Sandra‘s Closet

HENNESSY X.O UNVEILS MASTERPIECE COLLABORATION WITH KIM JONES

In a first for the Maison, the acclaimed fashion designer transcends couture and cognac in a special collection featuring a collectible sneaker, Masterpiece decanter, and Limited Edition bottle.

Hennessy is pleased to announce a collaboration with the world-renowned British Artistic Director Kim Jones. In an audacious meeting of two icons, the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones collection bridges street and luxury in a unique celebration of the legendary blend’s impact on culture. Interweaving the richness of Hennessy X.O’s 150-year heritage with Kim Jones’ creative vision, the collaboration features the Hennessy X.O Masterpiece designed by Kim Jones, the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition bottle by Kim Jones, and in a first for the brand, the HNY Low by Kim Jones. This also marks the first time Maison Hennessy has partnered with a fashion designer, and that Kim Jones collaborates with a spirits brand.

HNY Low by Kim Jones

«We are thrilled to embark on a new odyssey blending cognac-making and couture with Kim Jones, a creative master of our time,» said Laurent Boillot, Hennessy CEO. «Inspired by the emblematic personality of Hennessy X.O, Kim has developed a resolutely contemporary collection that is destined to make an impact on culture today and in the future.»

For Hennessy X.O, Kim Jones pays tribute to cognac-making and couture, two processes that touch on an understanding of science and the natural world as well as artisanal craftsmanship and savoir-faire. He follows in the footsteps of a formidable lineage of great masters who have helped cement Hennessy X.O’s cultural resonance over the years, including Frank Gehry, Cai Guo-Qiang and Ridley Scott.

«I’m fascinated by the rich heritage of Hennessy, a household name behind which artisans have spent hundreds of years creating this special cognac,» says Kim Jones. «Storytelling is very important for me regardless of what I’m designing or who I’m collaborating with – I want my designs to educate and inspire people through the stories they tell.»

WHERE COGNAC MEETS COUTURE: THE HENNESSY X.O MASTERPIECE AND HENNESSY X.O
LIMITED EDITION DESIGNED BY KIM JONES

Designed exclusively for Hennessy by Kim Jones, produced using 3D printing technology, and finished by hand, the sculptural Hennessy X.O Masterpiece has been produced in a limited edition of just 200 examples. The decanter demonstrates how humanity and technology can work together to create something unique, «like a piece of bespoke couture for a bottle,» the designer notes.

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece

The Hennessy X.O Masterpiece draws inspiration from the making of Hennessy X.O, an art perfected by eight generations of Master Blenders. A specially developed titanium casing entirely encapsulates the bottle like an architectural second skin. Its twisting folds evoke both the couture technique of draping and the way in which, at the turn of the 20th century, Hennessy bottles were carefully hand-enveloped in tissue paper as a way of protecting their fragile parchment paper labels. Its base, an undulating oak plateau, nods to the barrels used to age eaux-de-vie that would eventually be blended to create Hennessy X.O.

While the bottle is entirely obscured from view, the cognac can be extracted using the fusil designed by Kim Jones, an elegant and playful ritual to serve a glass of the Hennessy X.O blend. As a finishing touch, the decanter itself has been dipped in gradient colors, an effect inspired by the shades of the different eaux-de-vie selected by the Master Blender to compose Hennessy X.O.

Says Kim Jones: «When I saw how the vintage Hennessy bottles were wrapped, it spoke volumes to me about how precious each one is, and how they were handled. I was particularly touched by their history, and the sense of how generations have dedicated their time to making each step of the process better and better. That same process also holds true with fashion.»

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition

The third element of the collaboration is the Hennessy X.O Limited Edition ‘ready-to-wear’ version of the decanter specially imagined by Kim Jones. The Hennessy X.O bottle is encased in an aluminum second skin, its structure showcasing the signature shape of the bottle while evoking a couture silhouette. A true representation of the merger of fashion and culture with excellence and legacy, the limited edition bottle is the final piece of the Hennessy X.O x Kim Jones partnership.

The Hennessy X.O Limited Edition by Kim Jones is available exclusively at Globus for CHF 241.50 now.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hennessy
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Right in time for Watches & Wonders next week, Cartier presents its newest must-have watch: Clash [Un]limited which is characterised by an elegant mechanism that stands out for its beauty, creating a jewellery watch that combines finesse with power.

