Celebrity Life
The Most Beautiful Nature-Inspired Jewellery Pieces in 2020
Mother Nature is a muse that never goes out of style.
Jewellers are flexing their creative muscles by immortalising nature’s fleeting moments and interpreting them into abstract or realistic creations. Here are our favourite nature-inspired jewellery designs for 2020.
Tiffany & Co
One of the 20th century’s most gifted artists, Jean Schlumberger is famous for spectacular bejewelled objects that reference flora and fauna. His genius is evidenced here in this platinum-set Baguette Fringe necklace from Tiffany’s latest high jewellery collection – Legendary Designs of Jean Schlumberger.
Inspired by the elegant fluidity of seaweed, this creation features the juxtaposition of angular lines and soft circles realised through the use of over 23 carats of baguette diamonds and round brilliant diamonds weighing more than 62 carats. This piece is crowned with an elegant blue sapphire clasp.
Van Cleef & Arpels
The Tendresse Étincelante earrings are one of three recently released high jewellery pieces paying homage to creations that belonged to some of the maison’s leading patrons. Inspired by the Van Cleef & Arpels earrings gifted by Aristotle Onassis to Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis in 1968 as a wedding gift, this pair features, on each side, a blossoming corolla that unfurls around a precious pear-shaped diamond.
Set in white gold, they are completed by a pair of detachable pear-shaped diamond pendants. Cut from the same rough stone, both gems weigh a total of 20.21 carats.
Bulgari
Barocko, the maison’s latest high jewellery collection, captures the magnificence and beauty of Rome’s Baroque period of artistic and architectural heritage. Recurrent elements of the iconography of the time, such as plumage (a symbol of hope and faith), take centre stage in this platinum-set Precious Feathers necklace. A regal 10.27-carat pear-shaped Colombian emerald steals the spotlight, while brilliant-cut diamonds accentuate it. Additionally, the pendant can be detached to transform the piece into a discreet choker.
Chopard
Another conversation piece from Swiss jeweller Chopard’s nature-inspired Red Carpet jewellery collection for 2020 is this Swan ring, set in Fairmined- certified ethical 18k white gold. Intricately crafted in ceramic with diamond pavé wings, the lifelike birds cradle a stunning 9.1-carat white opal cabochon sourced from Mexico.
Cartier
Nature is interpreted as an abstract blend of wilderness and fantasy in the Parisian house’s latest high jewellery collection, [Sur]naturel. One of the standout pieces is the white gold-set Tillandsia Necklace – named after a perennial flowering plant with exposed roots. A highlight here is a pair of rare oval-shaped beryls – weighing 83.23 and 81.09 carats respectively – that seem to hover above a lattice of pavé diamonds. The plant’s rosettes are presented in pink rutilated quartz, and yellow and earth-toned diamonds.
Harry Winston
Harry Winston's Water Collection is an elegant take on the forms of the precious element as it interacts with the natural world. Showcasing 53.98 carats of gleaming marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, the striking platinum-set River Necklace mimics the fluidity and flow of water cascading elegantly down the wearer’s neck.
Cindy Chao
The 2020 Black Label Masterpiece VI “Reflection Bangle” has two interpretations: Jewellery artist Cindy Chao’s reflection on her family heritage and the reflection of nature’s landscape on water. The creation draws inspiration from Impressionist art, capturing the moment when light hits the water’s surface. Seven bright non-heated Ceylon sapphires with hints of purple are stunningly reminiscent of Impressionist indigos. They are juxtaposed with rose-cut sapphires to create a mirror effect, while brilliant-cut and Fancy Coloured diamonds spread across the bangle evoke the imagery of rippling water.
Representing Chao’s family legacy is the central branch-like vein that features six flexible articulations, and is set with 1,500 yellow diamonds from light yellow to deep brown. Forged in 18k white and yellow gold, the piece dazzles with the brilliance of 1,881 stones weighing 321.79 carats.
Graff
The British jeweller’s latest Pavé Butterfly Collection reimagines one of its cherished motifs in creations that capture the delicate creature’s ethereal beauty. Set with 17.98 carats of diamonds, the necklace features butterflies highlighted by dazzling marquise diamonds. Their sculpted wings are accentuated by pavé diamonds that gleam with intense luminosity.
This story first appeared on Prestige Singapore
(Art direction: Aaron Lee for Prestige Singapore)
The post The Most Beautiful Nature-Inspired Jewellery Pieces in 2020 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
The Watch World’s Biggest Names Are Turning Out Highly Complicated, Easy-to-Wear Timepieces
Chopard grows its Alpine Eagle range with new chronograph models
Additions to a collection inspired by the first watch launched by company co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in the 1970s.
The post Chopard grows its Alpine Eagle range with new chronograph models appeared first on The Peak Magazine.
