One of the icons of watchmaking and, at the same time, of jewelery of the Seventies returns: Piaget Polo 79 returns to the purest expression of the original design, with a few almost imperceptible updates. On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, Piaget presents the watch updated to current tastes. For example, the quartz caliber has been abandoned in favor of the ultra-thin in-house self-winding 1200P1 caliber, which can be viewed through the sapphire crystal case back of a slightly larger case (38 millimeters).
However, the appearance of the timepiece entirely in 18-karat gold remains unchanged. And it is a piece that marked an era and is still admired and sought after today. As the model name indicates, it was launched in 1979 under the name Piaget Polo. Piaget already had an established reputation for elegant watches, but the lifestyles of its customers were changing. «We had to satisfy this new demand from our customers, who are used to buying only elegant watches», explained Yves Piaget at the time . «Now, however, they dedicate more and more time to sport. It is a change that is part of the contemporary lifestyle. Our customers want to be refined and wear a nice watch even during physical activity. And so we created this sports line, which is waterproof and shock-resistant».
The name Piaget Polo also refers to an elite sport (Yves Piaget, well-known horse riding enthusiast), in line with the lifestyle of its customers. Piaget Polo also had the merit of combining the sporting vocation with the luxury of a watch-bracelet entirely in gold. The motif is characterized by the alternation of shiny links with a gadroon motif and brushed links, which distinguishes not only the bracelet, but also the case and even the dial. The bracelet wraps around your wrist like a second skin and can appear to be sculpted from a single piece of gold. Shock-resistant, waterproof, the timepiece was advertised as “the ultimate sports watch”. Over time the watch has seen various versions: the thinnest quartz movement in the world of the first examples was followed by the thinnest 8P, only 1.95 mm thick, or the famous 9P mechanical caliber. The shape has also multiplied in a series of variations, with a round dial, a square one, with set stones, in two-tone gold, with only time indications, with a perpetual calendar and even with a leather strap. Today the best known and most appreciated version returns.
Adjustable necklaces
Adjustable necklaces, necklaces with a knot, necklaces with the string: this is why to choose this type of jewel ♦
Almost always long and thin, sometimes very precious, necklaces of this type are back in fashion. But, in reality, has it ever been forgotten? In any case, it is good news for those who love sexy jewelry, as its shape highlights the contour of the body with a drape delicately resting on the décolleté. Adjustable necklaces have an obvious advantage: they adapt to the surface and size of the wearer’s body. Not only. An adjustable necklace also changes shape and can be worn in different ways depending on the clothing and circumstance.
Also read: how to choose the necklace
Of course, it depends on how it is worn because originally they were nothing more than a long thread of gold or pearls, more or less thick and broad, without any closure, to be turned several times around the neck, or to be knotted simply or with an adjustable clip to be placed at a strategic point. Like the vintage Cartier jewel, dated 1965, made with flat round links and a drop-shaped clasp, or the long double string of Chanel eighties beads.
You need to be careful when choosing the adjustable necklace. At the time of purchase it is best to check whether the mechanism that allows you to vary the length of the necklace is really efficient and, above all, does not appear to be too delicate: it would be disappointing to have to take the necklace to the jeweler to have the locking system repaired.
Another important aspect is to use the adjustable necklace appropriately. A jewel of this type is interesting precisely because it adapts to the body and dress, but before choosing the length of the necklace, do several tests in front of the mirror, to establish what the right size really is: after all, you have chosen a jewel of this type precisely because of this.
The models of the past perfectly coexist next to the new millennium versions with revisited iconic logos and motifs, while one of the most luxurious places belongs to Bulgari with its famous snake in diamonds, turquoise emeralds, presented at the 2012 Biennale of Antiquarians. , shows how this type of necklace has never completely disappeared, but certainly now, especially overseas, it is a must have. Here is a selection of the most interesting pieces.
Piaget luxury returns with Limelight Gala
A great classic of haute horlogerie returns, a small jewel that also marks the hours: Piaget Limelight Gala. Piaget also defines this model as more of a jewel than a watch. Launched in 1969, the 21st Century Collection is a historic collection. According to enthusiasts, it marked the convergence between watchmaking and jewelry, thanks to the development of the 9P in 1957, a hand-wound mechanical movement just 2 millimeters thick. The dials of wristwatches and Swinging Sautoirs were covered with brightly colored ornamental stones (malachite, opal, lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye) and paired with textured solid gold bracelets. In 1973, just four years after the iconic 21st Century Collection, Piaget gave shape to the collection that would later become the Limelight Gala.
The watch is recognizable by its generous curves and asymmetrical bezel lugs, set with precious stones, with one side extending upwards and the other downwards. The name Limelight Gala, however, dates back to its debut in 1973. The collection was given this name only retrospectively, given its extraordinary history. From the moment it was created, the watch has been seen worn at receptions, parties, balls, dinners and galas on the wrists of famous women and men, such as Cary Grant, Sammy Davis Jr., Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Ursula Andress and Andy Warhol.
Limelight Gala still retains its charm even in 2023. It is made with gold threads woven into a Milanese mesh, ensuring a smooth finish and second-skin feel. It is sculpted, sometimes like a chain, sometimes like the finest flowing fabric. There’s still an explosion of color on the dial, while the bezel is generously wrapped in perfectly matched stones. Malachite, lapis lazuli, or kaleidoscopic opal are finished with white diamonds. Enamel and sapphires shine in shades of blue and green. The fantasy of the design also emerges in the double rows of stones in a scale of rainbow shades or adorned with flamboyant marquise-cut diamonds.
