Tag: High jewellery

Dotty over Spots: Circle, circle, dot, dot – get set for your glamour shot

Since the dawn of time, people have associated the ubiquitous circle with objects of beauty, wonderment and perfection – a full moon, the human eye, the Olympic flag, the Yin and Yang symbol. Small wonder that this humble shape has inspired countless designers to create similarly timeless yet forward-thinking objects, especially in the world of haute joaillerie.

Running the gamut from rings to necklaces, Christian Dior’s new Rose Des Vents Collection is a celebration of the Normandy designer’s favourite symbol – a delicately encircled eight-point star. The Breastplaster, arguably highlighting this new collection, features a constellation of double-sided medallions.

On one side, monsieur Dior’s star (often referred to as “the traveller’s symbol”) is displayed. On the other, precious stones such as diamond, turquoise, malachite and mother-of-pearl have been carefully curated by Parisian jeweller Victoire de Castellane.

For the vivacious extrovert, Palmiero’s Bubble Collection is sure to appeal. With their bulbous and multi-faceted design, even the smallest items in the collection – such as the colourful 18-carat diamond rings – are sure to make a bold statement. Displaying shimmering and deeply saturated colours of marine and amber, the dotty designs are also spectacularly sea-inspired.

Watch lovers keen to inject a modicum of circular style into their accessories need look no further than Piaget’s new Couture Précieuse. Powered by the 56P quartz movement, this white gold wonder tells discrete time via a clean indexless dial. Where are the dots and spots? In a lattice of 176 brilliant-cut diamonds, all interlinked to form the watch’s cuff-like fastening.

Whether you prefer your circles prominently displayed or subtly referenced, the shape’s timelessness makes it suitable for any occasion.

Diamond Daze: Stunning necklace unveiled by De GRISOGONO

Italian high jewellery atelier De GRISOGONO created some serious shockwaves when they unveiled the highly anticipated “The Art of De GRISOGONO” necklace at Christie’s Hong Kong.

Set in an elegant swirl of emeralds and diamonds, the necklace’s stunning centrepiece is a staggering 163.41-carat flawless D-colour emerald-cut white diamond.

Already gargantuan in size, the stone was cut down from a mind-bogglingly large 404.20-carat rough diamond mined by Nemesis International in Angola.

De GRISOGONO founder Fawaz Gruosi snuck in a second surprise reveal – an elegant diamond-studded black bracelet into which the large gem can also be socketed.

Gruosi shared, “In my entire 40 years in this business, I even imagined that I would have the chance to hold in my hand something so beyond beauty.”

The Art of De GRISOGONO necklace and bracelet are set to tour London, Dubai and New York before heading to Christie’s Geneva in November for auction. Keep your eyes peeled, there may be some records broken that day!

Text by: Tenzing Thondup 

Glitterati spotted at dazzling exhibition by Larry Jewelry and Marvella

Asia-based jewellery maison, Larry Jewelry, and French fine jewellery and watch brand, Marvella, recently came together to host a joint exhibition in which they displayed the choicest selection from their high jewellery and watch collections.

The collections of the two houses complemented each other in a harmonious way, as both brands are united by a common thread of skilled craftsmanship and elegant designs.

While Larry Jewelry showcased its dazzling diamond collection, Marvella displayed some unique watches from its Blanc de Blanc, Jardin and other collections.

A bunch of socialites turned up at the venue to show their support for the brands. Familiar faces included Real Ting, Ruby Lam, Michelle Chua, James Shing, Kirk Yip, Amanda Lui, among others.

Poetry in Precious Stones: Palmiero’s jewellery tells a unique story

Luca Palmiero, Palmiero’s executive vice president, was recently in Hong Kong to unveil a new collection of bespoke high jewellery exclusively available at Masterpiece by King Fook. Luca talked to us about how the family-run business set up by his father, Carlo Palmiero, has now become an international brand.

Tell us about the origins of Palmiero.

