Tag Archives: high jewellery

The World’s Largest Purple-Pink Diamond Fetched $26.6M in Geneva

An auction in Geneva on Wednesday, 11th November 2020, made history for the sale of an ultra-rare purple-pink diamond. The event hosted by Sotheby’s showcased the extremely recherché 14.8-carat Russian diamond, readyviewed known as “The Spirit of the Rose”. Unlike 99% of pink diamonds which are under 10 carats, this stone is one of three in an original collection by Russian mining company, Alrosa.

The World’s Largest Purple-Pink Diamond Fetched $26.6M in Geneva

Taking its name from the 1911 Russian ballet “Le Spectre de la rose,” this precious jewel was cut from an even larger rough rock unearthed in 2017, and even displayed in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei before its sale. According to the chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery division, Gary Schuler, the diamond’s rarity is a result of its size and colour, which had been graded as “Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink.” In a measure of its clarity, this stone is classified as “internally flawless,” while belonging to a rare subgroup of diamonds that contain little to no nitrogen.

Despite earning a title as the most expensive purple-pink stone ever to sell at auction, the final price tag proved significantly lower than Sotheby’s estimates. Expecting to fetch up to $38 million, one lucky buyer went home with the world’s most valuable pink diamond for a mere $26.6 million.

By Julia Roxan

 

New Cartier SurNaturel High Jewellery Collection inspired by Nature

The new Cartier SurNaturel High Jewellery Collection seems to be art imitating life. At the height of the pandemic quarantine, an economic segment seemed to surge upwards – Nurseries.

Across the European continent and the continental US, Reuters reported fruit and vegetable seed sales are jumping worldwide as masses turned to gardening as a soothing, family friendly hobby that also eases concerns over food security as lockdowns slow the harvesting and distribution of crops. In land scarce Southeast Asian metropolitan cities like Singapore, working from home parents turned to a spot of gardening on the balcony as an activity that not only promoted a sense of personal well-being but also didn’t involve a screen for children stuck on home-based learning.

New Cartier SurNaturel High Jewellery Collection: Nature Immortalised in Art

“Going beyond the real and reinventing it. Through the richness of its style and the refinement of its expertise, Cartier paves the way to a transfigured supernatural beauty.”

Dubbed [Sur]Naturel, the new High Jewellery collection by Cartier reveals a nature that is “freed from reality’s constraints” – but what one finds under the very real constraint of a pandemic lockdown is that Cartier’s new high jewellery SurNaturel collection is perhaps a literal embodiment of timeless desire ensconced in the precious metal and stone objets d’art replicating the eternal nature of water, flora and fauna – to wit, a virus or climate change may wipe us out and yet the world (and nature along with it) turns.

As with every High Jewellery collection, Cartier [Sur]Naturel showcases the most precious, archaic, beautiful and mysterious stones, the beauty of plants and animals (and the very spirit endowed in living creatures) embodied within the material and artistic abstractions.

In Cartier’s new high jewellery SurNaturel collection, the roundness of a plant form bursting with flavour, coloured spots coming together to form an unreal animal coat or a series of glistening ice crystals. The jewellers intensify the stones’ evocative powers, blending wilderness with fantasy; One where diamonds, emeralds and sapphires are combined with opal and kunzite, coral and aquamarine, beryl and quartz. The stones show off their transparency and effects of depth.

Cartier SurNaturel Gharial

Platinum, five octagonal emeralds from Zambia totalling 11.31 carats, fifteen octagonal emeralds from Zambia totalling 4.13 carats, two F VS1/VS2 tapered diamonds totalling 6.90 carats, tapered diamonds, square-shaped diamonds, brilliant-cut diamonds.

Cartier SurNaturel Tillandsia

White gold, two oval-shaped green beryls totalling 163.97 carats, one 0.55-carat fancy yellow pear- shaped diamond, one 0.53-carat fancy dark orange-brown pear-shaped diamond, rutilated quartz, brown pear-shaped diamonds, yellow rose- cut diamonds, yellow and white brilliant-cut diamonds.

Cartier Panthere Tropicale Watch

Yellow gold, two octagonal aquamarines totalling 12.71 carats, two octagonal blue tourmalines totalling 20.58 carats, coral, onyx, brilliant-cut diamonds, quartz movement.

Cartier SurNaturel Hemis

Platinum, one 71.08-carat cushion- shaped kunzite, opals, pink and white brilliant-cut diamonds.