Piaget high jewelery with Metaphoria
Piaget’s new high jewelery collection tells something in different words. The collection is called Metaphoria. And if a metaphor is a word or definition used to express something other than the literal sense, likewise Metaphoria dips its pen in this ancient art of expression. A metaphor used by Metaphoria? Here it is: the collection is made up of rivers of precious stones. A pure metaphor (precious stones are not liquid, but the comparison works). Alongside this dialectical game there is, of course, fine jewelry, which is the result of the industrious Genevan craftsmanship.
The collection consists of 52 pieces, entirely made in the Maison’s ateliers and presented in Florence, in the Renaissance villa with Italian garden (today a hotel) Il Salviatino, on the hills of Fiesole, just outside Florence. Also a metaphor of architectural meanings. Now the collection.
In 1969, Yves Piaget presented its 21st Century Collection, with jewel-watches of very unusual shapes and with ornamental stones set in their dials, as well as engraved gold sautoirs and bracelet watches. Collection which, according to the Maison, laid the foundations for Piaget’s unmistakable style. Metaphoria is 2023 a reworking of that 21st Century Collection. It is divided into 41 jewels and 11 watches, in two chapters, Azureia and Beautanica. Names that evoke an equally metaphorical nature.
Experimentation, innovation and cheerfulness are part of the Maison’s DNA. Since the 1960s, Piaget has dared to introduce coral, turquoise and lapis lazuli into watchmaking and unique jewellery. This desire to use unexpected materials in pieces created to high jewelery standards is still at the core of our identity.
Benjamin Comar, CEO of Piaget
Mineralis
The highlight of the collection is the Mineralis set. It is made up of jewels which, again using a metaphor, seem to have come out of the waters of a mountain river. An asymmetrical necklace is made with diamonds, sapphires, aquamarine and rock crystal. Piaget jewelers combine the transparency of rock crystal (representing the brilliance that lines the edges of rivers), with intensely blue sapphires, whose inverted settings give the piece an ultra-modern look. A 13.25-carat lagoon-blue cushion-cut aquamarine sparkles at the center. The piece is paired with earrings and rings, one of which is set with a 4.1 carat Sri Lankan sapphire.
Our goal was to emphasize details that bring to mind natural phenomena, such as the flow of a waterfall or the sun’s rays, while at the same time arousing a particular emotion. The materials we use, from the insect elytra to the precious wood, have been selected to give an unpredictable and alive element to a 21st century piece of fine jewelry.
Stéphanie Sivrière, creative director of Piaget
Aqua Summa
With the Aqua Summa set, the Maison intends to convey a vision of frost and ice with the unusual combination of aquamarine with Akoya pearls and diamonds. The collar necklace, fully articulated with an invisible closure, features pear-shaped cerulean aquamarines, the largest of which weighs over 4 carats. The piece can be paired with earrings and an exquisite cocktail ring, the white gold body of which is paved with a frost of shimmering diamonds and set with a 12.48-carat cushion-cut aquamarine.
Alata
With the Alata set, Piaget transforms leaves into gold, mother-of-pearl and diamonds on rich and unstructured pieces, in the shape of a necklace, earrings and a watch. A gold and titanium earcuff has gold leaves engraved with the Decor Palace pattern, golden mother of pearl, white gold flecks and diamonds come together to dress the outer edge of the ear in a spectacular piece. Piaget jewelers have also created an engagement ring. On this piece, the center of the leaf is accented with a 2.23 carat pear shaped diamond. The set is completed by a cuff watch, the body of which is embellished with an inlay of mother-of-pearl and engraved gold, mixed with marquise-cut diamonds. A piece that demonstrates Piaget’s perfect mastery even in the smallest details.
Terrae
The Terrae parure has a bold design, inspired by the colors of the forest. The brown of tiger’s eye and rutilated quartz is used together with the green of tourmaline. The pair is accented with vertical rows of square tourmaline beads and features a cushion-cut tourmaline weighing approximately 16 carats at its center. A ring, bracelet and earrings complete the set.
Essentia
Goldsmith skill is at the heart of Essentia, which includes jewels in rose gold and diamonds, defined by natural lines. An iconic piece of this set, the flat-knit necklace is made up of oversized links, whose irregular shapes recall those of driftwood found on the beach. Earrings and wristwatch complete the set.
Adrivea
Following the tradition of secret high jewelery watches, the Maison now unveils one of its greatest signature pieces, Adrivea, a ring that tells the time. Beneath a 10.88-carat aquamarine cabochon, its dial sparkles with diamonds, joined by waves of lustrous stones and blue sapphires that adorn the setting of this oversized piece.
Foliatura
Another unique piece is Foliatura, a jewel-watch set with a magnificent cushion-cut Colombian emerald weighing 6.59 carats. Its white gold body reveals incredible craftsmanship, fusing stylized chrysoprase leaves and intertwined diamonds on a background of engraved gold Decor Palace. Ingeniously positioned at the bottom of the strap, the face of the watch allows the wearer to discreetly read the time.
Watches
Alitura features a mosaic dial composed of ornamental stones, reminiscent of the precious damask fabric. The dial of the Undulata watch, on the other hand, was created by the Parisian inlay specialist Rose Saneuil. The dial is iridescent green, with an inlay of straw, wood, leather, parchment and elytra, and houses an ultra-thin tourbillon, caliber 670P, all made entirely by Piaget. It is surrounded by two circles of baguette and brilliant cut diamonds. Last, but not least, Piaget watchmakers present an ultra-jewellery version of the famous cushion-shaped Black Tie watch, made famous by one of the Piaget Society’s most loyal customers, Andy Warhol. The piece combines a petrified wood dial with a baguette-cut emerald bezel and hour markers. It is a one-of-a-kind piece powered by the Manufacture’s ultra-thin mechanical caliber 534P.
