Sandra‘s Closet

The delicate figurine named Vivienne arrived at Louis Vuitton as if by magic in 2018. Initially a decorative object, she has proven capable of adapting to any environment, occasion or style to become the Maison’s beloved contemporary mascot.

Her family has expanded to include 11 unprecedented jewellery creations. Vivienne pendants pay homage to the cultures that are dear to Louis Vuitton, and these precious globetrotters know no borders.

Here the romantic Vivienne Plum is adorned with poetic pink gold plum blossoms, diamonds and red lacquer, and features a delicate bow on her back. There, transformed into a furry black and white animal who loves fresh bamboo, the adorable Vivienne Panda in white and yellow gold, diamonds, onyx and lacquer symbolises luck, peace and friendship. Korea’s ancestral embroidered garment, known as Hanbok, is enhanced by the carved and polished pink and white gold, diamonds and blazing lacquer of Vivienne Hanbok. As powerful, protective and brave as a Japanese samurai, Vivienne Samurai, dressed in yellow and white gold, diamonds and red and black lacquer, skilfully wields a Katana, the emblematic sword of those venerable warriors.

Now meet Vivienne Surfer, the most athletic of all, sporting blue lacquer and a long board adorned with the LV Monogram signature. And look who’s back: Vivienne Casino, reinvented in white and yellow gold, platinum, diamonds and lacquer. Bedecked in hearts, spades, diamond shapes and LV initials, an engraved deck of playing cards in hand, she is a champion of blackjack, poker and roulette. The magnificent Vivienne Rainbow radiates joy, emotion and hope thanks to an exquisite pavé gradation of 154 multicoloured gems. The astonishing Vivienne Royal, wearing a crown of yellow gold and diamonds and dressed in a blue lacquer robe punctuated with fleur-de-lys, pays homage to Paris’s Place Vendôme – the worldwide epicentre of jewellery and home to one of the most majestic Louis Vuitton stores.

The vivacious Vivienne Petite Malle featuring yellow and pink gold, diamonds and lacquer is never without her miniature handbag, whose shape recalls the Maison’s original trunks. Framing the face of Vivienne Monogram, petals of mother-of-pearl engraved with Monogram canvas motifs beautifully complement her eye of sculpted wood and her body shimmering with pink gold and diamonds. This piece elegantly evokes the Maison’s century-old trunk-making heritage. Lastly, Vivienne Celebration, in white and yellow gold set with 36 coloured stones and 124 diamonds, conveys a festive atmosphere. Specially created to celebrate Mr Louis Vuitton’s bicentennial birthday, she masterfully combines a mix of materials with traditional jewellery-making expertise.

Forever mischievous, each of these fetish figures pushes the boundaries of her mysterious aura by hiding a secret: the pendant can be converted into a brooch.

A trunk, exclusively designed for these precious mascots, opens like a treasure chest to reveal an array of miniature stages, drawers, trays and mirrors. Nodding to the origins of the Maison, this unique jewellery box offers a home for each limited edition Vivienne, thus perpetuating the excellence of Louis Vuitton, which makes the Art of Travel a true art of living.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton / © Piotr Stoklosa
DISCLOSURE: This post is not sponsored. I am loving it!

Tiffany & Co. announced today that powerhouse couple Beyoncé and JAY-Z will star in its latest campaign celebrating modern love. This is how LVMH is bringing its playbook to its largest-ever acquisition and the advantages and challenges of marketing brands rooted in the 19th century in today’s world.

Synonymous with the world’s greatest love stories since 1837, Tiffany’s debut of «ABOUT LOVE» marks the latest evolution of the luxury jeweler’s new creative direction. The campaign is the result of a close collaboration and a shared vision between both the Carters and Tiffany & Co.

«Beyoncé and JAY-Z are the epitome of the modern love story. As a brand that has always stood for love, strength and self-expression, we could not think of a more iconic couple that better represents Tiffany’s values. We are honored to have the Carters as a part of the Tiffany family.» —Alexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President of Product & Communications

As the first time the couple has appeared in a campaign together, «ABOUT LOVE» is an exploration of connection and vulnerability. The Carters’ love story is illuminated by the iconic Tiffany Diamond and set against the backdrop of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Equals Pi (1982).*

As part of a private collection from its creation until now, this campaign marks the work of art’s first public appearance, propelling Tiffany’s long-standing tradition of working with New York creatives forward. Ushering in a new brand identity, this campaign embodies the beauty of love through time and all its diverse facets, forging a new vision of love today.