 

Cartier Revolutionizes The Art of High Jewelry Design with ‘Magnitude Collide’

The Théia

Ushering a new phase in the evolution of high jewelry design, Cartier introduces its latest collection entitled Magnitude Collide. Featuring a rare marriage of both precious and ornamental hard stones, this stylistic collection balances expert technique with the brand’s unique flair for creativity with an array of bold, panache materials.

Cartier Revolutionizes The Art of High Jewelry Design with ‘Magnitude Collide’

The Zemia

Steering away from a long history of utilizing fine stones, the Maison explores refreshing looks with new, different and authentic gems, hand-selected by adept industry professionals. Through recognizing the unique beauty of every baroque cut, shape, light effect, shimmering nuances and surprising color, the Cartier jewelry masters aim to convey the distinctive personality and origin story of each piece.

The Yuma

Fascinated by the rich offerings of the mineral world, Cartier’s history of blazing the trail with audacious choices, have since set the stage for unveil of Magnitude Collide. Their incorporation of contrasting material, positions each gem in a dialogue that flits between opacity and transparency, the mineral and the precious, pure colors and shimmering nuances – alluding to ideas of ‘earth and light’.

The Équinoxe

Through an interplay of lines, ruptured rhythms and flowing movements, each design translates into a powerful confrontation, with six treasurable pieces including, the Aphélie, Théia, Équinoxe, Yuma, Soreli and the Zemia.

The Aphélie

Featuring a striking gem of handsome density and mysterious material, the pink gold Aphélie necklace is centered by an eye-catching, needle-woven brown rutilated quartz. With warm colors and transparency effects, the necklaces emanates depth. Unleashing a sun-drenched dazzle with the inclusion of articulated tassels, the piece appears to curve effortlessly whilst remaining spiky. Creating perspective with onyx, the necklace is cheered by touches of coral, pink diamonds, clean lines and a lightweight feel.

The Théia

Structured around a striking ensemble of seven round-shaped Colombian emeralds, matched perfectly with rock crystals motifs to create a rippling reverberation – adding sparkle as the reverse of the rock crystal section is faceted throughout. The Théia is thus, a product of expert geometry and optical illusion as the design borrows code from kinetic art, and incorporates contrasting colors with the skilful use of transparency. Featuring the signature Cartier pairing of green and black, each onyx element functions as a graphic signal, punctuating every emerald, quartz and diamond. Worn as a necklace, a brooch or an a chain, the Théia is one of Cartier’s many transformable pieces.

The Soreli

Traversed with strands of light, the secret Soreli watch gleams with life that sparkles over rows of diamonds across the cuff, and is centred by a cabochon-cut rutilated quartz laden with inclusions. Selected for its intense radiance, honeyed tones and cabochon curve, the translucent stone is flanked by kite-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds – creating a generously sun-drenched, organic material which contrasts with the order of each diamond’s complex graphic motifs. With the press of a tiny release button, the Soreli unlocks to reveal its shielded watch dial.

By Julia Roxan

 

Bling Ring: Gucci Fine Jewellery at Baselworld 2019

At the time of writing, Gucci’s high jewellery boutique has just debuted at Place Vendôme, Paris, in the midst of Couture Week. A few months back at Baselworld, the wide array of Gucci fine jewellery on showcase was, on hindsight, a timely precursor of the luxury fashion brand’s foray into haute joaillarie territory.

Not just revealing the authenticity of being aligned to maestro Alessandro Michele’s refreshed brand vision and narrative, Gucci’s exploits in the world of jewellery also attest to innovation and creativity now running free-flow in the House.

Extending its GG Running fine jewellery collection, Gucci riffs on a set of rings and hoop earrings, to good effect. The pieces elicit romance and eclecticism, woven together with the GG detail that harks back to an archival design from the 1970’s, a defining era of the House.

Starting from a foundation of 18k white and yellow gold and diamonds, both the ultrafine, delicate earrings and ring offer partial and full-diamond options.

Where the yellow gold hoop earrings, available in two different sizes, come embellished with a diamond-encrusted GG, the white gold variation is wholly diamond-studded for more glimmer. Unconventional yet totally fetching, the uber-slim GG Running rings highlight the Gucci’s flair for details. The graceful criss-cross silhouette with three variations of diamond accents gives off a dainty, geometric look, which easily complements other jewellery when worn together.

Gucci’s signature floral pattern offers the Gucci Flora fine jewellery collection a perpetual reference in a nod to the power and beauty of nature. The selection of bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings in 18k white gold are embellished not just with diamonds, but feminine flowers, bows and pearls, with the GG motif as an unmistakable Gucci stamp.

In the collection are two delicate chain necklaces and bracelets with a floral-shaped diamond centerpiece and a GG-motif at the clasp. The chains of one of the necklaces and bracelets are decorated with pearl beads for a slightly more ostentatious vibe.