The new refined Possession by Piaget
The possession of a jewel can be intoxicating, as well as the possession of a feeling. And it is no coincidence that Piaget’s Possession jewelry line has become a flagship of the Swiss brand. For 2023 he presented a new interpretation of his iconic collection, embellished with the Décor Palace style used for his most precious jewels. Let us immediately explain what it is: in the 1960s Piaget introduced Décor Palace into its collections, a gold engraving technique that gives body and consistency to gold. This process, which is inspired by the guillochage of watch dials, both in substance and in execution, makes the jewel visible even in semi-darkness. A refined technique, which now also arrives in the probably most purchased collection, Possession.
The Décor Palace is used with a new bracelet inspired by the nineties, with the pavé stones, setting of the central diamond, the gadroon (wave) motif on the outside of the setting and the mobility of the ring. A way to return to the stylistic roots of the Maison.
One of the features of Possession is the washer that can be spun on itself. Even the ring, once worn on the fingers, can rotate adding a playful note to luxury.
The new Possessions are available in rose gold or white gold, in different sizes and settings, with the aforementioned variants of the Décor Palace workmanship. The jewels also feature the frame called Possession, which seems to stop the central diamond between two brackets engraved in gold. The model with a row of pavé diamonds resting on the Décor Palace ring, with a diamond set in the centre, contrasts with the version with a double row of pavé diamonds of two different diameters, themselves surrounded by the Décor Palace.
The rigid bracelet is available in three versions: two models in gold set with a diamond or with two rows of pavé diamonds either side of the central motif. The bracelet features the Palace Décor, a tiny central rotating ring, and the Possession-set diamond at its center. Piaget designers have also studied an opening system that is as discreet as possible, with a small trigger clip, invisible but playful, placed inside the bracelet.
The new Possessions are also the result of the work of the CEO of the Maison, Benjamin Comar Piaget, who arrived a couple of days ago and who has worked on the reorganization of the integrated manufacturing located in Plan-Les-Ouates, on the outskirts of Geneva, with the aim of improve productivity and give a prominent place to jewelry.
Spectacular winter solstice with Piaget
The solstice is, in astronomy, the moment when the Earth reaches the point of maximum or minimum declination with respect to the Sun. In the course of a year the solstice occurs twice: when the Sun reaches the maximum value of positive declination in June and marks the onset of the northern summer or southern winter, and negative in December. Coinciding with this phenomenon, 2022 also exceptionally recorded Piaget‘s Solstice. And of course this high jewelery series is presented to coincide with the astronomical solstice.
A portion of jewels was in fact shown in June (see also: Piaget celebrates a luxurious Solstice) while the second tranche arrived in December. These are sumptuous jewels, which celebrate the solstice with the launch of the luminous reflections of the gems, with marquise-cut diamonds combined with others in the shape of a brilliant or baguette. The collection also includes two watch-bracelets, high jewelery also capable of marking time and surprising thanks to two ruby red gems floating in a sea of diamonds. Piaget’s gemology team devoted months of research to craft the Blazing Swing and Everlasting Night watches using diamonds contrasted with red rubies, blue sapphires or emeralds, while their respective dials were set with snow and black opal. The Exalting Dance articulated necklace, on the other hand, is arranged around a pair of deep blue aquamarines and a swirling swirl of diamonds that offer a spectacular glow.
The Solstice line also includes the diamond earrings from the Exalting Dance set, made with an intricate puzzle of brilliant, marquise and baguette cut diamonds. They are a special piece not only for their elaborate design, but also because they bear witness to the refined craftsmanship of the Piaget workshops.
In a period that, due to the energy crisis, considers light a luxury, Piaget takes care of illuminating the hands and faces of women. At least what the jewels of the Sunlight Radiant Infinity capsule collection will be able to wear, together with the Limelight Gala watch. Light, in fact, has been the leitmotif of the Swiss Maison’s high jewelery collections for years. Rays, reflections, sunsets and sunrises have been interpreted differently by Piaget’s collections. The new creations focus a lot on the design that is inspired by the sun, but in a non-trivial way: the asymmetrical lines of the jewels indicate a careful study and, above all, the usual mastery of goldsmiths in the realization.
Earrings, rings, pendant and bracelet symbolize the rays of the star and also communicate a virtual solar luminosity. The jewels combine glossy surfaces or surfaces decorated with the Décor Palace processing, that is, with a special burin engraving on the metal. Created in 1961 and Piaget’s hallmark ever since, the Décor Palace decoration has become a hallmark of the Maison. The Décor Palace motif was inspired by the jet set and the glamor of the women who frequented the Gstaad Palace hotel, where Piaget’s legendary dance nights were held.
Gold worked with this technique offers a double sensation: visual, because it makes the jewels the result of craftsmanship immediately perceptible, but also tactile, because the scratched surfaces are immediately identified when in contact with the skin. The Limelight Gala watch has a pure mother-of-pearl dial, adorned with indices with diamonds alternating with Roman numerals in rose gold: 42 brilliant-cut diamonds adorn the rose gold case, set with the elaborate serti descendu technique.
