Celebrity Life

The Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum launch their first collaborative retail initiative.

The post Local jewellers create designs inspired by the Asian Civilisations Museum’s collections appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum launch their first collaborative retail initiative.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Paolo Costagli, Amedeo and House of Geneva are among the names on show in this month's showcase, themed A European Summer.

The post JeweLuxe Gallery brings the striking creations of top jewellery designers to town appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Paolo Costagli, Amedeo and House of Geneva are among the names on show in this month's showcase, themed A European Summer.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Simone Jewels is the first Singapore brand to be showcased at Harrods in London – and every piece tells a story of a chapter in history.

The post Simone Ng’s bejewelled creations open doors to the past appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Simone Jewels is the first Singapore brand to be showcased at Harrods in London – and every piece tells a story of a chapter in history.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Simone Jewels is the first Singapore brand to be showcased at Harrods in London – and every piece tells a story of a chapter in history.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

When I asked Victoire de Castellane what it felt like to have celebrated 20 years at the helm of Dior’s jewellery and watch department, she implied, quite offhandedly, that it was a short time.

“I hope to be there for its 40th anniversary,” she said. But perhaps she’s right: 20 years can seem such a short time when the Dior archives are so rich and when there’s still so much to take inspiration from.

De Castellane had worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld for 14 years before she was tapped by Dior to develop and launch the brand’s jewellery division. “[Lagerfeld] taught me to work according to the identities of a house and to work seriously while having fun,” she says of her time learning under him.

Since de Castellane’s arrival at Dior, she’s found inspiration in all the house’s identities and developed themes that we now know and love: the garden, the grand balls and couture. If you’ve ever had the chance to read the beautiful narratives that are written for each of the collections, each is like a new chapter of the founder, Christian Dior’s, legacy. It’s an important element for de Castellane, who says, “I like to tell the stories of the identities of the house and transform them into jewellery.”

J'aime Gem Dior, et toi?

The latest chapter is Gem Dior, an original collection of seven watches and 11 pieces of jewellery that takes its name from the high-jewellery collection launched by the maison just two years ago. We all know Dior’s famous tagline “J’adior”, a play on the French j’adore. Gem, similarly, is a euphonious nod to j’aime, French for “I love”.

The style of the collection is something de Castellane calls “abstract-organic”, a mix of elements that can be found in both couture and in nature. “I wanted to move on to abstract, but it’s always an organic abstract that breaks with figurative creation,” she says. “I saw plates of tourmaline in octagonal and irregular shapes that inspired me for the watch dial. I’d also seen colour samples in the Dior archives that reminded me of the idea of strata.”

From this union of nature and couture, Gem Dior is distinctively nothing like you’ve seen from Dior before. The watches, with their unique case designs inspired by the natural shape of minerals, is particularly unique. As a completely new collection, it’s also a complete departure from the shape and form of the La D de Dior watches, which has been a mainstay in Dior’s collection for so long.

The new collection was a long time in the making, according to de Castellane. “I’d had the idea in mind for a long time and I was just waiting for the right moment. This is a new chapter for Dior jewellery and Dior watchmaking. Gem is an original watch, closer to a jewel, and doesn’t parasitise the La D de Dior watch.”

Gemstones are always the starting point for de Castellane. But whereas the La D de Dior watches had the dial set with a single precious stone, Gem Dior was about the colour of gemstones, and how they all came together. She loves gemstones of all kinds, so when I ask about her favourite gemstones to work with, she replies, “All of them together.”

The Gem Dior collection is exactly that – all the gemstones together. “For me, colour in jewellery is very important and I adore using all the stones, especially hard stones,” de Castellane says. “We might say that there’s also a coherence in my work in relation to the different collections. We can also discover families of stones, depending on the jewels and watches.”

The way the bracelets in the collection are designed is an absolute statement in creativity. De Castellane drew inspiration for it from the way in which Christian Dior pinned fabric swatches from his haute couture shows on to sheets of paper – ribbons of colour pinned against each other, a commotion of hues that’s chaotic yet elegant and sophisticated.

Forming the asymmetrical geometry of the pieces posed a technical challenge to the team at Dior. “It was necessary to work on the airiness, the structure and the comfort of the pieces in addition to the construction," de Castellane says. “And, of course, to find the right stones.”

