ON-SCREEN ROMANCE

Scenes of oriental city life, nature and landscape, and fairies and goddesses fill coromandel screens—beautiful wooden panels that inspire Chanel’s latest high jewellery collection aptly named Coromandel

Those with the good fortune of visiting Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment along Rue Cambon in Paris would have noticed the many wooden panelled screens in it. Not only did she use them as room dividers, she was very much in love with the enamelled red, gold, and black oriental panels, placed as the centre of attraction in her residence.

Coromandel screens have served as inspiration for many current Chanel products too, including artistic watches under the Mademoiselle Prive line. There is also an eau de parfum that shares the same name. And in its haute couture autumn/ winter 2018 show in June, Chanel unveiled the Coromandel high jewellery collection.

Made up of 59 pieces, the Coromandel collection is divided into three themes—floral, animal and mineral. The camelia takes centre stage in the floral design, while the animalcentric designs feature creatures prominent in Mademoiselle Chanel’s life. The mineral line ties back to her love for gemstones and crystals. Here are five highlights of the new Coromandel high jewellery collection shown at the exclusive preview for top-tiered customers and press.