Piaget is still betting on Possession
Possession is the name of a historic Piaget collection. The Swiss Maison, which is part of the Richemont group, has always focused on this series of jewels, which have a different design than usual, with a movable, rotating part. The jewels thus also become a pastime, to play with rings or pendants. The technique that allows the moving part is refined, the result of Piaget’s experience in the field of watchmaking. This format, in particular as regards the rings, has been repeated over the years with different variations capable of renewing without affecting the Possession style.
The new rings, pendants and bracelets are made of pink or white gold with small diamonds to emphasize the geometry and volumes of the jewel, with the characteristic Décor Palace workmanship. And, of course, the rotating element is not missing. The collection also includes the ultra-thin Altiplano watch, the classic Piaget Polo timepiece. Possession jewels are now also at the center of a new communication campaign.
In times when sustainability has an increasingly important value, and in which light becomes a precious tool for generating energy, Piaget is on the right wavelength. Okay, that of the Swiss Maison is a poetic interpretation of light, which is reflected in its high jewelry. But the fact is that for years Piaget has been offering collections all inspired by the sun and light. After Sunlight, Sunlight Escape Sunlight Journey and Wings of Lights, presented in previous years for 2022, here comes Solstice, which celebrates the longest day of the year, obviously presented on 21 June.
Also in this collection, the super jewels composed of super precious stones are made with the idea of enhancing the reflections at different times of the day, such as dusk. A subject that, as in romantic poetry, triggers fantasies, sensations and images. And, above all, the Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire, the workshop of Piaget’s goldsmiths, uses special stones: blue and pink sapphires from Sri Lanka and Madagascar, Australian black opals, unique Zambian emeralds.
As for the Voluptuous Ribbon and Generous Laces parure, inspired by Haute Couture dresses, with a design that reproduces the delicate asymmetry of elegant fabric ribbons. But here it is white gold, with delicate pavé diamonds and with the addition of pink sapphires to give the idea of a soft movement.
The articulated Precious Adornment necklace, from which hangs a 9.21 carat Zambian emerald, takes on a more regular geometry. The winning idea of the jewel is the possibility of breaking it down in three different ways, to use it with or without the pendant emerald.
As always, Piaget high jewelery also includes haute horlogerie: they are unique pieces that, needless to say, are more ornaments than accessories so as not to be late for an appointment. The proposed bracelet-watch is called Extravagant Touch and is really unusual. It is made with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and feathers that come off and can be worn as earrings. Have you ever seen one like it? The collection also includes Dazzling Swirl, a special piece of watchmaking, with a flying tourbillon movement and embellished with a design that recalls the twirl of a sumptuous dress.
Another excellent piece of the collection can also be dismantled: the Flamboyant Nightfall necklace. Also in this case there is a pendant, made up of diamonds and a Sri Lankan sapphire of over 15 carats. And this pendant can be detached from the necklace to be attached to a ring.
The jewels of the Cannes Festival 2022
Films, plots, interpretations. But also many jewels: as always, the Cannes Film Festival reserves a spectacle in the show, that of dresses combined with necklaces, earrings and rings of high jewelery. On these occasions there are Maison more active than others, such as the Parisian Messika. With the jewels designed by Valérie Messika, the model Lori Harvey was on the show, wearing the High Jewelry Shards Of Mirror necklace combined with the Illusionistes diamond clips. And on her hands the two-fingered Danseurs Aériens ring and an iconic Toi & Moi ring. In Messika also the former Miss Universe and actress, Urvashi Rautela, with Exotic Charms earrings, ring and bracelet from the Messika by Kate Moss High Jewelry collection.
Also with Messika jewels also the French actress Anne Parillaud, with the Desert Bloom earrings, from the Born To Be Wild High Jewelry collection, the Lebanese Alice Abdel Aziz, with the Diamond Catcher earrings and the Desert Bloom ring, from the Born To Be collection Wild High Jewelry and the Italian actress Margherita Buy, with the Move 10 necklace for the premiere of her film. Finally, the French actress Luana Bajrami wore the Desert Bloom necklaces combined with the Toi & Moi My Twin ring.
Messika should be mentioned first because it is the Maison most massively present at the Festival. Suffice it to say that a small army of celebrities showed up under the French brand’s banner in Cannes. Like the German model Toni Garrn, with her husband Alex Pettyfer, with earrings and ring by Twisted Wave, Rockefeller Double ring mixed with the famous Toi & Moi High Jewelry ring. Another model, Josephine Skriver, chose the brand’s iconic Zelda choker, combined with the Illusionistes asymmetrical earrings and the Concorde ring and the Twin Souls double ring. The supermodel Jasmine Tookes walked the runway with the Messika High Jewelry Magnetic Love single earring on one side and the Equilibristes earring on the other, paired with the Equilibristes ring and the Danseurs Aériens rings for her red carpet moment. Again: also from Messika the French TV and radio host Laurie Cholewa with My Twin Spiral. And Eva Longoria showed up with several Messika rings: Released Sun, the Independant Icon ring, the My Twin ring and the iconic Glam’Azone double ring for the Global Gift Gala.
Another Maison present in Cannes is Piaget. Katherine Langfrod and Forest Whitaker presented themselves with the creations of the Swiss Maison. The actress chose a high jewelery necklace from the Limelight Sunny Side collection in white gold, a large cushion-cut emerald of 12.20 carats and diamonds. In addition, she chose ring and earrings in white gold and diamonds. Forest Whitaker, actor and producer, opted for a refined Piaget Polo Emperador Tourbillon Watch.