Personally speaking, I am absolutely blown away by this new model. With beads, picot studs, clou carrés and mobility, the Clash de Cartier codes flow, intertwine, forge their way and manifest themselves in the form of a precious watch.

From faceted corners and bevelled dials to full and empty spaces, as well as round and square elements, its geometry is constant and true to the Maison’s style. A culture of design counterbalanced by Cartier’s graphic precision through movement, from the beads that roll over each other to the hinges of the bracelet, all articulated to create softness on the skin. An ambition to structure the watch and create perspective: from the form of its links to the mini case with its sixteen-faceted cut glass that accentuates the distinctive lines.

My favorite: SMALL MODEL, QUARTZ MOVEMENT, YELLOW AND VIOLET GOLD

The legacy of Jeanne Toussaint and her sense of volume comes to mind. As early as the 1930s, she dared to provoke glittering collisions between preciousness and the industrial aesthetic of ball bearings. A natural link between the past and present, as seen in this Clash [Un]limited watch, which also uses chromatic contrasts to emphasise the geometric motifs. How? Firstly, by alternating brushed and satin-finish gold, then by combining yellow or rose gold with violet gold, a new shade of gold in tones of shimmering violet, entirely developed for Cartier. It punctuates the watch, from the clou carré to the beads on the bracelet.

With variations on the same theme in limited-edition releases, the Clash [Un]limited watch is available in diamond-paved yellow gold, rose gold and white gold. It also unites exceptional pieces with stones that enhance the design in black and white with onyx, black spinels, obsidian and diamonds, or in different colours with coral, black spinels, chrysoprase, tsavorites and diamonds. Designed by the Cartier watchmaking studios, the Clash [Un]limited watch resides in the Maison’s creative repertoire of jewellery watches.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Cartier
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Welcome to a colorverse of infinite self-expression with the Me, Myself and OPI Collection for Spring 2023. Featuring a palette that pays homage to the metaverse where color knows no limits, this collection of 12 unfiltered brights and pastels in four different formulas celebrates nail color as a vehicle for showcasing outward individuality and personal self-identity.

Consumers will fall in love with hues of pink, from baby pink and peachy pink to powder pink and pink punch, in pearl and shimmer finishes. Feel-good, playful pastels in a rainbow of hues including yellow crème, tangerine, honeydew, and turquoise crème make a sweet statement, while powerful cherry red can be worn as an accent or a bold singular hue. Two purples in shades of heliotrope and twilight lavender offer vibes of balance, stability, and serenity.

«Nail color offers an easy and versatile way to express your personality,» remarks OPI Co-Founder and Brand Ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. «With Me, Myself and OPI, we’re inviting wearers to join us in the metaverse – or as we say, colorverse – where we can be whoever we want to be – your only limit is your own imagination.»

«This collection features a range of refreshed, digitally-inspired pastels,» adds OPI Global Director of Color Equity Jill Bartoshevich. «With warm, welcoming shades in a range of crème, shimmer, and pearl hues, this collection encourages consumers to have fun with color. Top trend pick NFTease Me is a beautiful turquoise crème that will be a standout hue for Spring 2023.»

Me, Myself and OPI Collection shades will be available in Infinite Shine, Nail Lacquer and GelColor, formulas, including:

Pink in Bio
A soft pink crème that drives all traffic to you.
Switch to Portrait Mode
A powder pink pearl that makes you camera ready.
Blinded by the Ring Light
A pastel yellow crème that needs #nofilter.
Silicon Valley Girl
Strut your high tech stuff in this tangerine orange crème.

Clear Your Cash
Honeydew your shopping thing in this green crème.
NFTease Me
Be totally non-fungible in this turquoise crème.
I Meta My Soulmate
A baby pink pearl that sets your status to In a Relationship.
Data Peach
Collect allll the data you want in this pearly peach.

Spring Break the Internet
You’ll go viral in this shimmery hot pink.
Left Your Texts On Red
A shimmery red that makes them want you more.
Incognito Mode
A purple mauve crème that hides you in plain sight.
I Sold My Crypto
Get rich quick in this shimmery violet.

GelColor provides a salon-perfect finish with up to three-week wear, while Infinite Shine offers a high-shine finish and traditional lacquer application. Nail Lacquer features a highly pigmented, rich formula for even application without streaking.