Palmiero Jewellery House was started by my father in our Italian hometown of Valenza in 1979. Over the years, we have become famous for our intricately designed and handcrafted jewellery, all made exclusively in Italy.  

 How does your Italian heritage influence your work?

Firstly, our hometown of Valenza has a rich history of boutique jewellers perfecting their craft that goes back to the 19th century. By 1950, it was well recognised as Italy’s high jewellery capitol. Palmiero’s designs encapsulate this devotion to artisanal craftsmanship.

Secondly, many of our pieces are inspired from quintessentially Italian themes. My father especially loves to draw from our vibrant art history and gorgeous landscapes.

 Why has Palmiero been so successful?

We never follow current trends; we always go our own way. When you look at the market now, it is very common to find pieces that are built to highlight one central precious gem. We do exactly the opposite, focusing on making the overall design into a piece of art. 

We also stay on the cutting edge of high jewellery. My father was a pioneer in utilising multicoloured stones to enhance his designs. He started this back in the ‘80s, and was hailed a visionary.

 Since then, the use of multi-tonal gems with intricate 3D designs in a Pavé setting has become a Palmiero signature.

 What else sets Palmiero apart from other high jewellery houses?

Our brand is positioned at the very high end luxury spectrum. It’s not targeted to the mass market, but rather a niche group of discerning jewellery enthusiasts looking for unique statement pieces to punctuate their well-developed collections.

With such an exclusive clientele, do you have any competitors?

Well, currently, I don’t think we have any direct competitors in the international market. A lot of the other high-end brands create luxury jewellery but releases many pieces per design that can be found at all their boutique stores worldwide.

On the other hand, Palmiero’s clients get a sense of exclusivity because many of our pieces are one-of-a-kind. Each Palmiero piece has a unique story behind it, and is inspired from unlikely sources, be it Haiku poems about the four seasons, or a chameleon that changes colours at will. When you wear a Palmiero, you are not only wearing a piece of jewellery, but also being a part of a unique narrative. That’s what sets us apart.

Thank you.

Interview: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Text: Tenzing Thondup

L’ÉCOLE: Educating Hong Kong on the precepts of jewellery arts

Hong Kong jewellery aficionados were in for a treat as the third edition of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts returned to The Qube in PMQ last week.

The School, which is supported by luxury jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels, held a series of workshops, talks and demonstrations that explored different facets of jewellery craftsmanship.

Guests were invited to try their hand at Savoir-Faire techniques and attempt Japanese urushi lacquer classes, or attend talks on ‘The Universe of Gemstones’ and ‘Art History of Jewelry.’

A selection of photography by up-and-coming local talents was also on display. The artists were selected by a panel of industry experts as part of L’ÉCOLE’s Legacy Program.

L’ÉCOLE President Maria Vallanet-Delholm succinctly summarised the pop-up school’s objectives, saying, “The inspiration behind the founding of L’ÉCOLE was to open up the inner world of jewellery to the public, provide a form of initiation for those really interested, and to share the passion of our professors and experts.”

Eternal knot: Chaumet’s Liens collection seals the bond between lovers

 

French high jewellery maison, Chaumet, recently hosted an exclusive private event for its VIP customers at its showroom at the Elements mall. In the event, Chaumet especially displayed the Liens de Chaumet collection to the assembled audience.

Essentially a simple design, Liens de Chaumet is Chaumet’s link between an illustrious past and a fashion-forward future.
The Liens collection inherits the rich heritage of the deep love between Emperor Napoleon and Queen Josephine, a love story that has been the inspiration behind so many of Chaumet’s collections.

The four jewellery ranges within the Liens collection – Liens Séduction, Liens Évidence, Liens D’Amour, Jeux de Liens – all take off from the idea of a loosely tied knot, symbolising the eternal bond between two lovers.

Set with diamonds, in rose or white gold, the sixteen fine jewellery pieces, be it rings or bracelets or ear studs, are the perfect gifts for a loved one. There is indeed a Lien for every occasion.