Exceptional Designs: The Most Memorable Jewels of 2023

December 25, 2023

By Sarah Jordan

9 min read

From exceptional craftsmanship and innovative materials to stand-out gemstones and kaleidoscopic colour combinations, this year has been jam-packed with high jewels that wowed us. Continue reading to discover the 25 creations that made our hearts beat faster over the last 12 months…

When you see as much sensational jewellery as we do here at KaterinaPerez.com, narrowing an entire year’s output from our favourite high jewellery maisons, brands and designers is no easy task. As we look ahead to the New Year and another exciting period of invention and creativity, we’re reflecting on the 25 pieces that wowed us in 2023. Below, you’ll find five necklaces, five pairs of earrings, five bracelets, five rings and five brooches that made us stop and take notice. Let’s dive right in.

Designing and crafting the Van Cleef & Arpels Dea Eterna clip in gold, white gold, rose gold, featuring a 3.47-ct oval-cut pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, gray cultured pearl and diamonds from Le Grand Tour High Jewellery Collection

Designing and crafting the Van Cleef & Arpels Dea Eterna clip in gold, white gold, rose gold, featuring a 3.47-ct oval-cut pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, gray cultured pearl and diamonds from Le Grand Tour High Jewellery Collection

Necklaces

Back in March, we wrote about the new ‘Couture’ direction at British house Garrard and its Northern Lights necklace, which we loved for its sinuous shape, beautiful opals, sapphires, green tourmalines, tsavorites and mother of pearl ‘matchsticks’. Next, there’s the Pomellato Ode to Milan High Jewellery collection, specifically the Skyline necklace with 128 spinels and diamonds. Our third pick is from the Louis Vuitton Deep Time High Jewellery collection, which was bursting with distinctive necklaces, chains and layered looks. We finally decided upon the Bones transformable necklace with a 43.58-carat oval-cut opal, a 20.9-carat pear-cut Paraiba tourmaline, tanzanites, tourmalines and diamonds. Just as we were about to agree upon the Chaumet Feuille de Vigne necklace, the Mikimoto Praise to the Sea High Jewellery collection lured us in with its siren’s song! The Blue Whale necklace epitomises 2023’s obsession with the sea, which is also the focus of Tiffany & Co.’s latest Blue Book collection. And speaking of the oceanic themes, our final pick is Alexander Laut’s seaweed-inspired necklace with South Sea pearls and diamonds in white gold.

Garrard Northern Lights necklace in white gold, opal, diamond, multi-coloured sapphire, green tourmaline, tsavorite and mother-of-pearl from the Couture High Jewellery collection

Garrard Northern Lights necklace in white gold, opal, diamond, multi-coloured sapphire, green tourmaline, tsavorite and mother-of-pearl from the Couture High Jewellery collection

 Pomellato Skyline necklace in rose gold, 128 spinels and diamonds from the Ode to Milan High Jewellery collection

Pomellato Skyline necklace in rose gold, 128 spinels and diamonds from the Ode to Milan High Jewellery collection

 Actress Ana de Armas wearing Louis Vuitton Bones High Jewellery transformable necklace in white gold, platinum, a 43.58-ct oval-cut opal, a 20.9-ct pear-cut Paraiba tourmaline, tanzanites, tourmalines and diamonds from the Deep Time High Jewellery Collection

Actress Ana de Armas wearing Louis Vuitton Bones High Jewellery transformable necklace in white gold, platinum, a 43.58-ct oval-cut opal, a 20.9-ct pear-cut Paraiba tourmaline, tanzanites, tourmalines and diamonds from the Deep Time High Jewellery Collection

 Mikimoto Blue Whale high jewellery necklace in white gold, Paraiba tourmaline, sapphire, a  41.54-ct green tourmaline and diamond from the Praise to the Sea collection

Mikimoto Blue Whale high jewellery necklace in white gold, Paraiba tourmaline, sapphire, a 41.54-ct green tourmaline and diamond from the Praise to the Sea collection

 Katerina Perez wears a seaweed-inspired necklace by Alexander Laut with South Sea pearls and diamonds in white gold

Katerina Perez wears a seaweed-inspired necklace by Alexander Laut with South Sea pearls and diamonds in white gold

Earrings

There was an overwhelming number of beautiful earrings to choose from this year, but some stood out for a mixed bag of reasons. First, there’s the Boucheron More is More Pull Me transformable earrings-meet-hoodie-strings, with citrines, onyx, cacholong, white opal and diamonds. Tasaki also presented some colourful options in its Atelier 6 Nature’s Spectacle High Jewellery collection, especially the Cascade earrings with Paraiba tourmalines, diamonds and graduating lines of Akoya pearls. The Graff Tribal earrings wowed at the brands Sunrise exhibition earlier this year with two pairs of sensationally rich, pear-shaped yellow diamonds, surrounded by white diamonds for a total of 65.62 carats. We’d also like to spotlight a pair of Art Deco-inspired emerald and diamond earrings crafted by Czech jeweller, Luboš Korbička of Korbička Šperky, who was a perfect host on Katerina’s visit to Prague and the city of Brno. Finally, let’s not forget the NatureScapes collection by Assael, with its melding of pearls and unusual materials, including petrified wood.