Chopard grows its Alpine Eagle range with new chronograph models
Additions to a collection inspired by the first watch launched by company co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in the 1970s.
For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.
Chopard’s Alpine Eagle Watch Was So Popular, the House Just Unveiled 3 New Versions
Marion Cotillard Designs the Ice Cube Capsule Jewellery Collection for Chopard
Marion Cotillard collaborates with Chopard to create the Ice Cube Capsule, embodying her style and perception of ethical jewellery.
Marion Cotillard’s dedication to environmental activism and support of Chopard on its Journey to Sustainable Luxury is no closely guarded secret. Inspired to create a jewellery set that encapsulates her style and penchant for ethical jewellery, the actress shared her vision for a capsule collection with Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard.
The Ice Cube Capsule was birthed from Cotillard’s desire to expand her environmental and social concerns to the world of jewellery. Raising the idea during a discussion with her long-time friend Scheufele, she asked for assistance in realising her vision. Scheufele was pleased to devote Chopard’s savoir-faire to the project.
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The Ice Cube Capsule jewellery collection is designed by Marion Cotillard in collaboration with Chopard. (Image: Elliot Bliss)[/caption]
The Co-President of the Maison gave full artistic license to the actress while ensuring Chopard sourced the ethically mined materials. The specialist support of Chopard’s artisans were also essential to the creation of the enduringly exquisite jewellery.
The collaboration reflects a kinder side of luxury, demonstrating a genuine interest in the livelihoods of the men and women who mine raw materials.
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Marion Cotillard wearing the Ice Cube Capsule jewels. (Image: Elliot Bliss)[/caption]
“Marion Cotillard is very creative and all our discussions on this project have been extremely inspiring. By bringing her interpretation to our Ice Cube collection, she is inventing a contemporary and relaxed way to wear diamonds. It is a great pleasure to combine her ideas with our expertise in the realm of ethical jewellery,” Caroline Scheufele remarks.
About the Collection
From an aesthetic standpoint, the Ice Cube Capsule by Marion Cotillard is inspired by the graphic forms and edgy rocker spirit of Chopard’s Ice Cube collection. A total of seven Haute Joaillerie creations and a ring comprise the newest collection, crafted in Fairmined-certified ethical gold and diamonds that meet the best global standards.
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Assorted jewels from the Ice Cube Capsule by Marion Cotillard for Chopard. (Image: Chopard)[/caption]
The actress’ designs most notably reiterate the alignment of small, faceted cubes while facilitating the relaxed way the jewellery can be worn as individual statement pieces or stacked. Though renowned for its geometric style, the collection succeeds in imbuing a touch of asymmetry that cements its contemporary edge. Marion Cotillard’s designs are unapologetic in their disruption of traditional aesthetic codes for stunningly bold pieces.
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An eye-catching Ice Cube Capsule ring. (Image: Chopard)[/caption]
In nature, the only consistency is inconsistency. As a result, the earrings in the Ice Cube Capsule are all different, complementary, and designed to be worn as a part of a mix and match situation.
One side features a series that consists of two connected gold rings to wear on the top of the ear, followed by a diamond-set counterpart. Finally, on the earlobe is a princess-cut solitaire diamond. The square shape refers to the small faceted cubes of the rings.
On the other ear, a new combination of three rings connect via the back of the ear, each set with a diamond, then another diamond set piece; and lastly, on the lobe, flows a cascade of generous princess-cut diamonds that entirely obscure the underlying gold setting.
All the earrings have been made in a clip-on style to suit non-pierced ears such as the actress’ own. To complete the series of earrings that may be worn solo or stacked, she has also designed a ring. It is composed of two rings, joined by a princess-cut solitaire diamond.
The Journey to Sustainable Luxury
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Marion Cotillard. (Image: Elliott Bliss)[/caption]
Since 2018, all watch and jewellery creations by Chopard are made of ethical gold. The Ice Cube Capsule by Marion Cotillard collection is no exception. The 18-carat yellow gold used for these pieces is certified by the Fairmined label, ensuring they adhere to the best social and environmental practices. The gold is then smelted in Chopard’s workshops. One of few Maisons to have its own in-house foundry, this enabled the jewellery and watchmaker to commit to using 100% ethical gold.
In terms of diamonds, Chopard only sources from suppliers who are members of the Responsible Jewellery Council. Chopard has the distinction of becoming the first luxury jewellery and watchmaker to educate clients on the origins of its raw materials. More details about its Ice Cube Capsule collection here.
This story first appeared on Prestige Malaysia
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These Cocktail Rings are Surefire Conversation Starters
There are rings and there are statement rings. If you'd like to step up your jewellery repertoire, these cocktail rings with its bold, striking designs, multi-dimensionality and incredible precious stones will be the right way to go. Here are five rings that caught our fancy.