• Launch date Switzerland: 13th March 2023
• Recommended retail price Infinite Shine 15 ml: 24.90 CHF (at the discretion of retailers)
• Recommended retail price Nail Lacquer 15 ml: 19.90 CHF (at the discretion of retailers)
• Online-Partners: www.perfecthair.ch, www.manor.ch, www.globus.ch

LoL, Sandra

#MeMyselfAndOPI Photos: © OPI
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A square in a circle, small squares in a large square. Hermès loves to play with shapes. From the distant memory of those children’s games combining colours and volumes, Hermès has given life to a unique and playful watch. It could have been called Double Face, or Recto/Verso. Wow suits it so much better!

Wow, like his original idea. Two years ago, young comic book artist Ugo Bienvenu designed a surprising silk scarf for Hermès. It was named Wow. Why Wow? Because it picks up Hermès’ cherished equestrian spirit and transposes it into the world of comics.

The designer vaulted into the saddle and set his foot in the stirrups to offer small square comic-book-style panels within the large square shape of the silk scarf. Squares, bubbles, animation… A heroine crosses Paris on jet skis, rollerblades, in cars and of course on horseback. Two amused golfers wonder who this intrepid woman is? Amazon, secret agent, Parisian heroine? All that and more: she is the Hermès woman.

The Wow effect comes not only from the pattern, but also from the way in which is created, including a different colour scheme on each side: a multicolored interpretation on the front and a monochrome version on the back.

The idea made its way from Paris to Switzerland and the workshops of Hermès Horloger. A double-sided dial? Why not, as long as it is thin and translucent like the silk thread that inspired it. The obvious choice was mother-of-pearl, a dainty, elegant and feminine material through which the ray of light could shine and enable the artisan to set about creating a playfully radiant motif.

On the first side, the design is initially reproduced in black ink, visible on both sides. It guides the deft touch of the artisan until the last brush stroke. The entire décor of the motif is then hand-painted on this first side. The pastel colours are applied one by one: thick enough to give depth to the design, yet thin enough to let the light shine through – a subtle balance calling for the finest skilled craftsmanship. It takes about 20 layers to bring out every nuance of this design. Each is fired in the kiln at 90 °C to solidify the precious pigment.

The horse and heroine are majestically enthroned on the second face corresponding to the upper dial side of the watch. The colour is sharper, the volume denser, the design is every bit as lively as the rider and her mount. Together, they literally burst out of the dial. The Hermès gallop responds to the silky, muted solid colours painted on the reverse side of the watch with its brightly varied shades, its relief effects and its boldness. While the horse’s movement makes a sudden appearance, it stems from a wealth of meticulous and diligent work involving more than 35 hours to produce a single dial.

This timepiece with its Arceau case designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978 comes in two versions powered by the same Manufacture H1912 self-winding movement. The first flaunts a dial in soft pink tones, while the second opts for bluish accents. Paired with a Hermès calfskin strap, each of these white gold Arceau Wow model features a bezel set with 82 diamonds and is issued in a 24-piece limited edition.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès / David Marchon / Anita Schlaefli
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Prada announces the tenth installment of their Timecapsule NFT Collection. The drop on March 2nd, which is the final release in a three-part series of shirts, features special prints by Italian photographer Enzo Ragazzini from his archives of the 1960s’ and 1970s’.

Titled INTERFERENZA OTTICA ART PRINT BY ENZO RAGAZZINI, 1969, the March shirt will feature a design made in 1969 for the Enzo Ragazzini exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London (ICA) with the optical interference technique, using mechanical devices of his own invention (the «rotating plane» for the circular patterns and the «rotating drum» for horizontal ones). This work was then digitized in 2017.

The shirt is in popeline, featuring the Prada enameled triangle logo with «MARCH» transferred on the back of the shirt. Each shirt comes accompanied by its own gifted NFT, which serves as an invitation to join Prada’s exclusive Crypted NFT community.

Prada is continuing to expand their Web3 community to those who purchased a Prada Timecapsule prior to the NFT initiative, launched back in June 2022. First launched in December 2019 and now marking its 39th iteration, Timecapsule collection holders can claim their own Timecapsule NFT, in sync with their existing physical product. More details can be found on the Prada Crypted Community on Discord.

