High jewellery creations from major houses that are sure to delight the magpies
Jewellers continue to reinvent themselves and push the envelope while remaining faithful to heritage crafts and age-old traditions, as seen in the latest high jewellery collections
Storied jewellers often follow strict guidelines as to how their high jewellery creations should be designed in order to stay within the brand philosophy and aesthetics. That said, it does not mean that every new collection looks similar to the last. Designers consistently invest time, effort and resources to elevate their designs to greater heights. Take the inspiration behind this year’s crop of high jewellery collections from major houses, such as Graff and Piaget, for example. They span topics from contemporary art and a Shakespearean classic to elements of Mother Nature such as the skies and desert. Similarly, the quest to source for rare gemstones that tick the right boxes is a never-ending one, but the scintillating high jewellery pieces that follow are enough proof that this is something the creative teams take very seriously.
In the fashion world, true style means combining pieces that shouldn’t work together: a silk dress and flats; a T-shirt and sequinned skirt. And the same can also be true in the world of jewellery. In Magnitude, Cartier brings together—with real creative panache—materials that were never meant to meet. And yet side by side they are more dazzling than alone: diamonds allow rutilated quartz to sparkle; sapphires shine alongside matrix opal; and emeralds gleam next to rock crystal. It is a dance between opacity and transparency, the mineral and the precious, pure colours and shimmering nuances.
Particularly notable is the Théia collection, the star of which is a necklace made of exquisite Colombian emeralds. Matched to faceted rock crystal, the emeralds are allowed to sparkle even more brilliantly than they usually do. Another wonderful set is the Zemia collection, which pairs matrix opal from Australia with blue and purple sapphire, garnets and diamonds. The 77.27 carat matrix opal that anchors the Zemia bracelet is stunning and highlights Cartier’s aesthetic eye.
So often the inspiration for Chanel’s fashion, perfume and jewellery, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel is again the stimulus behind the brand’s new Le Paris Russe de Chanel high jewellery collection. Drawing specifically on the designer’s relationships with the many Russians who arrived in Paris while fleeing the Russian Revolution, the collection features symbols of the sun and double-headed eagle atop an octagonal mirror in the entrance of her rue Cambon abode. The 69 one-of-a-kind pieces are divided into 11 sets—each based on a specific aspect of Russian history, from embroidery to imperial symbols. While the collection exudes rich Russian heritage, designs are subtle and let the fine jewels speak for themselves. From delicate earring motifs and large pearl sautoir necklaces to draped strands of yellow sapphires, garnets, emeralds and diamonds, each and every piece celebrates the brand’s affinity, love and respect for Russian art from 1910 to the present day.
From top: A high jewellery artisan works at Chanel’s workshop; the making of the Sarafane necklace
Chopard jewellery is a regular guest at the world’s most glamorous events, and famous for its red-carpet credentials and wedding-worthy pieces. So it is no surprise that co-president and artistic director Caroline Scheufele has chosen love, and the passion that comes with it, as the theme for its Red Carpet collection. Because the greatest declarations of love are always accompanied by flowers, she designed a particularly beautiful set of rings and earrings in the form of astonishingly life-like orchids, made from entrancingly beautiful pink sapphires.
Red Carpet Orchid ring and Red Carpet necklace, both by Chopard