The Italian Maison Damiani chose the Paralympic athlete Bebe Vio, present in Cannes as L’Oreal Paris ambassador, to wear the Mimosa collection earrings in white gold, with white and black diamonds and Damiani classic tennis shoes in white gold.
The American actress Chelsea Harris, on the other hand, chose to wear Pianegonda’s Tecum collection for the screening of her latest film Top Gun: Maverick. Chelsea is known for her roles in hit TV series such as Designated Survivor, Snowpiercer and Start Trek.
Also in Cannes, Chopard presented its Red Carpet collection of high jewelery, which we talked about here.
New Possessions to own: Piaget renews and expands one of the longest-lived collections: it was born, in fact, in 1990 and hasn’t stopped rotating since then. In the true sense of the term: the collection was born starting from a ring composed with opposing elements that can rotate. An idea, that of rotating a part of the ring, which turns into a sort of relaxing gesture. The Possession collection, over the years, has been enriched with new pieces, variants, which have also embraced bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
32 years after the debut, the novelties are not yet finished: Piaget has developed a new series of jewels destined, in particular but not only, to a young audience. Long or short necklaces because they are adjustable, precious stones with clear colors and matched with diamonds, such as sapphires, emeralds and rubies (selected according to Piaget’s rigorous standards) and new earrings in different versions, with one or three circles. All the earrings will be on sale individually, to facilitate the choice of different combinations.
Oscar jewels
This year the controversy following the now famous slap shot by Will Smith also shone on stage. But, as always, his eyes were focused above all on clothing and jewelry. The large, sparkling necklaces, earrings and rings that cost figures with many zeros have had moments of glory. Here is a selection of the jewels of the 2022 Oscars.
Mila Kunis, Demi Singleton and Naomi Scott appeared under the banner of Parisian Messika. Mila Kunis, presenter at the Oscars ceremony, with Diamond Catcher High Jewelry earrings combined with the Messika by Kate Moss Twisted Wave bracelet and the Desert Bloom ring. Demi Singleton with Move 10th earrings, together with My Twin rings and the Glam’Azone double ring. Naomi Scott with a purple hat with the Messika three finger ring by Kate Moss High Jewelry Color Play in white mother of pearl, mixed with the famous double ring Glam’Azone.
Lily James and Sofia Carson, on the other hand, opted for the Swiss Piaget. Lily James with a Piaget white gold diamond necklace, paired with brilliant cut diamond earrings, finished with a pink tourmaline ring. American actress and singer Sofia Carson with a high-quality white gold bracelet and ring paired with yellow gold earrings with diamonds.
Long list of actresses bejeweled by Tiffany, but unfortunately does not provide images: for example, model Hailey Bieber, SAG, Critics’ Choice and Golden Globe award-winning actress Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as Lady Gaga with necklace and earrings in platinum and diamonds.
LaTanya Richardson chose Fawaz Gruosi instead, with Amber earrings in pink gold with white diamonds, an Amber bracelet with amethysts, green jade and black ceramic and an Amber ring in pink gold with a blue sapphire. The same collection also chosen by Pauletta Washington, wife of the best actor candidate Denzel Washington, who chose to wear the Amber earrings in rose gold with cabochon amber, brown diamonds and tsavorites. Gruosi is a longtime friend of the couple, s he said he was happy that Pauletta is a fan of his new inspiration, amber.
It should be added that the jewels shone even after the Oscars ceremony, as evidenced by the long list of stars who chose Messika: Dakota Johnson at the Vanity Fair after party was with a Spirited Wind bracelet, from the Messika by Kate Moss High Jewelry collection, Gabrielle Union with the Exotic Charm earrings and ring from the Messika by Kate Moss collection, combined with the Toi & Moi ring of 7 and 17 carat pear diamonds, Kate Hudson with the Kashmir earrings from the Once Upon a Time High Jewelry collection and the Liberated Spirit ring, Camila Mendes with a majestic Shards of Mirrors high jewelery necklace combined with the Glam’Azone double ring. Again: Lili Reinhart wore the Magnetic Love earring and ring from the Magnetic Attraction High Jewelry collection and Naomi Scott the High Jewelry Dance in the Moonlight necklace, combined with the exclusive 16-carat diamond Concorde ring.
The jewelers that close in Russia
The real drama is that of human lives lost in vain, of overwhelmed lives, of lives that will never be the same. But the war in Ukraine also causes a smaller, much smaller, but not irrelevant, drama related to jobs, in the West and in Russia, which will be lost to a stupid aggression. Both Russians and Westerners are dealing with the inevitable sanctions announced in time, before the invasion, which will have an impact on the accounts of companies, for example those of jewelry, as well as on the people who work there. The collapse of the ruble and the blocking of the credit card service, in fact, led many jewelry companies to suspend their business. Maybe they will close completely or reopen, if it all ends, but who knows when.
At the time of writing this short article, the last Western brand to close the boutique in Moscow was Swarovski, while Tiffany was among the first to lower the shutter, along with Vuitton. Others have already done so, others will follow. The list of Western Maisons that have opened a boutique in Moscow, St. Petersburg or other Russian cities is long. In Moscow, for example, they have a boutique Chopard, Van Cleef & Arpels, Akillis, Piaget, De Beers, H. Stern, Stephen Webster, Carrera y Carrera, Mauboussin, Mont-Blanc, Dior, Chaumet, Pandora, Frey Wille, Cartier , Trollbeads, Vuitton, Thomas Sabo, Bulgari, Pomellato, Adamas, Damiani, Buccellati. Other brands, such as Pasquale Bruni or Alcozer, are distributed in non-owned jewelers, or in airport duty free shops.