The drop is limited to 50 items, for 24 hours only, starting from March 2nd, 2023 at 3pm CET.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Prada
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Jimmy Choo has unveiled a capsule collection in collaboration with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon in celebration of the Japanese anime series 30th anniversary. The first Sailor Moon episode aired in 1991, followed by the adaptation Sailor Moon Crystal in 2014. Created by Naoko Takeuchi, the show has become a pop cultural phenomenon, stanned for its feminine magic, humor, and fashionable characters.

Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo, has worked with Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, on the collection that champions «bold individuality, zeitgeist-defining imagery and female empowerment». The Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon collection aims to translate the anime series femininity and female power with a capsule range of footwear and accessories themed around the ‘Sailor Guardians’ characters, including Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, their mentor cat Luna and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon herself.

The capsule collection includes for example knee-high boots, ankle boots, patent pumps, lace-up leather combat boots, and high-heeled platform pumps as homages to the shoes worn by the characters. Moreover, Sailor Moon’s most memorable moments are immortalized as manga drawings on bags and sneakers. Highlight of the collaboration is a pair of limited-edition boots encrusted with roughly 19,000 Swarovski crystals. The fuchsia-colored silhouette is complete with a moon motif at the top in addition to a 10-centimeter-tall heel, maintaining the original look of Jimmy Choo’s classic shoes.

Celebrating the team-up and the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon, Jimmy Choo is putting one pair of these boots on display exclusively at Tokyo‘s Mori Art Museum in Roppongi.

The Jimmy Choo x Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon collection will be exclusively available in Europe at Selfridges from February 14. The launch will coincide with a dedicated pop-up in the department store’s ground-floor accessories hall, featuring «playful installations with the ultimate photo opportunity for Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon superfans.»

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jimmy Choo
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First unveiled in June last year, Louis Vuitton’s Spirit high jewelry collection continues its odyssey into the next and final chapter, featuring 30 unique pieces that pulse with a distinctive graphic energy and the iconic codes of the Maison, embodying the emanating strength of the Louis Vuitton woman.

Spirit is the fourth high jewelry collection designed by Francesca Amfitheatrof, the Maison’s Artistic Director for Watches and Jewellery. Francesca Amfitheatrof has always believed that jewellery and its wearer are inextricably linked. «I don’t think anything else in the world has the power to hold the spirit of the person so much as jewellery does,» she said.

Destiny Bracelet and Ring

That ethos continues in Spirit Chapter II, where masterfully executed creations channel the singular design codes of the Maison – and which, like Chapter I, are set across four universes that reflect the values of the house: Destiny, Liberty, Fantasy and Radiance.

Destiny Necklace

Destiny is an ode to the ruby, in the most luminous, perfect red hue, with stones that seem to emit their own special power. The Destiny universe is anchored in the geometric energy and symbol of the Louis Vuitton V, which channels the dynamism of the Maison, propelling its legacy and vision into the future.

Liberty Medaillon and Ring

Freedom to explore and discover. To travel and to open up to new horizons and to venture into unknown territories both physically and metaphorically. The Liberty theme embodies the desire for freedom that has always guided Louis Vuitton like a light.

Fantasy Necklace and Earrings

The world of Fantasy embodies the imagination of Louis Vuitton and evokes the pioneering spirit of the founder of the House; the creative genius and the creative genius and vital force of a man who never stopped innovating, dreaming and pushing back the boundaries.

Radiance Necklace

Since her very first Louis Vuitton Haute Joaillerie collection, Francesca Amfitheatrof has imagined her creations as armor, a second skin that protects a woman’s identity and soul as she courageously moves forward in her journey. The new Radiance necklace exudes a bold energy highlighted by mirror yellow gold triangles that set the stage for a geometry of pyramids and diamond-paved Vs.

My personal favorite: The Liberty Trunk Pendant

Made exclusively in the House’s Parisian workshops, Louis Vuitton’s Spirit Chapter II Haute Joaillerie collection is the latest in a series of striking pieces that are both singular and unique.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton – Laziz Hamani /Solve Sundsbo
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As a result of their new collaboration, Hublot and Takashi Murakami present thirteen new NFTs and thirteen unique timepieces featuring the iconic smiling flower that is central to the Japanese artist’s work. It is a continuation of past projects, by rewarding the first buyers of the watches and collectors of the first NFTs through an exclusive approach.