Worn in a campaign for the first time in history, the Tiffany Diamond weighs 128.54 carats and boasts an unprecedented 82 facets. Seen on Beyoncé throughout “ABOUT LOVE,” it is considered among the most important gemstone discoveries of the 19th century. Unearthed in 1877 in the Kimberley Mines of South Africa, founder Charles Lewis Tiffany purchased the rough diamond in 1878, solidifying the brand’s reputation as a diamond authority. House icons including designs from Jean Schlumberger and the Tiffany T collection are also featured throughout. Most notably, JAY-Z wears Jean Schlumberger’s legendary Bird on a Rock brooch, reconstructed as a pair of one-of-a-kind cuff links. Jean Schlumberger was best known for dressing high society’s elite in the 1960s and ’70s, so it is appropriate that his unmistakable designs live out his legacy on one of today’s greatest creative forces.

A film by acclaimed director Emmanuel Adjei has also been created and features a musical
performance of the classic song «Moon River.» Made famous in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the iconic tune is reimagined with vocals by Beyoncé, captured by JAY-Z on a Super 8 camera. The couple selected the Orum House in Los Angeles to serve as the setting for the film, in which nostalgic flashbacks are interwoven with cinematic, dreamlike visuals. Basquiat’s Equals Pi appears once again as a common Tiffany Blue® thread throughout the narrative. The accompanying «ABOUT LOVE» print campaign was shot by Mason Poole and styled by June Ambrose and Marni Senofonte.

«ABOUT LOVE» reflects Tiffany’s continued support of underrepresented communities. As a part of
the house’s partnership with the Carters, Tiffany & Co. is proud to pledge a USD $2 million
commitment towards scholarship and internship programs for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs). Additional details on this initiative are forthcoming.
«ABOUT LOVE» launches globally in print on September 2. The accompanying film will launch on
Tiffany.com September 15 and will be amplified through global media activations. The campaign will further unfold later this year with additional films created by acclaimed director Dikayl Rimmasch and second unit director, Derek Milton.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Tiffany & Co. – @TIFFANYANDCO
*Partnership done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing high-profile artists, photographers, designers and creatives.

Time is the most valuable asset, which is not the only reason I am investing in watches. I am such a watch aficionado. Even with the rise of iPhones and other digital devices that are better suited to record time, I prefer wearing analogue watches and their sales continue to spike year over year.

Watches were originally seen as a status symbol for men, a way to express their personal style. Now that gender tropes have become passé, women are breaking down the doors of the all-boys club. And I am loving it! When it comes to watches, I like buying across sectors, from diamond-encrusted smaller-case sizes, to mechanical masculine watches. I think of them as investments for every day: wearing beautiful outfits plus the kind of timeless-with-a-twist watch that goes wherever you do.

My newest addition to my watch wardrobe is this beautiful Maillon de Cartier 16mm 18-karat white gold diamond watch that I ordered at Net-à-Porter. Subtly feminine, the beautiful watch bracelet is like a piece of jewelry lending modern edge to just about anything you wear them it. I love to combine it with the Clash de Cartier bracelet MM in white gold which is finally available in size 14. It is all about duality, contradictions, and when it comes to the best timepiece, remember it is always time to invest.

More watches to come soon …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © David Biedert Photography, © Rian Davidson and © DaydreamStudio
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The new SIXIÈME SENS COLLECTION by CARTIER illustrates the soulfulness particular to high jewelry, an expression of art with the power to move like no other.

With a stylised feline interpretation, organic textures and shards of coloured light, shimmering gems electrify while stones in flavoursome hues of ripe fruits summon up scents of distant paradises.
Using trompe-l’œil and graphic patterns, optical illusions and the power of evocation, compositions play with earthly gravity in radiant transfigurations of reality. Quivering in the light, jewels come to life upon contact with the skin.

Accomplished actress, singer and musician, Golshifteh Farahani, is the ambassador of this amazing high jewelry collection. This multi-hyphenate creative moves with ease between arthouse films and Hollywood productions, spanning the course of her 20-year career. She has made her mark on the red carpet, where she is known for her style and elegance.