According to an analysis concerning Italian jewelery conducted by ICE (the state body for exports) in general, the Russian buyer is oriented towards medium or medium-high level jewelery. Also according to the analysis, the daily use of rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, especially in the capital and large cities, is now seen as a form of accessory to one’s image, not necessarily combined with luxury clothing or for events special. The favorite items of Russian women are rings, chains and earrings; men prefer chains and bracelets, while brooches and necklaces are bought by a minority of the female population, while typically male jewelry such as cufflinks and tie pins are in low demand. In recent years, however, silver jewelery has been more successful than gold, due to the unfavorable ruble-euro exchange rate. Italy (2019 data) exports about 77 million jewels to Russia, about 22 million France, the United States 21 million and the United Kingdom 23 million. However, the one who exports the most to Russia is China with over 88 million.
Piaget ready for the Oscar with The 355
An international intrigue spiced up with espionage, technology and thrilling. And with performers such as Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, Penélope Cruz, Lin Mi Sheng. And Piaget. The 355 is an Oscar-nominated film that sees the Swiss jewelery and watch house as a production partner. In the film, in fact, you can admire pieces from collections such as Altiplano and Possession, as well as high jewelery creations. Each piece was carefully selected by the film’s costume designer, Stephanie Collie, to be in perfect harmony with each character.
The partnership between Piaget and Hollywood is part of the history of the jewelry brand. In the 1960s, when Yves Piaget graduated from the Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles, he had a preview of Hollywood glamor and style. When he returned to the family business in Switzerland, Yves Piaget understood that the creativity and distinctive look of the Maison would fit perfectly into the world of movie and entertainment stars and that one day they would make a name for themselves on the red carpet. Yves Piaget, a friend of the singer and actor Maurice Chevalier, thus approached the world of music and cinema in Europe and the United States. Piaget jewelry and watches have been worn by stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Junior, Cary Grant and Roger Moore. Piaget jewelry has been the protagonist of films such as Miss Sloane, whose protagonist and testimonial of the brand, Jessica Chastain, has collaborated closely with Piaget since 2015. A relationship that continues now with The 355.
New roses for Piaget
A new variety of roses inspired by La Côte-aux-Fées, Switzerland, birthplace of Yves Piaget, fourth generation of the family that gave the Maison its name. In 2012 the Maison presented the Piaget Rose jewelry collection. Collection that has become one of the most requested and which is periodically enriched with new pieces. The earrings in rose and white gold and the ring that are added to the collection are enriched with small diamonds that look like drops of dew on the surface. And the inspiration from the roses on these jewels is even more evident.
Read also: Piaget makes roses bloom
The Swiss Maison of the Richemont group is closely linked to the romantic flower par excellence. Yves Piaget, is a fan of roses, so much so that there is also a variety of rose that has his name, the Piaget Rose, with 80 layers of petals. Not only that: this rose gave birth to the Monaco International Rose Competition, a competition between fans of this flower, which each year awards a trophy donated by the Maison Piaget: the trophy, of course, is a golden rose with a diamond, and can be worn like a jewel. But not only.
Light, sun, dusk, dawn: Piaget regularly offers extraordinary collections of high jewelery inspired by romantic, fantastic and, above all, luminous atmospheres. The story of 2021 told by the Swiss Maison is entitled Extraordinary Lights and continues the path traced in previous years. The level of excellence remains as high as possible and manages to combine creative originality with luxury, with the ability to create jewelry together with the choice of particularly precious stones. The collection is divided into chapters, which resemble the different atmospheres that condition emotions. The first is called Festive Lights and is reminiscent of the glows that accompany special days. The second, Magical Lights, refers to the sunrise, while the third chapter Infinite Lights is a combination of dazzling brightness. The collection also includes high watchmaking proposals, which made Piaget famous, capable of combining technical efficiency with goldsmith skills.
Festive Lights
After a year lived dangerously (and in forced isolation), the desire for celebration is stronger than ever. The chapter is divided, in turn, into two creative lines. The first, Blissful Lights, includes jewels with combinations of white and yellow diamonds, among the rarest fancy shades, especially in the case of very pure crystals of large dimensions and without fluorescence. The chances of being classified as intense, Piaget recalls, are even more remote. The necklace’s intense yellow diamond of 10.12 carats, whose qualities are enhanced by the radiant cut chosen specifically for this gem, is an excellent example.
Combining the brilliance of a round cut with the angular purity of an emerald cut, the radiant shape allows the diamond to absorb and thus reflect a large amount of light, offering the best luster and creating the brightest of gleams. In a unique design, conceived for the first time by the Piaget Atelier and which required the artisans more than a year of work for the conception and development and another 280 hours for the realization, this precious diamond is also removable: it can in fact be transformed into a ring by attaching it to a special frame using an invisible device, in which every detail has been conceived and created with great ingenuity and which allows the necklace to be worn in different ways. A creative approach that fits perfectly into Valentin Piaget’s motto and echoes the desire to keep innovation at the heart of the creation of each jewel.
The Blissful Lights earrings and ring also feature intense yellow radiant cut diamonds making this exceptional suite of gems nearly impossible to replicate or match. The central diamond setting in the Blissful Lights ring has a minimal design that allows light to penetrate and show the gem’s quality and beauty in an outward projection that results in an explosion of brilliance.
