LOVE STEALS THE SHOW
Annabel Tan gets a sneak peek at Chopard’s 2019 Red Carpet Collection ahead of its big reveal at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival this month
Movies may be at the heart of the annual Cannes Film Festival, but there’s no denying that a huge part of the excitement also comes from the glamorous red-carpet arrivals, with stars lighting up the aisle in dazzling outfits and jewellery.
Among the most eye-catching jewels are those from Chopard’s annual Red Carpet Collection, first introduced in 2007 to mark the 60th anniversary of the festival. Since then, the Swiss luxury jewellery and watch brand – the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival since 1998, the year Chopard’s co-president and creative director Caroline Scheufele redesigned the highly coveted Palme d’or, the trophy awarded to the best fi lm at the festival – has produced one piece of jewellery for each year of the film festival’s existence, with this year’s collection comprising 72 pieces.
Interestingly, this collection of high jewellery is specifically designed to be worn by stars walking the red carpet, and the festival has typically served as the stage for Chopard to unveil its special collection.
This year’s Red Carpet Collection centres on the theme of love and celebrates it in its diverse forms. Inspired by Scheufele’s own greatest loves, from the people around her to animals, plants, art history, and research and innovation, each creation is a testament to the extensive expertise and savoir faire of the Mains d’art (artistic hands) of Chopard’s high jewellery workshops.
Among the stunners this year is a set comprising a necklace, a ring and earrings in 18k white gold and titanium, with tanzanites, diamonds, Paraiba tourmalines and amethysts. The magnificent necklace (featured on the opposite page) alone is set with splendid heart- cut tanzanites totalling 25.3cts, and required no less than 14 dedicated weeks of work – a true labour of love.
Another set sure to stand out on the red carpet depicts a ring and earrings shaped like orchids. The graphic, lifelike flowers have delicate petals crafted from titanium. On the eye- catching earrings, these petals are entirely paved with diamonds, amethysts and garnets, while those on the ring are skilfully coated with a fi ne layer of white ceramic – an innovative technical feat by the house. Tsavorites bring the gold stem and buds to life with its vibrant green hue, while a white opal cabochon embellish the lip of the orchid, which typically attracts insects with its pinkish, iridescent shimmer.
Yet another arresting piece is a jewellery watch with a sculptural lacework-pattern bracelet fashioned out of 18k white gold and set with 59cts of fancy-cut diamonds, and eight marquise-cut diamonds arranged like a wind rose on a mother-of-pearl dial. The watch comes in two versions: one with a dial framed by two Mozambique rubies and the other, by two fancy light yellow diamonds.
We know these exquisite pieces will have more than their 15 minutes of fame on the red carpet.
EACH CREATION IS A TESTAMENT TO THE EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE AND SAVOIR FAIRE OF THE MAINS D’ART OF CHOPARD’S HIGH JEWELLERY WORKSHOPS