PHAAN RING

How do you add to the beauty of an 8.20 carat ruby? How do you enhance that which is already exceptional? Behind the architecture of this ring is a tiered construction that allows a 4.01 carat rose-cut diamond to be inserted directly below the magnificent stone that sits at the top. When the light hits the diamond after first passing through the ruby, its rich red hue is intensified.

The structure integrates groups of triangular diamonds while maintaining the ring’s airy appearance. Along with tiny ruby balls, diamonds surround the central stone, arranged with subtle openings to allow them to catch the light, illuminating the ruby.

MERIDE NECKLACE

The purity of the motif is also its strength. The stones appear to multiply ad infinitum an optical illusion that is made all the more striking by the relief of the piece as each element is mounted at a different level. Movement, rhythm, and all spatial and temporal references are lost in a precious mosaic of gemstones. The blurring of perspective is complemented by a play of materials and light between mirror-polished metal and graphic black onyx.

As always with Cartier, particular attention has been paid to the back of the piece, which reveals the exact reverse of the front.

PIXELAGE NECKLACE

This necklace conjures up the familiar image of the panther, so dear to Cartier, borrowing both its markings and symbolic power. A stylised play on the feline’s coat has been part of Cartier’s artistic bestiary since 1914. Faithful to the original stylisation, here, motifs make up the panther’s spots. Polished onyxes evoke the marbling of the fur, while white, yellow and orange diamonds represent the thickness of the pelt, with its golden reflections highlighted by three captivating golden topazes for a total of 27.34 carats.

Attention to the volume and articulation of the sides allows the construction to respect the vertical geometry of the collar, while preserving its flexibility.

PARHELIA RING

At its centre lies a 21.51-carat sapphire cabochon, with an intense blue hue which seems to glow from within. Around it, five parentheses of radiant diamonds and emeralds reflect the light, fanning out like the surface of a lake. Black lacquer creates shadow effects to reinforce the impression of movement, supported by the original width of the ring, which spans three fingers, with slightly mobile tips.

As an ultimate refinement, the motif can be detached and worn as a brooch.
Created at the very beginning of the 20th century, this combination of sapphires and emeralds, named the «peacock motif» by Louis Cartier, is part of the Maison’s emblematic colour palette.

ALAXOA NECKLACE

The captivating texture and chromatic intensity of this necklace belie the rigorous and precise approach of its inception.
After selecting the emeralds according to their colour and diameter, artisan jewellers carefully considered harmony, symmetry and correct placement in the composition, before assembling using the threading technique—an expertise rooted in the Maison’s savoir- faire which consists of threading the stones on a wire to form strands and fringes. Finally, the strands are linked together by tiny metal bridges, maintaining a fan shape while allowing the fringes to remain mobile.

SHARKARA NECKLACE

With a balance of straight lines and curves, the design of this piece highlights its ample and generous volume. Considered as a whole, the necklace evokes an organic shape, ripe with succulent berries.
Elaborating a colour palette as such requires total gemological mastery, while the discreet tourmaline settings and attention to detail—right down to the shape of the garnets cut to reflect curves of the piece— reveal the workshop’s expertise.

CORUSCANT NECKLACE
A vibrant testament to the enchanting power of diamonds, this necklace features six different cuts—kite, octagonal, emerald, triangle, baguette and brilliant— certified D IF and E IF, each of which reflects light from a unique angle. Characterised by rigorous geometry, the necklace is entirely structured by an interplay of lines, with three stones—a kite of 3.00 carats, an octagon of 1.62 carats, and an emerald of 1.54 carats—emerging from brilliant interlacing to catch the eye.
The chain resembles a tight braid of gemstones, creating a path of light leading to the trio of diamonds. On the outside, brilliant-cut diamonds appear to slip underneath the inclination of the baguette- cut diamonds, radiating from the top thanks to the graphical effect of motif repetition.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier

A colour combination emblematic of the style of the Maison since the 1920s, Tutti Frutti brings the Udyana necklace alive.

Created in the High Jewellery ateliers of the Maison, this one-of-a-kind piece takes its name from the Sanskrit word for garden. It celebrates nature at its most luxuriant and colourful, through a profusion of motifs and precious stones including sapphires, rubies and engraved emeralds. For Cartier, the necklace not only represents a continuation of expertise, but also the Maison’s tradition for transformable jewellery that can be worn in multiple ways.