The second line, Blazing Night, includes a necklace with 12 magnificent rubies from Mozambique and Thailand, which with their teardrop cut recall the movement of the lanterns (we are always in the Festive Lights chapter) that fly towards the sky. The design of the necklace is taken up and further developed in the manchette watch, an example of Piaget’s primacy in the fields of technical functionality and aesthetics. Together with the ring and a characteristic earring, the jewels of the Blazing Night set are presented as exclusive masterful creations. The rubies used took several years to find and to meet Piaget’s increasingly stringent standards and are the best possible mix of natural red colored gemstones of crystalline purity not subjected to heat treatment.
In the pursuit of perfection, some of the teardrop shapes, the rarest structure for rubies, have been re-cut to ensure impeccable lines and proportions, while all the baguette-cut diamonds featured in the design have been custom made to fit their space perfectly. dedicated. To create these ambitious designs, the necklace alone required the master craftsmen as many as 400 hours of desk work and the timepiece another 250 hours.
Magical Lights
The Northern Lights are one of nature’s most surprising spectacles. Soon after comes this line of jewelry, divided into two lines: Magical Aurora and Dancing Aurora, as well as The Gloaming Illuminations set. The first presents a necklace with a large Colombian emerald of 16.84 carats, rare and ultra pure, with shades reminiscent of those of the Northern Lights. In the case of the finest colored gems, the place of origin is often the key to beauty and is a fundamental element in the quality of emeralds.
Since their discovery in the sixteenth century, those extracted from the land of Colombia are celebrated for their exceptional color. The two-step formation process of the emerald almost always creates an internal stress in the crystal with consequent inclusions and less clarity. For this reason, the gem of the necklace, with its intense color and excellent transparency, is rare and precious. With its perfectly proportioned square cut, this emerald presents itself as the gem par excellence from every point of view. The central emeralds of the ring and earrings, equally endowed with the excellent qualities linked to their origin and whose magical explosion of green tones mimics the aurora, required several years of research.
The Magical Aurora line also includes an asymmetrical and articulated bracelet-wristwatch, which is a typically Piaget piece, a tribute to the heyday of the Maison’s design in the 1960s and 1970s. The watch features the characteristic construction of an ultra-thin caliber with tourbillon movement and cage, typical of Piaget’s pioneering creations since his master watchmakers first developed this elegant design in the 1960s. At that time the challenge shifted to creating a dial worthy of such a pinnacle of luxury and, since its debut in 1964, the inlaid hard stone, one of the most meticulous Métier d’Art, has been used to achieve exceptional results. In this timepiece the white diamonds are set and seem to sway and move in the wind, twirling on a malachite dial virtuously composed of various elements inlay. The watch bracelet is covered with baguette-cut diamonds and emeralds from Zambia.
The Gloaming Illuminations turns from green to pink and set presents a necklace made up of a cascade of 27 sapphires, with a collection of progressive natural shades that took more than two years to complete to find the perfect match in size, hue and quality. . The jewel also includes three padparadscha stones with their highly sought-after salmon pink or bright orange shades in a perfect fusion of nuances rarely seen in nature. The gems are so pure that, exceptionally in the case of sapphires, an emerald cut was chosen for them, capable of revealing their intrinsic beauty. The design is repeated with the 14 gems of the cascade effect of the earrings, made with an exceptional softness that is testimony to the craftsmanship necessary to achieve this effect, while the 6.53-carat pink sapphire chosen as the central stone of the ring shines thanks to a perfect hue, shades and saturation.
Infinite Lights
The starry sky, a show that repeats itself every night and never tires. The infinite stars that dot the sky are the source of inspiration for this line that constitutes the third chapter of Extraordinary Lights. The Extraordinary Lights collier stands out in this line of jewelry. It took Piaget master craftsmen 450 hours to transform this gem collection into an even more extraordinary piece of jewelry.
The necklace is fully articulated and is as comfortable to wear as it is fascinating to admire. A spectacular coussin-cut diamond of the finest Fancy Vivid yellow color, re-cut by Piaget to be internally perfect and weighing 8.88 carats, is paired with a 5,34 carat droplet Sri Lankan blue sapphire and a red spinel of Tanzania, always drop, of 3.61 carats, and the whole is flanked by spessartites and diamonds. In the necklace, beauty is combined with functionality, which makes this creation as innovative as it is mind-blowing. Ensuring maximum versatility, the sensational low-back design can in fact be transformed and worn in six different ways. Thanks to an exceptional level of creativity, the necklace has the ability to transform itself from a day jewel to a perfect evening jewel.
The necklace can be worn with both elements at the same time, or transformed to bring out one of the two declinations. The teardrop spinel on the “day side” and the diamonds on the “night side” can also be removed and the diamond chain can be worn as a bracelet. The color combination is repeated in the earrings of the same set, while the matching ring boasts a central Fancy Vivid yellow 5.54-carat coussin cut diamond. Only one diamond out of ten thousand is yellow and only 6% of these are classified as Fancy Vivid, the highest degree of color intensity. As a demonstration of the rarity of these diamonds, after finding the central stone of the ring it took another two years to find and match the diamonds in the necklace and earrings.
After celebrating its 30th birthday, Possession collection by Piaget is once again enriched over time with new pieces and variations on the theme. Possession collection, in particular, is now enriched with three sliding pendants with malachite, carnelian and turquoise. All three are in 18k rose gold and are set with 20 brilliant cut diamonds (approx. 0.35 carats). The necklaces are 64cm long, with the center stones flowing up and down, offering different ways to wear the necklace. At the end of each necklace there are three more spheres with matching semi-precious stones and two gold pearls.