«When my collaboration with Hublot was announced, we made it known that we would be adopting new forms of artistic expression. After creating all the timepieces together, as well as the digital works of art, we are now imagining new ways of accessing contemporary art.»
TAKASHI MURAKAMI

The thirteen unique NFTs are inspired by Japanese video games & TV from the 1970s as well as the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black, the first collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and Takashi Murakami launched in January 2021. These NFTs are linked to a limited edition of 13 new and unique Classic Fusion watches that will be at Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva. Twelve of these watches will be available for purchase exclusively online on hublot.com, which can only be accessed by owners of at least one of the 324 NFTs issued in April 2022 as part of the third collaboration between Hublot and Takashi Murakami.

These 324 NFTs were originally offered to owners of one of the two Hublot x Takashi Murakami watch models (Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black & Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow), before they were allowed to be exchanged on the decentralized NFT trading platform, OpenSea. The period between the announcement of the project in New York in February 2023 and the start of sales in early April 2023 in Geneva will allow any collector interested in one of the new watches to collect one of the NFTs available on OpenSea. Each buyer lucky enough to purchase one of the 12 new unique watches will receive a corresponding exclusive NFT.

Hublot and Takashi Murakami take the watch as a work of art to a new level, by bridging the art of fine watchmaking with digital art. The 13th watch of the collection is the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow and it is also the masterpiece. Taking inspiration from the two previously launched pieces, this watch reinterprets the iconic emblem of Takashi Murakami: the smiling flower. Here, the 12 petals of the flower form a perfect gradient of rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz. Thanks to an ingenious ball-bearing system developed by Hublot’s engineers, the petals create a dizzying spectacle of colour as they spin on an axis with each movement. The kinetic effect of the petals creates a striking effect against the 45mm black ceramic case. The center of the smiling flower is placed on top of the sapphire glass to create a three-dimensional effect.

The twelve other references, which will be available for purchase by holders of the NFTs on the dedicated ecommerce platform, recall the master flower and represent one of the petals. Twelve references for twelve hours on the dial, and twelve NFTs.

The heart of the watch beats with the manufacture Unico calibre set in the emblematic Classic Fusion design, a unique movement that offers a 72-hour power reserve. As the third watch collaboration between Hublot and the Japanese artist, this launch is proof of the incredible collectability of this partnership.

As the second step, collectors will then have a period of one year during which they will have the opportunity to trade the twelve NFTs on the OpenSea platform. In April 2024, at the end of this period, only the collector who has managed to collect all 12 of the new unique NFTs will be eligible to purchase the thirteenth and most sought-after watch: the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow. In the event that no single person has managed to gather all twelve NFTs, the watch will be auctioned by Hublot to raise funds for charity.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hublot #Hublot
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Prada announces the ninth installment of their Timecapsule NFT Collection. The drop on February 2nd continues to expand Prada’s reach to the Web3 community, allowing for unique experiences for NFT holders.

The latest NFT drop is #38 in the Timecapsule collection. This is the second, in a three-part series of shirts featuring special prints by Italian photographer Enzo Ragazzini from his archive from the 70s’.

Titled INTERFERENZA OTTICA ART PRINT BY ENZO RAGAZZINI 1975, the February shirt will feature a design made in 1975 from Enzo Ragazzini with the optical interference technique, using mechanical devices of his own invention (the «rotating plane» for the circular patterns and the «rotating drum» for horizontal patterns). This work was then digitized in 2017.

The shirt is in popeline, featuring the Prada enameled triangle logo with «FEBRUARY» transferred on the back of the shirt. Each shirt comes accompanied by its own gifted NFT, which serves as an invitation to join Prada’s exclusive Crypted NFT community.

As an extension to this month’s announcement, Prada is extending their Web3 community to those who have purchased a Prada Timecapsule before the NFT initiative launched back in June 2022. First launched in December 2019, these Timecapsule collection holders can now claim their own Timecapsule NFT, in sync with their existing physical product. More details will be shared on the Prada Crypted Community on Discord.

Prada continues to give behind-the-scenes opportunities as they offer «Prada Crypted» Discord community members access to unique events and experiences. For last month’s drop, one Prada Timecapsule NFT Holder and guest were hosted in Milan for a Prada exclusive experience which included an invitation to the Prada Menswear Fall/Winter 2023 fashion show. Once again, Prada is offering one NFT holder the chance to enjoy an unparalleled experience for its upcoming Prada Womenswear F/W 2023 fashion show on February 23rd.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: ©Prada
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The Cartier brothers, who travelled extensively, observed, and drew inspiration from the beauty of the world, preserving it, and above all, enriching it. The Maison’s latest high jewelry collection BEAUTÉS DU MONDE continues this tradition. From the perfect arrangement of a bird’s feathers to the abstraction of a traditional Japanese motif, Cartier never ceases to marvel at all the beauty in the world and convey it through its sumptuous and spirited High Jewellery creations.