THE UDYANA NECKLACE AND ITS EXCEPTIONAL CENTRAL STONE

The Udyana necklace forms a balls studded with rubies and 67.7-carat engraved ruby rich canopy of ribbed emerald topped with an impressive pendant from Mozambique.

In addition to its impressive weight, the stone is a fascinating pinkish red colour with a touch of orange. Its uniqueness lies in the hexagonal shape which provides an ideal space for the carved floral motif. This engraving is entirely carried out by hand, using a technique developed by the Mughals in
the 17th century.

The choice of stones lies at the heart of the creative process for the Udyana necklace, as for every piece of Cartier high jewellery, in a tribute to their beauty, as well as to the beauty of nature.
When it comes to selecting coloured stones, a quest for excellence dictates Cartier’s choices each time. The jeweller is looking for an extra something that will allow for a dialogue between the stone and the creator. What story does it tell; where does it come from; what does this emerald cut into a ribbed ball, this sapphire or this flowered ruby evoke? The stones inspire Cartier, which in turn offers them an appropriate setting for their beauty.

Each of them must meet the highest standards of excellence and quality set by the Maison’s experts. It’s a duty and a responsibility, both social and environmental, pioneered by Cartier as an early adopter of responsible commitment in terms of sourcing coloured stones.

Cartier is a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), an organisation created in 2005 that sets the standard in social and environmental responsibility for the jewellery and watchmaking industry. Gold, diamonds, platinum, silver and coloured stones are all included in its scope of certification. The commitment to continually evolve industry practices is ongoing, and ten years later the Coloured Gemstone Working Group (CGWG) was founded.

The initiative brings together the world’s leading luxury brands and mining companies to strengthen research, tools and training for those in the Coloured Gemstone supply chain. As a responsible, RJC-certified jeweller, Cartier develops long-term relationships with its suppliers, who are encouraged and supported in their efforts to achieve RJC certification themselves, in order to adhere to the best responsible practices and strengthen trust in the jewellery industry.

TUTTI FRUTTI: THE STORY OF A STYLE

In 1911, Jacques Cartier boarded the Polynesia and set sail for India, to see the stones that had been worked there for centuries.

Ribbed and gadrooned balls, rubies and emeralds engraved in the shape of leaves, flowers and berries all bear witness to the Mughal dynasty that ruled northern India until the 18th century. Great lovers of ornaments and precious stones, the Mughals employed the expertise of Indian artists,
the only ones who knew how to cut emeralds, sapphires and spinels in relief and engrave them in the imperial workshops of Rajasthan. All these stones, emblematic of traditional Indian jewellery, inspired Cartier to create colour combinations that had never been seen before, using red, green and blue.

Enthusiasm for the jewels spread throughout the world to conquer a refined clientele that
enjoyed art and fashion, such as Lady Mountbatten (1901 – 1960) and Daisy Fellowes (1890 – 1962), each considered the most elegant woman in the world, in her day.

In the 1970s, the creative genre took on the name Tutti Frutti and became so closely associated with Cartier, that the Maison patented it in 1989.

In 2016, the Maison created a Tutti Frutti style High Jewellery necklace named Rajasthan for one of the most opulent states of Mughal India, featuring a 136.97-carat engraved emerald from the mines of Colombia. It was followed in 2019 by a new set, the Maharajah necklace, which pays tribute to the great ceremonial necklaces of Indian princes, with an exceptional set of emeralds. In 2021, came the Udyana necklace, characterised by its intense colours and engraved ruby.

THE UDYANA NECKLACE: A QUESTION OF SAVOIR-FAIRE

Harmony of composition and the naturalness of the branches and buds was a priority for the workshops that created the Udyana necklace.

The challenge began with the design, and how to associate the cut and engraved stones. Each stone then required a jeweller to make a bezel to size by hand, for insertion into the veins of the leaves. The leaves themselves were linked by a tree of diamond-set stems, each of which is different, to maximise the naturalness of the whole.

Added to this jewellery prowess, is the complexity inherent in any transformable piece, designed to be worn in several different ways. A pendant to be worn alone, a brooch, and necklace all in one, the piece is designed to be changed as desired without any visible engineering, whilst the whole remains secure. The pendant can be detached and fixed on a chain, while the main necklace can be worn as is, and the back pendant can be worn as a brooch.

