Aziz & Walid Mouzannar: New Silene Collection in Collaboration with Zaha Hadid

February 17, 2016

By Katerina Perez

2 min read

The Jewellery House Aziz & Walid Mouzannar is uniting members of the family who have dedicated their lives to creating jewellery. The family dynasty has continued this marvellous tradition since the 18th century. The Silene collection is the House’s latest line and it includes exquisite cuffs and rings created in collaboration with the renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

The first piece, which as a matter of fact was the first in the entire collection, was a gold cuff designed with Zaha for Aziz & Walid Mouzannar back in 2014. The bracelet’s shape resembled the architecture of a miniature tower and was decorated with 1,048 white diamonds. The sparkling stones adorned the smooth gold surface of the bracelet, forming a complex web of petals radiating out from the centre of the cuff right out to its edges. The constant play between the intersecting lines and flashes of light reflected from the stones imparted the piece with a certain dynamism, and created the impression that the bracelet was filled with a sort of emanating energy.

AW Mouzannar Creates New Silene Collection in Collaboration with Zaha Hadid

AW Mouzannar Creates New Silene Collection in Collaboration with Zaha Hadid

In 2014 a model of the cuff was released in limited edition with only 12 pieces made, one of 18-carat white gold and the others of gold in different colours. “Silene expresses the fluidity and complexity of natural forms,” said Hadid. “An intricate web gently envelops the pristine white gold cuff resulting in a delicate piece that explores the evolution of organic geometries and patterning.”

Inspired by the stunning results of their collaboration, Zaha Hadid together with Alia and Dori Mouzannar created a whole new line of jewellery, naming it in honour of the very first bracelet, Silene. The new collection included revised versions of the cuffs and large rings, all 18-carat gold in different colours: pink and white gold with clear diamonds, and yellow gold with black diamonds.

We chose to collaborate with Zaha Hadid because she is a great artist, a friend and our visions are aligned. It is a very contemporary collection that involves a very strong spirit, which is rich and feminine yet delicate. – Alia Mouzannar

The design of the new items echoes the 2014 bracelet but does not repeat it “verbatim”. The two new gold cuffs, under the names Silene II and Silene III, are much lighter than their predecessor, in that they are similar to the engraved contours that comprise the central ornamentation on  the original Silene I cuff. The perforated Silene II ring comes in various golds and evokes the outline of stars bursting out into the night sky. It is lighter than the Silene III ring, which is made of pink gold with diamonds. The design of the three rings in Silene I is more ambitious, as these rings cover both the lower and upper section of the chosen finger with an infusion of gold and dazzling diamonds.

Alia’s work celebrates materiality and composition in the rich history and traditions of Lebanon’s jewellers. Each immaculately detailed piece conveys formal complexity and precision with the highest standards of craftsmanship. Our collaboration with the House takes full advantage of Alia’s expertise and Dori’s knowledge to explore the beauty of natural forms and the unique properties of nature’s materials. – Zaha Hadid

Chaumet Une Education Sentimentale exhibition: An Expression of Passionate Feelings through Jewellery

continue reading

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Celebrating Colour: 20 Uplifting Jewellery Creations by Lisa Nik

Whether you're craving a juicy mandarin garnet or an eye-catching bi-colour tourmaline, here are 20 joyful pieces that exemplify the Lisa Nik approach, as well as the inspiration behind them…

by Sarah Jordan

Watches and Wonders 2025: The Coolest Watch Novelties

With pastel pops, Pop Art influences, and playful twists on time itself, Watches and Wonders 2025 delivered a vibrant feast of creativity. Discover the fun new watches setting trends in Geneva this spring

by Rachael Taylor

White Hot: Achromatic Jewellery is Having a Moment

Let’s explore the revival of all white jewellery and discover why this look is universally complementary – and a great investment.  

by Rachael Taylor

Reinventing Royalty: The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology 

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Watches and Wonders 2025: Eight of the Most Artful Dials 

From lovers kissing on a bridge to precious animals painted in enamel or gems, this year’s watch launches included timepieces with extraordinary dials that blur the line between watchmaking and wearable art.

by Rachael Taylor

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.