Chaumet
Architecture has always been a great source of inspiration for Chaumet throughout its history and for its latest high jewellery collection, Perspectives de Chaumet, it revisits the concept through six themes. Skyline is one of them, which interprets urban architecture as symbols of power. Combining dimensionality with transparent effects, and jagged angles with a sensual curves, these jewels are all about making a statement. Case in point is this Skyline ring crafted in yellow gold and set with a 7.34-carat Ascher-cut diamond and calibrated baguette-cut diamonds.
Chopard
Hailing from Chopard’s latest Red Carpet Collection is this stunning Swan ring that’s crafted in Fairmined ethical 18-karat white gold, and features a 9.1-carat white opal cabochon from Mexico that's surrounded by ceramic and brilliant-cut diamonds and sapphires. This spectacular ring is just one of the 73 jewels Caroline Scheufele unveiled as part of Chopard's nature-themed collection.
Boghossian
Gemstone inlaying is an age-old craft that dates back to ancient civilisations, which involves setting a gem within another. A highly specialised and intricate skill – an art, really – it is one that Boghossian has mastered. Stones are meticulously carved and shaped, then set directly into the next one. In the absence of metal, the stones are able to bring out its optimum brilliance. This floral ring where six petals are made from carved turquoise, and at the centre is a diamond inlaid into paraiba, is a magnificent example of this art.
De Beers
The vibrant colours of butterflies and their transformative symbolism inspires De Beers' Monarch Butterfly ring, which is set with vivid orange and fancy pink, purple, and green rough diamonds, surrounded by flawless white diamonds that make the piece appear almost ethereal.
Dior
Inspired by the designs and chromatic palette of tie-dye, the Tie & Dior collection further enriches the brand's jewellery universe with abstract forms and beautiful gradations of vibrant colours. This textile dyeing technique often seen in Dior's couture pieces is executed in jewels and the result is rather extraordinary. One of the pieces from the collection is this double ring crafted in yellow and white gold, platinum, and set with a pink cultured pearl that's surrounded by a medley of diamonds, pink and blue sapphires, Paraiba-type tourmalines, rubies, emeralds, tsavorite, spessartite garnets and yellow sapphires.
The post These Cocktail Rings are Surefire Conversation Starters appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
The Statement High Jewellery to Obsess Over This Season
The latest gemstone jewellery designs scream loud colours and big statements. Think opals, pink diamonds, spinels, and conch pearls from jewellers such as Graff, Harry Winston, and Bvlgari.
Pink Diamond
The strongest naturally occurring substance on earth, diamonds were first referenced in Sanskrit texts as early as 400BC. Coloured diamonds, however, are extremely rare with only one natural coloured stone found for every 10,000 colourless diamonds. Factors that determine a coloured diamond’s value include hue, tone and saturation. Microscopic amounts of trace elements and distortions, pressure or carbon atoms interacting with an element can effect a colour change in diamonds. For instance, the presence of hydrogen creates pink, purple and red diamonds, while boron absorption results in blue diamonds. The mines where these rarities are discovered are quickly becoming depleted, making them even more heart-stoppingly expensive.
This Graff white and rose gold set ring flaunts a 5.63-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid purplish pink diamond, which is flanked by two fancy intense pink pear-shaped diamonds. Cut and polished from an extremely rare 13.33-carat pink rough diamond discovered at the renowned Letseng mine in Lesotho, it was purchased by Laurence Graff for over US$8.7 million (S$12.1 million), breaking the record dollar per carat price of any Letseng diamond.
Black Opal
This glittering “black” gem with a holographic effect sets itself apart from the other types of opals, thanks to carbon and iron oxide traces. Its unusually dark body tone also allows the rainbow-like hues to radiate more vividly than in lighter opals. Australia produces over 90 per cent of the world’s opals, with Lightning Ridge being the most prestigious and frequently featured in high jewellery for its rare black opals. They are so much harder to find now that an exceptional gem-quality specimen can fetch up to A$15,000 (S$14,550) per carat. The scarcity of this delicate mineral (its hardness is 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale) is further compounded by high fuel prices and lease fees that make mining very costly.
A ribbon motif highlights Tiffany & Co.’s unparalleled level of craftsmanship in this remarkable platinum-set brooch. Showcasing an oval cabochon black opal of over 37 carats with baguette sapphires and diamonds totalling more than 23 carats, this piece’s clean and organic aesthetics belie its complexity of craftsmanship.
Spessartite Garnet
Although most spessartites originate from Africa today, the vivid orange or reddish orange mineral got its name from Spessart, Bavaria, in Germany where it was first discovered. One of the rarer garnets, it is an idiochromatic gem, which means it is coloured by a fundamental element – manganese in this instance – in its composition rather than impurities. Combining a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale with excellent brilliance and sparkle, the gem is attractive to collectors as it is almost always completely natural and untreated. Since large, top-grade garnets are no longer found in mines today, one with a saturated pure mandarin orange hue is the rarest and most valuable.