HOW TO WEAR UDYANA

Two variations are available for each of these two versions. The necklace can be worn with or without the central ruby, and with or without the pendant to the back, which itself can also be worn as a brooch.

Chain necklace version, with or without the pendant and central ruby.

Pendant earrings with two engraved pear-shaped totalling 10.84 carats.
Watch bracelet with 19.53-carat engraved ruby.
Ring with 9.04-carat engraved hexagonal ruby.

Such a stunning piece of jewelry and the story itself reads like a fairytale…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier

These quirky-cute, child-like accessories (which are definitely a nostalgic nod to the ’90s) add an extra dose of fun to your outfits. Be the cool kid on the block and delve into a world of playful proportions. With Demna Gvasalia at the helm, Balenciaga retains its unique and innovative approach to fashion and plays a leading role in this trend that is suddenly everywhere.

LoL, Sandra

Embroidered poplin-trimmed shirred floral-print cotton mini dress by Gucci

Toy silver-tone beaded choker and Toy silver-tone beaded bracelet, both by Balenciaga

Dummy drop earrings by Balenciaga

Sailor-collar lambswool bodysuit by Miu Miu

Toy logo coin purse by Etro

Toys print shoulder bag by Etro

Hello Kitty XXS embellished printed leather tote by Balenciaga

Oversized distressed printed cotton-jersey top by Balenciaga

Bear-motif jumper by Moschino

Gummy Bear hoop earrings by Balenciaga

Photo: © David Biedert Photography – Stills: Courtesy of the Brands
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

To celebrate the 100th year of the N°5 perfume’s fame, Patrice Leguéreau, Director of the CHANEL Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, has imagined the «Collection N°5», the first High Jewelry collection ever to be dedicated to a perfume.

A first in the history of High Jewelry, this collection showcases all the facets of a perfume, interpreting the eternal mystery of the N°5 perfume with virtuosity. From the bottle to the sillage, one hundred and twenty-three extraordinary pieces express the different facets of the perfume. With its hundred years of fame, only a perfume as mysterious and iconic as the N°5 perfume could inspire such a majestic High Jewelry collection.

In 1921, the first «perfume for women with the scent of a woman» composed by Ernest Beaux and Gabrielle Chanel made a commotion. With the absolute modernity of the fragrance, the purity of the bottle and the mystery of the name, the N°5 perfume was nothing short of a revolution. In 1932, Mademoiselle shattered the codes of French High Jewelry with her one and only collection in platinum and diamonds. These «Bijoux de Diamants» introduced new ways of wearing and took jewelry into another realm… that of allure. In 2021, Patrice Leguéreau decided to bring these two domains together with the «Collection N°5».

«Gabrielle Chanel approached these two universes with the same visionary values, focusing on audacity and the quest for excellence. I wanted to rediscover that creative gesture with this collection, which has been conceived like a journey through the meanderings of the N°5 perfume’s soul, from the architecture of the bottle to the olfactive explosion of the fragrance.»

The zenith of this precious collection is the extraordinary 55.55 necklace that expresses all the codes of the fragrance which radiate through an exceptional gemstone crafted in its honour, a 55.55-carat custom-cut diamond.

«This is an unprecedented approach» observes Patrice Leguéreau. «We started with a rough diamond that we had cut, not to make the biggest stone possible, but to obtain a perfect octagonal diamond weighing 55.55 carats.»

The harmonious shape, in an emerald cut, the symbolic weight of 55.55 carats, the D Flawless quality of this stone and the 18-carat white gold bezel set with 104 round diamonds and 42 baguette diamonds testify to CHANEL’s perfectionism and exceptional levels of creation and technical mastery. The profile of the stopper, the silhouette of the bottle, the fastener shaped like the lucky number, and the cascading of pear-shaped diamonds in different sizes, cut one by one, mould this piece into an ultimate tribute to the perfume.

Figurative as much as it is abstract, the 55.55 necklace goes further than an exercise in style. It symbolizes the embrace between the spirit of the N°5 perfume and the most exceptional jewelry making. With an incomparable suppleness, this fascinating and eternal item of jewelry adds its own stone to the story of CHANEL’s first perfume, which has become a myth.

But the tale does not stop here because CHANEL has chosen to keep the necklace 55.55 in its Patrimoine. Thus, this extraordinary piece will forever be a part of the history of CHANEL’s High Jewelry and the symbol of the unbreakable ties that unite place Vendôme with the N°5 perfume.

