In the heat of early July, Paris unveiled the haute couture catwalk shows and new collections of fine jewellery. Among the parade of often unique jewellery glittering with incredible gems, luxury watches kept a low profile with their small quartz movement and array of tiny jewels.
The surge of images with the hashtag #coutureweek or #parishautecouture found room for bejeweled watches away from designer dresses but with the potential to match them.
A dolce vita of calm and color
Bvlgari has launched Giardini Italiani, a cuff that tells the time inspired by Italian gardens. Its usually strict symmetrical design is now wrapped in curves and its fully hinged bracelet glitters with 354 diamonds close to eight carats. 190 snow-set diamonds cover the dial and 98 pieces of hand-cut mother- of-pearl lie around sapphires and rubellites carved into a cabochon or takhti – stone cut inspired by the roofs of Indian houses. Each piece seems independent so you can imagine the painstaking chiselling and openwork on the rose gold on the other side of the piece. This cuff perfectly pairs white mother-of-pearl, pink rubellites, blue sapphires and yellow gold.
The eco-trendy in jewelry
Chopard is setting off on a new adventure to explore eco-friendly luxury putting the “ethics” into “aesthetics”. The Green Carpet collection is “Fairmined” certified, a standard which promotes economic development, environment and social conditions related to gold extracted from South American mining communities. 9 carats of marquise-cut diamonds certified by the RJC (Responsible Jewellery Council) hug the curves of the white gold dial paved in diamonds. A nod to the Palme d’Or which Chopard has been the official supplier to for 60 years. The most subtle detail is the satin strap whose diamond buckle beautifully brings to mind the famous palm.
Boucheron and India have long had a wonderful relationship. It is no surprise that the brand’s latest collection is called Bleu de Jodhpur and designed in part under the auspices of the Maharaja of the Sun City, Gaj Singh II. He is behind the use of new materials such as Makrana marble which was also used to build the Taj Mahal. 105 unique pieces glow in blue and white and bring together sand, marble and gemstones. The Indian Palace range captures the splendour and majesty of the palaces and includes a wristwatch inspired by a peacock feather. Its rounded triangular dial is dotted with snow-set diamonds and crowned by baguette-cut diamonds surrounding a rainbow of round diamonds and paved on a fan of white marble.
We know Miss Chanel’s personality well enough that you can’t imagine her covered in glittering jewellery exuding a certain power. Teeming with symbols like so often in her collections, Les Talismans de Chanel are designed to give empower and protect the wearer so they can lead from the front. The white gold Particulière watch is paved in brilliant-cut diamonds. The only watch in the latest collection blows you away it seems so mysterious. The gem- setting makes you think that the diamonds are different sizes as the optical effect draws the eye to the centre of the piece. The round links covered in diamonds intertwine and wrap the wrist with the delicacy of a simple bracelet.