As Paris Haute Couture week gets underway, the world’s finest jewelers are lining up to unveil their high jewelry collections. One Maison likely to turn more heads than any other is Chopard as it reveals the Insofu emerald.
Unearthed in 2010 at the Kagem Mine in Zambia and weighing in at an astounding 6,225 carats (around 1.2kg), the stone’s name ‘Insofu’ translates into ‘elephant’ in the local Bemba dialect due to its trunk-like shape. Said to be of remarkable clarity and quality, the special gem will give rise to a collection of unique and singular gems which will form the beginnings of a forthcoming Chopard Haute Joaillerie collection.
Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s co-president and artistic director says: “It is profoundly moving to be confronted with the beauty and mystery of such a treasure, collected from the depths of the Earth, formed millions of years ago, and which has come to us at last to be enhanced by the hand of artisans who will reveal the full extent of its beauty while transcribing the emotions it arouses.”
The Chopard Insofu is one of the biggest emeralds ever discovered / ©Eric Sauvage
The Kagem Mine in Zambia / ©Chopard
Scheufele has been credited as a major driving force in Chopard’s journey to becoming one of the world’s most sustainable and transparent Haute jewelers. After becoming a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, Chopard launched its Journey to Sustainable Luxury in 2013, a long-term commitment to ethical sourcing and business practices.
The Kagem Mine where the gem was sourced is run by ethical emerald extraction firm, Gemfields, which like Chopard, is committed to sustainability and transparency. “By purchasing a raw stone, we are able to follow its entire journey through to final creation. We ensure a complete chain of traceability which is rare for stones of such quality,” explains Scheufele.
The Chopard Insofu is thought to be the first emerald of such size and purity to meet traceability requirements and is amongst one of the biggest ever to be discovered.
Toi & Moi Ring / ©Chopard
‘Rose of Caroline’ pink diamond chopard ring / ©Eric Sauvage
As well as the Insofu Emerald, Chopard will also be displaying a number of other exceptional stones at Paris Haute Couture Week. Amongst them are a 10.88 ct fancy intense pink diamond named the ‘Rose of Caroline’ – said to reflect “the passion for colored diamonds harbored by the Maison’s creative soul.” The radiant-cut diamond is cased in a Fairmined-certified ethical gold ring.
The jeweler is also set to present the Toi & Moi ring, featuring a 4.10 ct fancy intense blue diamond and a white diamond.
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