This spectacular Harry Winston ring from the Winston Candy collection features a 16.69-carat oval spessartite garnet in a vivid mandarin, which is set on platinum in bold contrast with pear-shaped turquoise cabochons and scintillating round diamonds.
Imperial topaz
The most sought after and valuable natural topaz, this gem’s name originated in 19th-century Russia to honour the czar, as the Ural Mountain mines were a leading source of the stone. Like the colours of the setting sun, imperial topaz is defined to include yellow, red, pink, lavender-pink or pink- orange, with the natural pink variety being very rare. While orange, pink and red topaz now come mainly from Ouro Prêto in Brazil, fine pink topaz also hails from Pakistan’s Katlang area. It has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, and is also highly prized for its brilliance and glassy lustre with few inclusions.
From Cartier’s High Jewellery collection Magnitude, the enthralling Mauna necklace showcases three bicoloured Brazilian imperial topazes –two octagonal and one pear-shaped with an ombré effect – weighing a total of 21.91 carats. Accompanied by diamonds, sapphires and rutilated quartz, the striking colours and design cascade like lava flowing from volcano.
Conch pearl
Beloved for their pretty hues, which range from white to pink to golden, conch pearls are among the rarest and priciest pearl types in the world. A calcareous concretion produced by the queen conch mollusc, the pearls most often used in high jewellery are pink and oval-shaped. The finest specimens also bear a flame-like motif and a smooth porcelain surface. About 10,000 conches must be harvested before a single pearl can be found, with less than 10 per cent considered gem quality.
The 2020 Black Label Masterpiece V Cameron Falls Earrings from Cindy Chao’s Aquatic Collection are inspired by Canada’s Cameron Falls, which is renowned for its pink hue in the rainy spring/summer season due to the region’s similarly coloured sedimentary rocks. The main highlights of this sculptural creation – a pair of natural conch pearls totalling 10.24 carats – are accentuated by lavish streams of pink sapphires and purple garnets set on anodised titanium. The movement of water is depicted by white diamonds and fancy-coloured rose-cut diamonds.
Spinel
This gemstone comes in a rainbow spectrum of colours that range from intense red and hot pink, to shades of blue and purple, and even grey and black. The most precious hues are ruby red from the famed Mogok Valley in Myanmar and cobalt blue from Vietnam’s Luc Yen mine. Spinel has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale, and a signature property of the gem is that it is singly refractive. Light enters the crystal and only bends in one beam, resulting in it being more brilliant than rubies or sapphires.
Gracing this ring set in ethical 18k white gold from Chopard’s Red Carpet Collection 2020 is a 4.7-carat pear-shaped spinel, two half-moon diamonds and brilliants. Its crimson hue is so vivid that it is little wonder that red spinels have been long mistaken for rubies until modern-day technological advancements in gemology could differentiate the two.
Rubellite
Highly prized and priced because of its rarity and vibrant beauty, the rubellite hails from the colourful tourmaline family. With its name derived from the Latin word rubellus, which means reddish, it features trace amounts of manganese that gives it its colour, which varies from luscious red to violet to dramatic pink. This is one of the few gemstones where the presence of inclusions is a benefit. Mainly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan, a genuine rubellite must hold its colour regardless of the light source.
A drop-cut 66.41-carat rubellite with outstanding transparency and intense colour steals the limelight on the Meraviglia collar from Bvlgari’s Cinemagia high jewellery collection. Set in 18k white gold, it also features 10 pear-shaped pink tourmalines and amethysts totalling 9.88 carats, five pear-shaped rose-cut diamonds of 5.12 carats, and 116.93 carats of dazzling diamonds knitted into a sensual, flexible and precious piece of lace.
Hawk's eye
Famed for its chatoyancy (the optical effect of a reflective band of light), this gemstone is a pseudomorph of quartz – a mineral that is replaced by another over time while retaining its external shape. Hawk’s eye is essentially an unoxidised form of tiger’s eye. Its formation begins when blue crocidolite is dissolved by quartz and traces of iron oxide remain. Less iron results in the blue hue of hawk’s eye, while more iron gives it the brownish gold colour of tiger’s eye. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, the colour of the opaque gemstone with a silky lustre ranges from blue-grey to blue-green.
From Chaumet’s collection of Trésors d’Ailleurs High Jewellery rings, a deep blue sugarloaf hawk’s eye takes centre stage on the Artemisia ring. Set in 18k yellow gold with rock crystal and brilliant-cut diamonds, the regal piece combines a sense of monumental splendour with intricate details.
Art Direction: Aaron Lee
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Watch spread: bejewelled timepieces that bear the gifts of nature
With dials made from precious stones, these pretty timepieces attract even the attention of our most exotic feathered friends.
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