There are two ring iterations for Gucci Flora: a between-thefinger design featuring the GG detail and a floral motif; and a diamond-studded flower ring, perfect to wear together or individually. Echoing the asymmetry trend in earrings, Gucci Flora’s interpretations artistically combine diamond-encrusted flowers with the GG detail, juxtaposed with pearls as lovely punctuations.

Find out more about Gucci’s high jewellery collection Hortus Deliciarum on www.gucci.com.

 This article was originally published on www.lofficielmalaysia.com

Louis Vuitton presents Riders of the Knights high jewellery collection

If you look closely, you can see that the Royaume features refined, architectural lines that resemble elements from a medieval fortress, including a portcullis, chains, and a drawbridge.

Louis Vuitton’s latest high jewellery line is a seeming departure from the collections we’ve come to expect from the French fashion house.

Titled Riders of the Knights, the opulent collection is inspired by the oft-vilified Dark Ages, a period in European history that marked a decline of science and culture, and a descend into social and political chaos. Yet, during this treacherous period, heroes and heroines, such as the likes of Joan of Arc and Eleanor of Aquitaine, emerged as a beacon of hope and light for their nations.

Louis Vuitton’s Majestic Tribute To The Medieval Period

The Cavaliere is encircled by 70 sapphires and 100 emeralds.

This haute jewellery range celebrates precisely that very spirit of the medieval heroine – someone who is brave, independent, and strong – qualities that also reflect that of the modern, Louis Vuitton woman.

In homage to them, the Louis Vuitton Maison has conjured up an insanely decadent range of light-bearing precious stones – 50 exceptional gemstones to be exact, with 50 more to come – that showcase the power and chivalry of these celebrated women.

On the Reine necklace, nine dazzling aquamarines of a Santa Maria-like blue – combined weight 153 carats – evoke the magnificence of dynastic jewels and the sovereign power of a Queen.

The highlight of this pulchritudinous assemblage is most definitely the Royaume, a choker necklace so ostentatiously made that one’s eyes might hurt by simply glancing at its direction.

The Royaume features a beautifully velvety royal blue sapphire weighing 19.31 carats, set against a luminescent mesh woven with some 1,600 diamonds. It has refined, architectural lines that borrow from design components of a medieval fortress, such as a portcullis, chains, and a drawbridge. With a shape inspired by the gorget – a special piece of military armour designed to protect the throat – the Royaume’s exquisite and delicate enamelling drapes against the skin in the most supple fashion.

Another set of matching ring and ear rings from the opulent Riders of the Knight collection.

Another remarkable piece, the Cavalière necklace, showcases the spinel, a precious gem that symbolises ardour and courage. Here, the necklet has been cut after setting to contrast with diamonds. Spinels are distinctive for their deep red colour, infused with flashes of orange. This amulet features a central medallion of Lapis Lazuli, polished to an infinitely silky finish that sets off the emerald’s crystalline brilliance and highlights the lapidary’s painstaking work.

Tribute to the Queen – a leading figure in Medieval times – in the form of the Reine necklace, also appears in this collection as a nod to the independent and determined woman in control of her own destiny. Nine dazzling aquamarines of a Santa Maria-like blue – combined weight 153 carats – evoke the magnificence of dynastic jewels and sovereign power. The bezels are handcrafted to precisely fit each of the stones, each featuring a unique symbol, sculpted and mounted on a pavé chain set with 24 carats of diamonds.

This article was originally published on www.luxuo.com

Gucci unveils its first-ever high jewellery collection in Paris

From ready-to-wear and fashion timepieces to fragrance and makeup, Gucci has moved on to venture into finer sections of luxury as it unveils its first-ever high jewellery collection, titled “Hortus Deliciarum”, designed by creative director Alessandro Michele.

Named after the medieval illustrated encyclopedia, Hortus Deliciarum captures the now-signature eclectic, poetic and mythical codes of Gucci with more than 200 pieces under three different divine themes.

Swipe the gallery to take a look at Gucci high jewellery collection Hortus Deliciarum:

Together with the debut Hortus Deliciarum, Gucci has also unveiled a new flagship boutique at Place Vendôme, Paris, and unlike every other Gucci boutique, the verdeacqua-themed interior evokes a noble, muted tone for the sophisticated space which is now dedicated to the Italian house’s high jewellery collection.

Find out more about Gucci’s high jewellery collection Hortus Deliciarum on www.gucci.com.