A new timepiece design

The focal point of the Gem Dior collection is perhaps the yellow-gold watch, with its octagonal case with cut-out sides set with turquoise and diamonds around an intense green malachite dial. The colourful affair extends to the bracelet, on which slices of the ornamental gems are brought together, much like the strata of sedimentary rock, an asymmetrical wave that’s designed to be worn on the wrist as if it’s an open cuff.

“I’ve used malachite, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl and cornaline. There’s some pink opal and tiger’s eye. I’ve selected stones and coloramas according to what I’ve found naturally. With the colour groups, I played on a multi-coloured effect, but I also considered the colour shadings,” says
de Castellane.

Six other versions of the Gem Dior watch are available: in steel and black mother-of-pearl, in pink gold and full diamond pavé, in gold and steel and lapis lazuli. The watches also come with an interchangeable black leather strap for a relatively more toned-down look.

The strata motif is carried over to the jewellery, with the highlight also being the coloured gemstone pieces. The yellow-gold ring and bracelet comes with deliberately misaligned links in gemstones of blues and greens – lapis lazuli, malachite and tourmaline – and a sprinkling of diamond, for a wonderfully cool-toned piece that has just the perfect touch of glamour.

The post Victoire de Castellane on the Gem Dior Collection appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

On the cover of Time magazine this February is poet Amanda Gorman, who made the headlines when she performed the powerful poem, The Hill We Climb, during the Inauguration Day ceremony for President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. Gorman's impactful poem made an impression, as did the vibrant red headband that she wore around her braids. On the cover of Time, she's wearing a choker styled as a tiara, in a portraiture that's very much inspired by Maya Angelou.

The choker Gorman wore is none other than Khiry's Khartoum Torc Embellished choker necklace, designed by the rising star designer Jameel Mohammed, whose afrofuturist vision and beautiful jewellery pieces that celebrate the culture and heritage of African diaspora is the brand to know right now.

Khiry is also the latest brand to join Net-a-Porter's Vanguard, the online fashion retailer's mentorship programme that highlights emerging designer talent. Khiry was introduced to the Net-a-Porter team by jewellery designer Matthew Harris of Mateo, and the Net-a-Porter team immediately felt a connection.

"Jameel is an extremely talented designer, with his own unique point of view and style," says Libby Page, Senior Fashion Market Editor at Net-a-Porter. "He uses inspiration from many different sources to form a collection that champions both diversity and change. As a global online retailer, we have the expertise to nurture brands and in this instance, we were able to introduce Jameel to three sponsors; Muzo, Hearts on Fire and The Betts Group who have consigned materials for the collection. This initiative is absolutely the first of many."

For Page, the designers they're looking for must have a distinct DNA and design aesthetic. "They truly have to be brands we are behind as a business and believe will resonate with our global customer," she says.

Mohammed had only worked with gold-plated fashion jewellery before partnering with Net-a-Porter and his exclusive collection with them debuts on Net-a-Porter this month. We speak to Khiry's founder Jameel Mohammed on his debut fine jewellery collection with Net-a-Porter, how he got his brand off the ground and the kind of impact his brand has on the world right now.

Jameel, tell us about your very first jewellery design.

The first jewellery I ever made was in Legos when I was a freshman or sophomore in high school, and then I started making necklaces from knotted rope, macrame, and leather cord. The first piece that defined my brand KHIRY as an Afrofuturist luxury brand was the Khartoum Nude Bangle. That really set the tone for both my design signatures, as ongoing parts of the brands aesthetic, and our mission statement — our reason for existing.

Did you see design as a career from the beginning? What made you decide to study political science (as opposed to design/ fashion etc)?

Not from the very beginning. I actually, luckily, had an aunt who had a friend who had worked and made good money designing for other companies. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, art and creativity didn’t seem like tenable ways of actually sustaining yourself, but my aunt dissuaded me of that notion and said that I could make a living in that industry. Now to the reason I chose to study political science—and not design. At that early age, as I was preparing to take the reins of my own life, there were parts of me that were not comfortable with design being the only thing I could do or the only thing I would have the credentials for. The other part of it is that political science training was really instrumental in my ability to form complex concepts and synthesise distinct experiences, cultural traditions, and visions of the future into a singular expression. It gave me the historical background to understand the context for my work.

What is the meaning behind Khiry and what does Afro-futurism mean to you?

KHIRY is my middle name. It’s Swahili for extremes in fortune and health. To me Afrofuturism is about creating space in the present to envision the means by which Black people and culture will not only survive into the future but also achieve liberation, which is so much the fundamental project of Blackness internationally. It also imagines the broader context that that liberation would sit within—by imagining the liberation of black people you have to think about what kind of world would instantiate and support that liberation. For me it’s really important to spend time in the now thinking about how to design those outcomes in the future, and also reflecting on the past and how it has gotten us to this time and place.

Who and what inspires Khiry? Where do you turn to find inspiration?

I’m inspired by cultural production throughout Africa and its diaspora. I am particularly inspired by the generations of Black artists and activists who have gone before, because implicitly their work was aimed at creating space for themselves and their posterity.

I wanted to touch on the conversation you had with a white CEO who told you luxury brands were only born in Milan and Paris. How did it make you feel then? Did it discourage you or fuel you?

I think at that point it was mostly fuel. because to me it was so clearly and demonstrably false based on my actual experiences and I knew that there were huge swathes of other people out there who would find that sentiment equally ridiculous-and not just ridiculous but an expression of a cultural authority that has existed so long that it hasn’t been frequently questioned, especially in the minds of folk who wield that power. so in that moment it was clear that this was an opportunity from a business standpoint and that this was necessary from a cultural standpoint. and when those two things aligned, it was clear that there was nothing else that I wanted to do more than that.

Do you think luxury has changed since then?

Yes. I think historical luxury brands are increasingly aware that the world is changing and that people of all backgrounds are demanding that the institutions they support further the cause of equity instead of replicating the inequities of the past.

How does it feel to be part of Net-a-Porter's Vanguard?

It feels great. It feels like a total affirmation of what I envisioned from that day [in Japan] of deciding what the brand would be focused on and seeing even then, at that initial stage, the potential that this could have to resonate with the world. I wanted to create pieces that were unquestionably, indisputably luxurious. And now: having the support of such a leader in the luxury space to introduce pieces in our Fine jewelry range which totally expand the brand’s offerings to the highest echelons of design fabrication is totally heartening.

Who would you love to see wearing Khiry? Why?

I think the conceit of the brand has always been to demonstrate to the world the breadth and the depth of culture and experience within the global Black diaspora. For that reason, we really love dressing folks from a broad array of backgrounds – we like to think of the brand as a place where an emerging artist can find a piece to celebrate their trajectory, or where an elected official can find a piece to signify their assent to office, and where there’s no contradiction: it can be the same piece. When I started out it was hard to imagine, but now we are lucky enough to count many globally prominent folks of distinct backgrounds as clients and supporters.

If you were not a jewellery designer, what would you be?

I don’t think I am a jewellery designer actually haha. I would lean further into one of the various creative pursuits that allowed me to explore jewellery and to build a brand in this industry. I’ve always drawn and used two-dimensional art as a way of expressing ideas; I’m also currently working on larger sculptural works, so maybe more three-dimensional works. I feel like if I wasn’t designing jewellery I would lean more into those directions, or maybe I would go to law school.

The post Chatting With Jameel Mohammed of Jewellery Brand Khiry appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Love is a many-splendored thing – as are these romantic gemstones, which aren’t only exquisite in their own right, but also boost love and relationships with their energies.

Pink Spinel

The spinel’s name is derived from the latin spina (spine) and refers to the mineral’s needle-like formations of small octahedron-shaped crystals. A jewel that condenses bright and positive energy, it offers encouragement when you’re experiencing relationship challenges. The spinel is also said to foster a spirit of gratitude brought about by the realisation that love is a gift. Piaget’s wings of light rainbow jungle ring in rose gold features a 6.82-carat pear-shaped pink spinel, pink and yellow sapphires, pink tourmalines, spessartines and diamonds.

Pink Tourmaline

The tourmaline gained popularity as an American gem in 1892 thanks to the Tiffany & co gemologist, George F Kunz, who wrote about the quality gemstone deposits discovered in Maine and California. Ranging from pale pink to deep red, this gem is favoured by metaphysical collectors and practitioners for its versatile energy properties. It’s believed to enhance love and spirituality, and encourage compassion and gentleness in periods of growth and change. This extraordinary Tiffany & co high-jewellery collection 2020 platinum necklace comprises more than 50 carats of vivid mixed-cut pink tourmalines and over 14 carats of diamonds.

Pink Diamond

Nothing evokes romance like the pink diamond, which is associated with love, delight, tenderness and innocence. And like true love, pink diamonds are rare and mysterious: they’re found in only a few locations and scientists still haven’t determined what causes a diamond to take on this pastel hue. Not only does this stone symbolise femininity and creativity, but it also represents resilience and endless affection, making it a popular choice for engagement rings. These Chopard red carpet collection 2020 flamingo earrings in pink titanium feature pink diamonds totalling 18.4 carats, as well as diamonds and onyx.

Red Coral

Although coral occurs in a wide range of colours, red is the most sought- after hue, with only two types of coral that can be made into jewellery: corallium japonicum and corallium rubrum. Coral gives you the power to overcome relationship obstacles and be a pillar of strength. It’s also said to be able to temper anger, impatience and frustration, encouraging open and honest communication between a couple. This Cartier [sur] naturel pink-gold necklace is embellished with coral, grey mother-of-pearl and diamonds.

Pink Sapphire

This stunning gemstone ranges from light to dark pink and also features secondary hues, such as purplish-pink — and, in the case of the rare Padparadscha sapphire, which is mainly found in Sri Lanka, even a glowing orangey-pink. A symbol of love, its use as a betrothal gift dates back as far as ancient Rome. It also symbolises trust, loyalty and sincerity, and is believed to bestow good fortune. Shown here is the Van Cleef & Arpels Romeo & Juliet Innamorato bracelet in rose and white gold, with 18 pink and mauve oval-cut sapphires totalling 70.23 carats, pink and mauve sapphires and diamonds.

Rubellite

Among the most prized and priciest stones from the tourmaline family is the rubellite. While it’s also known as red tourmaline, only the most vivid and saturated specimens are worthy enough to be classified as rubellites. This stone works to clear the communication channels between a couple to bring stability and security to their relationship. Shown here is the Bulgari Barocko yellow- gold necklace, which flaunts a 58.02-carat cushion-shaped rubellite, a 3-carat pear- shaped diamond, two marquise diamonds weighing 2.04 carats, five round emeralds totalling 3.31 carats and round brilliant-cut and pavé diamonds with a combined weight of 19.27 carats.

Ruby

Hailed as the gem of gems throughout history and favoured by royalty around the world, this rich crimson stone is said to be the most powerful jewel of them all. Representative of love through the ages, the ruby is said to inspire faithfulness and devotion in a romantic relationship. French jewellers in the 1800s referred to it as the “dearly loved stone”, whose fiery red hue was said to arouse the senses, stir the imagination and inspire sensuality in its wearer. This Graff peony collection white-gold and platinum necklace features multi-shaped rubies and diamonds.
The Harry Winston fifth avenue platinum necklace dazzles with 12 pear-shaped rubies totalling 20.58 carats, and 308 cushion- and pear-shaped, brilliant-cut and marquise diamonds wei.

The post 10 Mesmerising Romantic Gemstones and Their Meaning appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

As we welcome another year, we look back at some of the most notable fine jewellery collections unveiled in 2020. From completely new collections to fresh takes on beloved classics, here are some of our favourites, which most certainly will make worthy additions to your go-to everyday accessories.

Clash de Cartier XL

Cartier’s badass fine jewellery line Clash de Cartier has just gone even bolder with an XL-sized version, seeing its contemporary beads and studs forming generously proportioned rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Look closely and you will see how skilfuly each bead/stud is mounted and polished, and try it on and you'll love how the piece just moves with you, thanks to an articulated mechanism developed for this line. So chic!

Chopard Happy Hearts Wings

If you fancy something more feminine, Chopard has added a new and delightful variation to one of its most well-received and iconic fine jewellery lines with the Happy Hearts Wings. It comes in necklaces, bracelets, earrings and a ring, all made from ethically mined gold featuring dancing diamonds and red hearts arranged like butterfly wings.

Louis Vuitton Volt

One of the year’s most talked-about launches was Louis Vuitton’s new LV Volt fine jewellery collection. Created by its artistic director for watches and jewellery, Francesca Amfitheatrof, the collection puts the spotlight on the letters L and V, incorporating them in an architectural and graphic design that makes the pieces appealing to either gender. Made from in gold and set with diamonds, these pieces play with texture, volume and dimensions, and can be worn stacked, with your other favourite pieces or, by all means, on their own.

Chanel Coco Crush in sizes

Coco Crush is a collection that’s managed to appeal to a wide range of tastes – from minimalists to the overindulgent – and across age groups and genders. And because Chanel has grown the selection of its rings to include more sizes, you can now wear rings on your index finger and if you so desire, your thumb too, while making them look like they absolutely belong – adios ill-fitting rings. The Coco Crush fine jewellery pieces in a new Beige Gold alloy also stand out, but not necessarily clash with the rest of your jewellery, for its unique sheen and shade, as it’s neither pink nor yellow gold, but awesomely in between.

Bulgari B.zero1 Rock

The B.zero1 Rock is the latest B.zero iteration inspired by Bulgari’s Tubogas choker made famous for its ’80s studs. And who better than the fun and fierce American actress and singer Zendaya to promote this stylish line, lending her star power to Bulgari’s Mai Troppo campaign set against the scenic streets and villas of Rome, adorned with these versatile and sleek fine jewellery pieces.

Van Cleef & Arpels Perlee Tartelette ring

A bold Tartelette ring created by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1948 that remained popular through the 1950s makes a comeback of sorts as the latest addition to its Perlee collection. The ring has a robust body composed of gold gadroons that embrace the finger comfortably, while its crown features a gold dome paved with diamonds and executed with a relief effect, making it look more voluminous. Now that's one statement ring!

Fred Chance Infinie by Annelise Michelson

Known for her contemporary and feminine jewellery designs that play with proportions, Paris-based South-African-born designer Annelise Michelson was tapped by Fred to re-interpret one of the brand’s classics motifs, the Chance Infinie — its signature small loop interlaced with a large one — through an XL Capsule Collection that comprises a ring, torque, cuff bracelet and earring in yellow gold.

Dior Rose des Vents Open Rings

Dior’s ever so dainty Rose des Vents now has open ring options, giving your digits some breathing room while looking so stylish. The fine jewellery rings are edged in a twisted rice grain motif, framing the Rose des Vents and Rose Céleste medallions with a vibrant hard stone and set with a diamond.

Louis Vuitton Vivienne

Louis Vuitton’s adorable mascot, Vivienne, which has appeared in many of the maison’s decorative objects, has made its way to its fine jewellery line. Available in two sizes and in various styles, Vivienne’s small pendants come in three gold variations, and in gold and diamond with red or black lacquer. A medium version, on the other hand, comes in three gold variations or half-paved, and can also be worn as a brooch.

Tiffany & Co Victoria Vine

Tiffany & Co this year unveiled the Tiffany Victoria Vine collection, inspired by patterns found in nature and taking cues from its everyday rhythms, symmetry and fluidity. The selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pendants are intricately crafted using a variety of diamond cuts and settings.

Boucheron Quatre in Bleu de Paris

We’ve seen a few iterations of Boucheron’s Quatre fine jewellery, playing on its contemporary style and exploring textures, colours and gold variations. It’s been presented in black, white and red, and this autumn it comes in Bleu de Paris, which brings a fresh, new look to its graphic motif. We might have found that one accessory that you can wear with every outfit, and occasion, and throughout the year.

Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra in new stones

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra collection welcomes four new long necklaces, with the famed motif presented in chalcedony, grey mother-of-pearl and blue agate. The fourth, the Magic Alhambra, comes with a yellow gold guilloche pendant.

The post 12 Hottest Fine Jewellery Launches in 2020 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Add some sparkle to your festivities with Cartier.

The post Enjoy fine festive whimsy with a selection of Cartier watches, jewellery and holiday homeware appeared first on The Peak Magazine.