The necklaces are an evolution of the collection launched in 1990 with a ring, followed by a series of gold bracelets, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, all characterized by the ability to rotate the ring surrounding the ends of the jewels. There are also two new charms with turquoise or carnelian. Each 39-42cm necklace is available in 18k rose gold and is decorated with 20 brilliant cut diamonds (approx.0.28 carats). A malachite version is already available. The new charms can be worn on the stone side or the rose gold side, and can also be personalized with an engraved date or special initials.
In addition to these necklaces, Piaget also present a double 18k rose gold bracelet complete with two brilliant green malachite stones surrounded by 30 brilliant cut diamonds (approx. 0.42 carats) and two new Possession transformable 18k rose gold pearl earrings. carnelian or turquoise. The earrings have 28 brilliant cut diamonds and can be worn in various ways: only with gold pearls, as studs, with gold pearls and ornamental stones or even asymmetrically. Finally, the Maison also launches rose gold stud earrings with diamonds. All novelties that Piaget presents with the help of two celebrities such as Shiva Safai and Olivia Palermo with the definition of Turn for the Extraordinary.
May is the month of roses, but also the time of the year when Mother’s Day occurs. A day that Piaget has decided to remember with two special jewels that combine these two aspects: it is the Piaget Rose pendant and earrings, with petals that open to reveal bright pink sapphires. The jewels are made of 18-karat white gold, with stylized rose buds, and are inspired by a particular flower: the Yves Piaget Rose, named in honor of the founder of the Swiss Maison, great lover of the botanical species.
The flowers of the jewels gently open their diamond-encrusted petals creating the illusion of a real flower. Pink sapphires pay homage to the unique and intense color of this unmistakable flower also appreciated for its 80 layers of petals and its delicious scent. Piaget Rose earrings reinterpret this iconic flower with a pink heart set between diamond petals that sparkle like dew in the morning sun. In a limited edition of 35 units, the earrings are set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.33 carats) and two pink sapphires (approx. 0.15 carats).
The Piaget Rose pendant, embellished with diamonds and illuminated by the sparkle of white gold, blossoms on the neck and flows along the chain according to the wearer’s desire, going from the heart to the beginning of the décolleté. The jewels are in a limited edition of 50 units, the Piaget Rose pendant is embellished with 40 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 0.56 carats) and a sapphire in the deepest shade of pink (0.12 carats).
On Valentine’s Day, love letters for Piaget
Romeo and Juliet, the most famous (unlucky) lovers in the world. The Juliet Club is named after their story, an association of volunteers that for years has kept alive the legend of the two most famous lovers in the world, responding to all the letters addressed to the heroine of the romantic story par excellence: Juliet Capulet. And, for the Valentine’s Day 2021 this club will be supported by Piaget.
The Swiss Maison believes that transmitting values and passion to future generations is the only way to pursue innovation and, for this reason, has decided to ask Generation Z kids to challenge themselves and express themselves on the subject of Love by writing a real letter to Juliet. To promote this initiative, on the occasion of the feast of lovers, the Maison Piaget asked the young actress Elisa Visari to launch an appeal through its social channels. Elisa will wear the jewels of Piaget’s Possession collection thus becoming the youngest friend of the Italian brand of the brand.
Participating in the initiative is easy: just send a love letter to the e-mail address piaget@julietclub.com by 14 February and post it on your Instagram profile using the hashtag #PiagetinLove #PiagetValentinesDay #ExtraordinaryLove.
Jewelery to help Beirut at auction with Christie’s
We Are All Beirut: help comes from the world of jewelry for the Lebanese city, devastated in recent months by a tremendous explosion. Promoting the charity action is Christie’s, which until November 24 is presenting a charity auction to promote and help the restoration and cultural activities of Beirut. The proceeds of the auction, in fact, will be entrusted to The Arab Funds for Arts and Culture (AFAC).
We Are All Beirut is auctioning works by artists in three areas: the arts, the world of design and jewelry. In particular, the 11 jewels for sale also contain symbols related to the Middle Eastern country, such as the colors of the Lebanese flag. As in the case of the green dial of the limited edition Bulgari watch of which only 11 were made.
Piaget donated three bracelets, each representing a color of the Lebanese flag. The specially made bracelet by Nadine Kanso was inspired by the sale title Kelna Beirut (the words mean We Are All Beirut). Additionally, two creations are unveiled for the first time through this sale: Hemmerle’s hand-sculpted anodized aluminum earrings and reverse-set purple sapphire earrings and Glenn Spiro’s brand new carved ceramic and tourmaline earrings, which glow in the dark.
Supporting the work behind AFAC’s cultural and philanthropic initiative, advocating and directing the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Beirut’s artistic and cultural landscape is so important to us here at Christie’s. Witnessing such an incredible level of interest and generous contributions to We Are All Beirut, regionally and internationally, depicts a humanity and benevolence that is so very much needed today. We like to take this opportunity to send our deepest thank you to all jewellery designers and maisons as well as watchmakers and retailer for their substantial contributions.
Caroline Louca-Kirkland, CEO of Christie’s Middle East
Karma el Khalil, a talented Lebanese jewelry designer based in New York whose creations are dubbed by Hollywood stars, is represented with her flagship piece, the Sunshine Ear Cuff. The charity sale offers the latest available piece of this collection, calling out the rays of dawn and radiating hope.