Fashion Week : when Haute Joaillerie lights up Paris

January 2023 : in parallel to the fashion shows, the Haute Joaillerie Fashion Week and its procession of jewels illuminates Paris. What are the major trends of this season ?

Metamorphosis

The transformability of jewelry is a practice that dates back to the 19th century, but today it is a sign of a true jewelry modernization. If it allows to capture a European clientele more concerned with discretion and less wealthy – Covid and the absence of Chinese clientele oblige – it also opens the door to a freedom of style.

Boucheron illustrates this trend in a spectacular way. Taking up the idea of the double-clip in aquamarines and diamonds, made by its workshops and given to Princess Elizabeth in 1944, the House orchestrates six series of transformable jewelry. The shades of the precious stones are as bright and cheerful as the clothes that Her Majesty loved. The necklaces can be transformed into clips to adorn a collar, a jacket or an ear (3 clips in acidic tones). A double diamond motif attached to a lush leather ribbon necklace becomes a bracelet or barrette. Magnetic. The communication is up to the task : a parade of jewelry on photogenic models and pieces photographed on acidic backgrounds have electrified Instagram.

Boucheron Moon White necklace in white gold, Akoya cultured pearls, double white gold clip and diamonds

De Beers also contributes its stone with the Metamorphosis collection, where a ring abandons its precious setting to become a solitaire. Elsewhere, the central part of a sunburst necklace – white, brown and yellow diamonds – set with a superb Fancy Light Yellow pear-shaped diamond weighing more than 10 carats, is detached to become a brooch.

De Beers, central motif of the Prelude detachable brooch necklace in white, rose and yellow gold, pear-cut Fancy Light Yellow diamond (approx. 10.05 carats), white, brown and yellow diamonds (total weight 32.67 carats)

Metaphor

For its part, Cartier does not celebrate metamorphosis but rather metaphor via the third chapter of Beautés du Monde. The perfect arrangement of a bird’s feathers, the graceful movement of a fighting fish’s fins (Splendens necklace), the abstraction of a traditional Japanese motif (Obi necklace), Art Deco graphics, the fluidity of a wearer, the interplay of strong stones in saturated tones or more transparent ones (Lonid bracelet) : Cartier observes and reinvents the richness of nature and the arts to remind us that we must open our eyes and senses to the beauties that surround us.

Cartier Splendens necklace in white gold, spinels and diamonds

In the short sequence of Chapter III of the Solstice collection (only 4 pieces), Piaget also pursues its own metaphor of nature. Adorned with two magnificent aquamarines of 21.43 and 6.46 carats, a diamond bird (501 diamonds) takes flight. Its signature is lightness and refinement.

Piaget Solstice Exalting Dance necklace in white gold, two aquamarines of 21.43 and 6.46 carats, diamonds

Legendary Stones

The celebration of gemstones can be found in all the great jewelers’ pieces, but this February will have been marked by the 35 pink diamonds acquired by Tiffany from the now closed Argyle mine. Argyle was famous for the beauty of its stones with rare shades. Tiffany’s next high jewelry pieces will gradually reveal them to the public…and especially to collectors who are already scrutinizing these treasures of nature. Chopard presented incredible gems set against a garden of roses. Colored diamonds, rubies, sapphires (a pair of oval-cut Ceylon yellow sapphires weighing 151.19 and 127.70 carats respectively) and tourmalines (including rare Paraíba), as well as emeralds from an exceptional rough, the Chopard Insofu (6,225 carats), will soon sublimate the House’s high jewelry creations.

Chopard’s precious stones. In the center, two exceptional oval yellow sapphires of 151.19 and 127.70 carats

Craftsmanship

Finally, Dior and Chanel are inspired by the theme of Couture. Through the 77 pieces of Dearest Dior, Victoire de Castellane continues to write the jewelry lexicon of the House with a new interpretation of the subtlety of lace. Stitched diamonds, scattered flowers, tassels and sequins adorn the fragile delicacy of ethereal pieces. Chanel focuses on the craft of dressmaking with the 5 sublime Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles jewelry watches. On oversized watches (the pique-aiguilles is that big cushiony bracelet on which the seamstress pricks her needles), the five inspirations of the collection – quilted bag, tweed jacket, diamond embroidery, jewels and camellia lace – reflect Chanel’s excellence in the craftsmanship. On the camellia lace model, illuminated with pearls and diamonds, the dial is engraved by hand, covered with translucent grand-feu enamel and then the motif is applied using the decal technique.

Dior Joaillerie Dearest Dior necklace in yellow gold, diamonds and pink sapphires

Chanel Joaillerie Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles Dentelles watch in yellow gold, grand feu enamel dial, cultured pearls and diamonds

Jewelry Fashion Week is a dazzling event in the capital and a fascinating expression of the Houses’ storytelling. See you in July for the next installment.

isabelle hossenlopp

[EN]ISABELLE HOSSENLOPP IS A JOURNALIST SPECIALISING IN JEWELLERY. A GRADUATE OF SCIENCES PO PARIS, SHE HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LUXURY GOODS INDUSTRY, INCLUDING 11 YEARS IN MARKETING AND EDITORIAL MANAGEMENT AT CHANEL. IN ADDITION TO HER WORK AS A JOURNALIST, SHE IS A CONSULTANT IN EDITORIAL CONTENT AND STORYTELLING AND WORKS FOR PRESTIGIOUS BRANDS AS WELL AS FOR YOUNG START-UPS LOOKING FOR A STORY OR FOREIGN BRANDS THINKING ABOUT INTERCULTURAL ADAPTATION. HIS COMMON THREAD? A STORYTELLING MUST AROUSE EMOTION AND IMAGINATION WHILE PROVIDING INFORMATION. IT MUST BE AUTHENTIC, CREDIBLE AND VERIFIABLE. THANKS TO HER JEWELLERY EXPERTISE, SHE IS REGULARLY CONSULTED FOR SECTOR STUDIES AND TEACHES BRAND CONTENT AND STORYTELLING IN MBA AND MASTER'S COURSES IN LUXURY GOODS IN PARIS, SHANGHAI AND GENEVA.***** [FR]Isabelle Hossenlopp est journaliste spécialisée en joaillerie. Diplômée de Sciences Po Paris, elle a plus de 30 ans d’expérience dans le luxe dont 11 années passées chez Chanel au marketing et en direction éditoriale. Au-delà de son travail de journaliste, elle est Conseil en contenu éditorial et storytelling et travaille aussi bien pour des Maisons prestigieuses que pour de jeunes start ups à la recherche d’une histoire ou des marques étrangères qui réfléchissent à une adaptation interculturelle. Son fil rouge ? Un storytelling doit susciter l’émotion, l’imagination tout en donnant de l’information. Il doit être authentique, crédible et vérifiable. Grâce à son expertise joaillière, elle est régulièrement consultée pour des études sectorielles et enseigne le contenu de marque et le storytelling en MBA et Master luxe à Paris, Shanghaï et Genève.