This article was originally published on www.lofficielmalaysia.com

Cartier opens exhibition at Palace Museum Beijing

Returning to the Meridian Gate Gallery of the Palace Museum inside the Forbidden City in Beijing, China after 10 years, Cartier is hosting another spectacular exhibition to celebrate the bond between Cartier and China.

Partnering with the Palace Museum for this one-of-a-kind showcase, open between 1st June to 31st July 2019, Cartier brings over 850 creations, dating from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to today and many inspired by China itself,  from its master archive and private collections to tell the story of the bonds of friendships between the two.

The event titled “Beyond Boundaries: Cartier and The Palace Museum Craftsmanship and Restoration Exhibition” also sees the joint partnership of Palace Museum and Cartier to restore six watch and clock movements from the Palace Museum collections, at the Cartier Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

For the exhibition, Cartier splits the journey into three parts to propose “a simultaneously chronological and thematic interpretation seen through the prism of savoir-faire, the common theme running through the exhibition.”

Some of the highlight pieces of the exhibition, both timepieces and high jewellery, include the Maison’s early stages of creation, as shown in the 1870s by the very first mention of “Chinese-style” objects in Cartier account registers and also a great number of Chinese-inspired pieces decorated, mainly with dragons and chimaeras, which dates back to the 1920s.

Creating a dialogue between the pieces between the Cartier archive and the ancient collections inside the Palace Museum, the watchmaker transports us back in time to the heydays of fine watchmaking through a layout design done by scenographer Nathalie Crinière.

 

Find out more about Beyond Boundaries: Cartier and The Palace Museum Craftsmanship and Restoration Exhibition at en.dpm.org.cn.

Tiffany and Co. 2018 Blue Book Collection: The Four Seasons of Tiffany

First published in 1845, the Tiffany & Co.Blue Book was the jeweller’s first mail-order catalogue and over the years, it has developed into Tiffany & Co.’s most heavenly high jewellery collection of each year.

Dubbed ‘The Four Seasons of Tiffany‘, the 2018 Tiffany Blue Book High Jewellery Collection is an ode from Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff and the artisans at Tiffany and Co. to Mother Nature.Inspired by flora, fauna, architectural complexity in nature and Mr Krakoff’s love for the industrial, the collection is composed of five different themes – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Colour Theory – each sophisticatedly crafted with the finest stones and gems to resonate the beauty of the changes of seasons.

In honour of the 2018 Tiffany Blue Book Collection, the heritage New York jeweller had invited its A-list friends and muses to gather in its home city for a special gala night.

From actress Zoë Kravitz and top models Ju Xiaowen, Yuka Mannami, Fernanda Ly, and Halima Aden to global influencer Nicole Warne, swipe the gallery to check out who’s at the 2018 Tiffany and Co. Blue Book Gala:

Also, our very Malaysian style icon, Marion Caunter and her husband SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin were also at the starry gala. The couple showed up in a matching all-black look, and Marion, looking stunning as always in her amazing Alexander McQueen evening gown.

Visit www.tiffany.com to find out more about the The Four Seasons of Tiffany.

This article was originally published on www.lofficielmalaysia.com.

 

See how the Chopard Red Carpet Collection for Cannes is made

With over 20 years of partnership with Cannes Film Festival, Chopard continues to cherish the relationship and has now introduced a stellar red carpet collection for the occasion.

The collection, which was dreamed up by Co-President and Creative Director of Chopard Caroline Scheufele, comprises 71 creations to reflect the edition number of the Cannes FilmFestival.

Taking inspiration from the journey of Scheufele where she came across architecture, art, literature, cinema and nature – which were her muses –, this Haute Joaillerie collection was rife with glamour and profusion of colours.

Among the 71 pieces of jewellery, the one-of-a-kind feather necklace has drawn our attention the most.

For the first time ever, Chopard created a necklace using real feathers to complement the annual prestigious French film festival. Co-created with feather artist Nelly Saunier, an acknowledged expert with 30 years experience, this creation is a masterpiece of exceptional mastery and fervent passion in jewellery.

Influenced by the costumes and traditional skills of the people on the Mongolian Plateau, the plumage necklace is beautifully adorned with the rooster, grey heron, ostrich and black pheasant feathers and accentuated by a sculpted gold cameo.

Snagged from the centre spot, the gold cameo is decorated meticulously by volutes of blue apatites, violet garnets and red jasper.

On the jewellery imbued with the free-spirited creature, Nelly Saunier said, “Birds are born with this elegance and appearances are never deceptive. They demonstrate total freedom in revealing their beauty. It is this spontaneity and this authentic form of expression that I share. Feathers are all about emotions .”

See more details about the intricate masterpiece in the gallery below: