Celebrity Life

Add some sparkle to your festivities with Cartier.

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A rare pink diamond derived from the biggest raw stone of the colour ever found in Russia was sold for $26.6 million on Wednesday at Sotheby's in Geneva.

The post Rare Russian pink diamond sells for US$27 million appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

A rare pink diamond derived from the biggest raw stone of the colour ever found in Russia was sold for $26.6 million on Wednesday at Sotheby's in Geneva.

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

The fine jewellery designer unveiled a series of rings set with precious gemstones inspired by the long-time kids' favorite, Lego.

The post Nadine Ghosn presents building block jewelry inspired by Lego appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The fine jewellery designer unveiled a series of rings set with precious gemstones inspired by the long-time kids' favorite, Lego.

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

The married couple behind State Property want to change the perception that fine jewellery is just for special occasions.

The post How this couple is designing fine jewellery for everyday wear appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The married couple behind State Property want to change the perception that fine jewellery is just for special occasions.

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

Founded in 2008, Jessica McCormack's eponymous jewellery brand is known for blending Georgian and Victorian-era elements that can be shared across the generations of women.

The daughter of an auctioneer, McCormack has led the way in providing wearable jewellery that can be customised and layered, depending on the wearer’s mood or outfit.

The New Zealand-born designer is inspired by art and antiques when designing her fine jewellery. Hailed as one of the most exciting fine jewellery designers out there, her fans include Victoria Beckham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who has been spotted wearing a pair of McCormack’s Gypsets earrings.

[caption id="attachment_211443" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jessica McCormack has teamed up with Net-A-Porter on an ongoing fine jewellery pop-up.[/caption]

We caught up with the talented designer via an email interview to find out how she got started in jewellery design and what’s in the pipeline for her brand — including an ongoing pop-up in collaboration with Net-A-Porter.

What led you to the path of jewellery design?

Jessica McCormack (JM): I grew up around beautiful things in New Zealand, my dad was an auctioneer and was always bringing special pieces home. When I was younger, I’d buy boxes of jewellery at auctions and just spend time playing around with it all, transforming it into something new. I think that’s where my love for designing and creating began.

What is your philosophy when designing jewellery?

JM: I really believe that jewellery should be worn and loved. It shouldn’t be something that just sits on your nightstand or waits for special occasions. That’s what is at the heart of everything I create. I think “Would I wear this?” or “How would I wear this?”. Jewellery should be special, and emotional, and something that can stay in the family as an heirloom – but most importantly, it needs to be enjoyed.

[gallery ids="211444,211445,211446,211447"]

Have you seen a shift in your consumers’ requirements because of the pandemic?

JM: I think there’s a definite shift towards comfort. People want pieces they can wear with a sweatshirt and jeans, because we’re not dressing up so much at the moment. But equally, there’s still an appetite for pieces that standout, that sparkle, and can dress up an outfit because when we do get the chance to go out, it’s exciting!

What is your favourite piece from your collections that is available on Net-A-Porter and why?

JM: Gypsets (from the Signature collection) hold a special place in my heart. They’ve garnered a little cult following of their own because they are so easy to wear, and they just finish off an outfit in the most effortless way. To me, they’re a perfect piece of jewellery.

What can your fans look forward to in your future collections?

JM: I’ve a collaboration coming out soon with artists the Haas Brothers, whom I’ve known for a long time, so I’m really excited about that. I’ve really had fun with the collection and it actually came together during lockdown, so it feels particularly special because of that. I’m very excited to see my clients’ reactions to it!

The Jessica McCormack pop-up on Net-A-Porter is on now until November 28 here and showcases all of the brand’s key collections including Signature, Ball n Chain, Tattoo, Chi Chi, Gypsets, Hex and Wings of Desire.

This story first appeared on Prestige Singapore

(All images: Jessica McCormack)

The post Jessica McCormack Joins Forces With Net-A-Porter on a Fine Jewellery Pop-Up appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

While classic white diamonds and pearls always rank at the top of our list for their timeless appeal and versatility, we can't help but be drawn to multicoloured jewellery designs that exude fun and flamboyance.

It's perfect timing then, that prominent names including Bulgari and Piaget have introduced resplendent new collections festooned with vividly-hued gemstones. Several fine jewellers have also followed suit by pairing stones in a variety of shades to create sparkling statement pieces.

Read on for our picks of the most magnificent multicoloured jewellery designs you'll want to incorporate into your wardrobe.

This story first appeared on Prestige Singapore

(Main image: Bulgari; Featured image: Piaget)

The post Fall in Love With These Glorious Multicoloured Jewels appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Fifty metres underground — this is the depth that local winemakers chose when they decided to store 10,000 wine bottles in the Aven d'Orgnac caves, an underground tourist attraction located at the southern end of the limestone plateau of the Gorges de l'Ardèche.

The experiment began in March 2018, when a new storage facility was specially created in a disused access tunnel to allow wine to mature in what amounts to a highly stable and peaceful environment.

A living product that ages best in undisturbed darkness, the wine will have benefited from ideal conditions: A constant temperature of around 12°C and an all-year-long rate of humidity of over 95%.

On December 12, 1,000 bottles of Côtes du Vivarais "Grand Aven 2017" from this treasure trove will be passed from hand to hand by a chain of human volunteers who will bring them back to the surface after two years underground. Thereafter, they will go under the hammer with a range of other local vintages in an auction with modest reserve prices.

Lots on offer will include 150 magnums of Terra Helvorum 2017 starting at 30 euros, 350 bottles of 2015 Terra Helvorum for as little as 15 euros and 350 bottles of Grand Aven 2016 from just 10 euros.

On land and sea

These days, experiments to store wine deep underground are very much in vogue in France. On June 3 of this year, 500 bottles were placed in racks at a depth of 103 metres in caves in Padirac under the watchful eye of Serge Dubs, the Best Sommelier of the World in 1989.

The first of these to return to the surface will be brought up for an initial tasting in the spring of 2021. And let's not forget that this experiment is focused on a very particular wine: A Clos Triguedina Cahors, christened Cuvée Probus, which has been produced to honour the 130-year anniversary of the Padirac Chasm.

Surprisingly enough, this new approach to maturing wine was initially inspired by a find at sea. In 2010, divers in the Baltic discovered a wreck containing what turned out to be a cargo of champagne, which was probably on its way to 1840s Russia.

The wave of experimentation that is now ongoing began when the bubbly, which was made by such houses as Veuve Clicquot, Heidsieck and the now defunct Juglar, was discovered to still be delicious after some 170 years under water.

In Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the French Basque country, winemaker Emmanuel Poirmeur has registered a patent for a process that involves vinifying wine in special vats at a depth of 15 metres under water. For its part, Leclerc-Briant set a record when it vinified one of its champagnes at a depth of 60 meters under the Atlantic in 2012, not surprisingly the vintage was christened "Abyss."

The post When Art Imitates Art appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The brand’s lyrical inventiveness is a magical element that’s ever present throughout its creations.

The post Van Cleef & Arpels’ transformable jewellery appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The brand’s lyrical inventiveness is a magical element that’s ever present throughout its creations.

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