lighting Assistant: German Aristizabal.
Stylist: Veronica Porras.
Stylist Assistant: Andreina Adames.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