THE OCELLE NECKLACE
OF ALL BIRDS, THE PEACOCK IS POSSIBLY THE MOST FASCINATING

It was through his passion for the Islamic arts that Louis Cartier perceived the power of blue and green. For him, the discovery of this chromatic combination was so powerful that it became part of the Maison’s palette under the name of «peacock motif.» This combination quickly became a Cartier signature. The Ocelle necklace from the Beautés du Monde collection pays tribute to the bird with two opals weighing 16.59 and 6.19 carats respectively, and a 21.18-carat Zambian emerald. In addition to the colours, the necklace incorporates the form of the eyespots that characterise the peacock’s plumage. These are miniaturized, multiplied and highlighted by an onyxtrim. Partly overlapping each other and mobile, these small feathers bring great suppleness. The fluidity of the ensemble attests to the excellence of the Cartier workshops, as does the custom cuts of the opals and emerald, which are mounted on their culasse to create an invisible setting. The upper opal detaches to be worn as a brooch.

THE SPLENDENS NECKLACE
FAITHFULLY REPLICATING THE UNDULATING FINS OF A FIGHTING FISH

Was never the intent of this necklace, which introduces a new animal into the Cartier bestiary; rather, it was the desire to abstractly represent the delicate nature of their floating fins while creating a High Jewellery necklace. A creative stroke of handiwork made with a cascade of spinel beads selected for their harmony of colours and increasing size. Each bead is held within a type of invisible cap by a tiny nail whose surface plays with the light like water would over the scales of a fish. This exceedingly supple bib necklace is lined with nine oval and pear spinels totalling 27.79 carats. Remarkable for its chromatic uniformity, the ensemble is studded with square- and lozenge-shaped diamonds that electrify this fluid necklace, which seems to flow along the body’s curves.

THE CAMAIL NECKLACE
CARTIER CAN SEE BOTH LIFE AND MOVEMENT IN NATURE’S PERFECTION

A bird’s plumage thus becomes the abstract motif of a choker. Inspiration came to the artisans as they gazed in wonder upon the 42.44-carat ensemble of five Zambian emeralds, remarkable in their pear-shaped beauty. Each gem is highlighted by a curve of square diamonds trimmed with custom-cut onyx. The design thus creates a strong sensation of movement. Behind this rhythmic composition lie two feats of jewellery-making prowess: first, the necklace’s suppleness and second, the prong-less settings of the emeralds which seem to rest on top of the diamonds. In reality, each stone is precisely fitted onto a crescent-moon paved with diamonds that is integrated into the border. This creation renews and explores the chromatic harmony between white, green, and black that appeared around 1910 and has since become an emblematic combination of the Maison. The black of onyx, lacquer and enamel provides contrast, suggests volume and depth, and highlights geometric motifs. This combination heralded the Art Deco movement, of which Cartier was a pioneer.

THE OBI NECKLACE
FOR CARTIER, THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD IS ALSO THE BEAUTY OF TRADITIONS

Drawing inspiration small calibrated rubies. Thanks to from Japanese fabrics the very delicate custom-cut onyx decorated with inserts,the angles are marked, the rising sun motif, the Obi necklace pays tribute to the culture of Japan, an inspiring land cherished by the Maison for more than a century. A rare ensemble composed of eight cabochon-cut emeralds, including a 12.53-carat specimen from Zambia, provides the starting point. The gemstones become the heart of the radiant motifs, linked together. The roundness of the cabochons contrasts with the motif ’s geometry, which is punctuated by volumes accentuated, and the entire necklace gains depth. Green, red, and black: a signature chromatic harmony for Cartier, which since the beginning of the 20th century has dared to create unprecedented combinations. The colour black represents a new modern entry into the Cartier universe, and is now emblematic of its style. In keeping with Cartier’s tradition of transformable pieces, the pendant motif detaches to be worn as a brooch.

Below you can enjoy some making of photos that show the amazing craftsmanship behind those pieces.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © CARTIER
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