Christie’s is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the history of the renowned French high jewelry Maison, Boucheron.
New York celebrates Boucheron. The historic French Maison is the focus of an event at Christie’s Galleries (20 Rockefeller Plaza). Open to the public until October 18, the exhibition is titled *Boucheron: In Focus – A Monograph of a Visionary* and is conceived as a monograph rather than a traditional chronological retrospective. Regardless, jewelry enthusiasts can explore Boucheron’s nearly 170-year history through the Maison’s high jewelry creations. Founded by Frédéric Boucheron in 1858, the Place Vendôme brand’s story is told through four thematic chapters: Nature, Architecture, Haute Couture, and Culture & Innovation.
Frédéric Boucheron was the son of a fabric merchant. As a jeweler, he brought a deep understanding of texture and movement to his creations, as well as an appreciation for nature—one of the exhibition’s chapters. Boucheron drew inspiration from flowers, leaves, and a less polished, more authentic version of the natural world. Architecture, meanwhile, links directly to Place Vendôme, where Boucheron became the first of the great contemporary jewelers to open a boutique in 1893. Innovation is another hallmark of the Maison, which has long experimented with jewelry construction techniques and—equally importantly—with how pieces adapt to the body.
Some of the pieces on display are true milestones in the history of jewelry—such as the 1889 *Point d’Interrogation* (Question Mark) necklace, featuring a flexible design that requires no clasp. Claire Choisne has reimagined the design for Boucheron’s *Histoire de Style* 2026 collection, incorporating eight diamonds of various cuts along its asymmetrical line.
The exhibition spans everything from tiaras to contemporary jewelry. The second part of *In Focus* spotlights Choisne’s latest creation: Boucheron’s *Carte Blanche* 2026 high jewelry collection, titled *Human Being*, which is making its U.S. debut at Christie’s following its initial unveiling in July. The collection takes a single, shared form and repeats it across five necklace-and-ring sets, varying materials, techniques, volume, gemstones, and the play of light from one piece to the next. In total, the exhibition brings together over 165 rare pieces that explore movement, jewelry designed to accentuate the body, and the evolution of the Maison’s iconic motifs (such as *Quatre* and *Serpent Bohème*).
