ICE, ICE, BABY
A new collection, for a new generation. Amy Yasmine discovers Chopard’s latest Ice Cube Pure pieces, made to be worn with attitude.
When it comes to keeping it low-key, the last name you’d expect on the list would be French jeweller Chopard. And rightly so—just several months ago, the maison unveiled its Queen of Kalahari collection, crafted from an extremely rare (and rather hefty) 342-carat diamond. But leave it to Caroline Scheufele, artistic director and copresident of Chopard, to shake things up, putting the 157-year-old jeweller in the spotlight with its sleek Ice Cube Pure collection. Drawing inspiration from the 1999 Ice Cube collection (fans of Chopard know its customisable geometric designs all too well), Ice Cube Pure is a nod to Chopard’s ongoing evolution. Think free-spirited, irreverent, and edgy—elements that speak volumes of the maison’s new generation of devotees, from Bella Hadid to Poppy Delevingne.
But what sets this new “tribe” apart from Chopard’s current fan base, you ask? Attitude. Just one look at Instagram, and a new crop of women—usually working whisper-thin necklaces into multiple strands and stackable bracelets—are the new champions of Chopard’s evolved aesthetic. And perhaps, this is where the maison’s new chapter begins, starting with Rihanna’s collaboration just last summer (see: delicate geometric pieces laced with emeralds and diamonds).
So, consider the new Ice Cube Pure an extension of Chopard’s own persona—an alter ego, if you will—which not just resonates with a more playful and urban clientele, but also pushes the boundaries of fine jewellery. Moulded from ethically Fairmined certified gold (the same used in Chopard High Jewellery since 2013), the Ice Cube Pure collection is a style chameleon in its own right. Worn layered around the décolletage, or a necklace transformed into an ankle bracelet, you could tell the collection’s appeal lies in its versatility. Torque bracelets are stacked, as are eternity rings with subtle diamond centres, while delicate bar earrings are worn upside down for an offbeat rock ’n’ roll twist. A style inspiration here is French model and Chopard muse Aymeline Valade, who wears her delicate Ice Cube Pure rings across multiple fingers.
Now, who said less is always more?