Stunning, beautiful – an iconic piece that has already made history.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CHANEL

Yesterday, Elsa Peretti’s family office in Zurich announced that the jewelry designer, who was famous for her creations for the US jeweler Tiffany & Co., died Thursday at the age of 80 in a village near Barcelona, ​​Spain peacefully in her sleep.

Just last October, Tiffany & Co. had tapped Peretti to design nine one-of-a-kind pieces, based on archival designs from her personal library, in celebration of 50 years since the introduction of her widely recognized bone-cuff bracelet – and 45 years since she began designing for the company.

Tiffany’s Instagram post.

A pioneering designer

Elsa Peretti was born in Florence and trained in Switzerland and Rome, where she later returned to for a degree in interior design. In the late ’60s, she had established herself as a model in New York City and Barcelona, and she also began to design her own jewelry. A small silver bottle worn as a necklace became her first successful creation. She found the inspiration for this design in Portofino, where women used to wear fragile gardenia flowers as a fashion accessory: the small silver vase necklace made the flowers last longer. Throughout her career, she would always try to combine beauty with practicability.

Elsa Peretti’s bottle pendants for Tiffany & Co.

The American fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo used some of her pieces in a fashion show, where they immediately became a huge success. The very next day she was a star in New York. During this time she met the legendary US fashion designer and seventies icon Halston, with whom she had a lifelong friendship and with whom she worked frequently. The US jeweler Tiffany & Co. became aware of the young designer and in 1974, she started an exclusive collaboration that would last through her entire career.

Elsa Peretti with Halston in 1977

She often seeked inspiration from everyday objects – a bean, a bone or an apple could be turned into cufflinks, bracelets, vases or lighters, scorpions and snakes were turned into attractive necklaces and rings, often in silver as one of their preferred materials. She herself said: «There is no new design, because good lines and shapes are timeless» and in fact her pieces are as modern and wearable today as ever.

Elsa Peretti’s famous bone cuffs.

Elsa Peretti’s designs are in the permanent collections of the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. In recognition of her remarkable work, Tiffany established the Elsa Peretti Professorship in Jewelry Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the first endowed professorship in the history of FIT. In addition to other honors, the designer was awarded an honorary doctorate from the FIT in 2001. She also received the Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award for Jewelry in 1971 and the Rhode Island School of Design President’s Fellow Award in 1981. In 1996, she was named Accessory Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Elsa Peretti photographed by Duane Michals, Vogue, December 1974

Philanthropic work

Elsa Peretti was also known for her charm, and friendliness towards others. She had a profoundly humanitarian vocation, supporting cultural, scientific and educational initiatives and advocating the defense of human rights. In 2000, she founded a charity in honor of her father, which was renamed the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation in 2015, that focuses on the protection of the environment and wildlife. Furthermore, it also aims to fight poverty. Over time, the foundation’s work has expanded to support a wide range of projects promoting human and civil rights, with a particular focus on the right to education, the rights of children, and the rights and dignity of women.

Sant Martí Vell, her Catalan hideaway

The Italian designer had been living a reclusive life in the tiny village of Sant Martí Vell in Catalonia, Spain, where she has lived permanently since the ’80s in a mustard-yellow home she purchased in 1968. She had restored it over years and the little village became her preferred place of residence. As a result, she restored entire sections of the village, acquired and preserved other buildings, including the church, and supported the excavation of Roman ruins and the archiving of the history of the village. She also founded a winery that has been selling exclusive wines under the Eccocivi label since 2008.

She promoted the visual arts and worked to consolidate, protect and disseminate the historical, artistic, cultural, architectural and craft heritage of Catalonia. In 2013 Elsa Peretti became the first non-Catalan person to be awarded the National Culture Prize of the National Council for Culture and the Arts (CoNCA).

Rest in Peace, Elsa!

A truly creative mind and great should has left this planet. Thank you, Elsa, for leaving us such a lovely legacy. You will never be forgotten. Fortunately, also much photographic evidence remains of her, such as Helmut Newton’s 1975 shot of her leaning languidly on a terrace in Halston’s take on a Playboy Bunny costume. «Helmut and I were having an affair. He was a Scorpio. There is something between Scorpio and Taurus,» she said in an interview with Vanity Fair, taking on a suggestive tone. «One morning, he said, ‘I want to do a picture of you.’ I didn’t know what to wear. I went to my closet and came out wearing this costume I’d worn to a party with Halston. Helmut was flabbergasted. He took me on the terrace and took the photo. It was 11 A.M.»… what a beautiful life!

LoL, Sandra

Matthias Schneider, Studio Director and Head of Design at REPOSSI, paid homage to Elsa Peretti on Instagram.

Photos: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. / Elsa Peretti

GEM DIOR, Victoire de Castellane‘s new collection, celebrates her love of stones by presenting pieces with singular and surprising shapes. This amazingly beautiful line of abstract, 1970s-flavored watches and jewelry features patches of various gemstones — marking the first time the Dior designer has created a watches and jewelry collection together.

Each creation, inspired by couture and Mr. Dior’s colorful fabric samples, is made up of asymmetrical and angular sections set side by side like mineral strata. This collection celebrates natural and authentic beauty through unique, strong pieces.

The new Gem Dior line includes seven watch models with irregular, octagonal faces and clasp-less bracelets, as well as 11 pieces of jewelry — rings, bracelets and earrings, that draw inspiration from the geometry of stones. Additional interchangeable alligator bracelets come for the watches.

I am loving it.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior

Breaking news for all gem lovers. Tiffany & Co. acquires an exceptional 80-carat diamond to reimagine its historic 1939 World’s Fair Necklace. Expected to be its most expensive piece ever, Tiffany will unveil the diamond necklace in 2022 when the doors of its transformed Fifth Avenue flagship store reopen, making history once again, just as the original necklace did nearly a century ago when it debuted at the World’s Fair in Queens, New York.

In August 2020, OMA unveiled images of the newly transformed Tiffany Fifth Avenue Flagship Store to open in 2022.

The original aquamarine design has been modernized with an extraordinary oval diamond of over 80 carats, the largest diamond ever offered by Tiffany and eclipsed only by the Tiffany Diamond, which famously is not for sale.

«What better way to mark the opening of our transformed Tiffany flagship store in 2022 than to reimagine this incredible necklace from the 1939 World’s Fair, one of our most celebrated pieces when we opened our doors on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue for the first time,» said Victoria Reynolds, Tiffany & Co. Chief Gemologist. «The new necklace perfectly reflects our brand heritage as a New York luxury jeweler, whose founder was known as the ‘King of Diamonds‘.»

Tiffany & Co. 80-carat, D color, internally flawless diamond inspired by necklace from the 1939 World’s Fair.

The breathtaking center stone – an over-80-carat, D color, internally flawless oval diamond – is not only very rare, it is a symbol of Tiffany’s industry-first approach to diamond traceability. Responsibly sourced in Botswana, Africa, the diamond will be set by Tiffany artisans in NYC.

Photograph of the aquamarine and diamond necklace from the 1939 World’s Fair_Tiffany & Co. Archives.

The original necklace’s sizable aquamarine and exceptional diamond forms entranced the millions who came to admire the international spectacle. With its forward-looking theme, «Dawn of a New Day,» the 1939 World’s Fair promised a glimpse into «the World of Tomorrow.» The fair’s intention was to inspire, in its over 44 million visitors, the dream of a better and more effervescent tomorrow. Tiffany’s masterpiece did just that – setting the stage for the opening of its iconic flagship store on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue the following year, in 1940 – foreshadowing what will be a similarly historic moment for the brand in 2022.

In 1878, the company purchased the famous Tiffany Diamond, an immense canary yellow stone from the new South African deposits. Once cut, the diamond weighed 128.54 carats.

Tiffany has acquired many rare and remarkable gemstones for its jewelry designs in its 183-year history, including the legendary Tiffany Diamond, one of the world’s largest and finest fancy yellow diamonds, as well as the Hooker Emerald, now exhibited at the Smithsonian and the Mazarin Diamonds, purchased by Tiffany at the auction of the French Crown Jewels.

LoL, Sandra

The massive 75.47-carat Hooker Emerald had been auctioned to Tiffany & Co, which initially set it in a tiara. Despite its beauty, the tiara remained unsold for decades. In 1950, the emerald was re-set into a brooch that included matching earrings. Five years later, the brooch was purchased by Janet Annenberg Hooker. In 1977, she donated it to the Smithsonian.

Photos: © Tiffany & Co. and © OMA