Earring version of the Boucheron Pull Me clothing jewels (in the tradition of multi-wear) with citrines, onyx, cacholongs and diamonds, decorated with lacquer in white and yellow gold and titanium, from the More is More High Jewellery collection

Earring version of the Boucheron Pull Me clothing jewels (in the tradition of multi-wear) with citrines, onyx, cacholongs and diamonds, decorated with lacquer in white and yellow gold and titanium, from the More is More High Jewellery collection

 Tasaki Cascade earrings with Paraiba tourmalines, round brilliant-cut diamonds, and graduating lines of Akoya pearls, from the Atelier 6 Nature Spectacle High Jewellery collection

Tasaki Cascade earrings with Paraiba tourmalines, round brilliant-cut diamonds, and graduating lines of Akoya pearls, from the Atelier 6 Nature Spectacle High Jewellery collection

 Graff  Tribal earrings with 65.62-carats of yellow and colourless diamonds

Graff Tribal earrings with 65.62-carats of yellow and colourless diamonds

 Katerina wears a pair of diamond and emerald Art Deco-inspired earrings by Korbička Šperk

Katerina wears a pair of diamond and emerald Art Deco-inspired earrings by Korbička Šperk

 Assael NatureScapes earrings with spotted petrified wood and South Sea cultured pearls in 18k white gold

Assael NatureScapes earrings with spotted petrified wood and South Sea cultured pearls in 18k white gold

Bracelets

We love when designers add new techniques to their repertoire, and that’s exactly what Neha Dani did with her carved agate bracelet, presented at PAD London earlier this year. Each piece of mineral had to be custom-cut to fit a diamond-set titanium frame, wrapping like vines around deep orange gems. Next, there’s the Snake cuff bracelet in Elie Top’s Magica Naturae High Jewellery collection, which features his signature yellow gold and blackened silver scales with a deep red rubellite and diamonds. The final trio of pieces to make the list are by Tiffany & Co., Buccellati and Tasaki, whose distinctive styles really shone through this season. For the former, we loved two pieces in the Pisces suite of the new Blue Book ‘Out of the Blue’ High Jewellery collection. We almost opted for a wrist enveloping fish, but instead chose the more wearable Pisces cuff with untreated Umba sapphires, white opals and diamonds. The Buccellati Mosaico High Jewellery collection contained a selection of flexible golden bracelets, including this one with a honeycomb gold interior and a frame of white gold punctuated with 4.22 carats of diamonds. Finally, the Tasaki Flourish is worth a special mention for its colourful array of pearls, Paraiba tourmalines, sapphires and morganites.

Carved agate bracelet with diamonds set in titanium by Neha Dani

Carved agate bracelet with diamonds set in titanium by Neha Dani

 Snake cuff bracelet with a cabochon rubellite in yellow gold and silver from Magica Naturae collection by Elie Top

Snake cuff bracelet with a cabochon rubellite in yellow gold and silver from Magica Naturae collection by Elie Top

 Tiffany & Co. Pisces bracelet in platinum and 18k yellow gold with unenhanced Umba sapphires, white opals and diamonds from the 2023 Tiffany Blue Book collection

Tiffany & Co. Pisces bracelet in platinum and 18k yellow gold with unenhanced Umba sapphires, white opals and diamonds from the 2023 Tiffany Blue Book collection

 Buccellati Mosaico High Jewellery bracelet with a honeycomb gold interior and white gold frame, set with 4.22 carats of diamonds

Buccellati Mosaico High Jewellery bracelet with a honeycomb gold interior and white gold frame, set with 4.22 carats of diamonds

 Tasaki Flourish High Jewellery bracelet with diamonds, morganites, fancy colour sapphires, pink tourmalines, Paraiba tourmalines, topazes and spinels, bordered by graduated Akoya pearls, from the Atelier 6: Nature's Spectacle collection

Tasaki Flourish High Jewellery bracelet with diamonds, morganites, fancy colour sapphires, pink tourmalines, Paraiba tourmalines, topazes and spinels, bordered by graduated Akoya pearls, from the Atelier 6: Nature's Spectacle collection

Rings

Coloured gemstone cocktail rings are part of the KaterinaPerez.com DNA, and we’re always hunting for new and impressive minerals to showcase on Instagram. A great example of this is the Sicis La Vie En Rose ring with its fluttering articulated micromosaic petals surrounding a 1.43-carat trilliant-cut diamond. Also on Instagram, you’ll find a closer look at the Bleu Royal – the largest internally flawless blue diamond to ever appear at auction, totalling 17.61 carats. It was sold by Christie’s in November for a staggering $40m (£32m)! Sometimes you just can’t stop thinking about a particular stone, and that’s certainly the case for the Caratell Plum Blossom ring with an oval-shaped purplish-pink sapphire centre stone. Finally, the Messika Midnight Sun High Jewellery collection contained the eye-popping Joy Cœur Toi et Moi ring with two heart-shaped diamonds for a total of 25.07 carats, and the De Beers Metamorphosis High Jewellery offering included the ostentatious Summer Masterpiece Diamond & Jacket ring, with a 7.61 carat fancy vivid yellow diamond and four possible ways-to-wear.

Sicis La Vie En Rose ring with articulated micromosaic petals surrounding a 1.43-carat trilliant-cut diamond

Sicis La Vie En Rose ring with articulated micromosaic petals surrounding a 1.43-carat trilliant-cut diamond

  The Bleu Royal internally flawless blue diamond of 17.61 carats, sold by Christie's

The Bleu Royal internally flawless blue diamond of 17.61 carats, sold by Christie's

 Caratell Plum Blossom ring with an oval-shaped purplish-pink sapphire centre stone

Caratell Plum Blossom ring with an oval-shaped purplish-pink sapphire centre stone

 Messika Joy Cœur Toi et Moi ring with two heart-shaped diamonds for a total of 25.07 carats, from the Midnight Sun High Jewellery collection

Messika Joy Cœur Toi et Moi ring with two heart-shaped diamonds for a total of 25.07 carats, from the Midnight Sun High Jewellery collection

 De Beers Summer Masterpiece Diamond & Jacket ring with a 7.61-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond from the Metamorphosis High Jewellery collection

De Beers Summer Masterpiece Diamond & Jacket ring with a 7.61-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond from the Metamorphosis High Jewellery collection

Brooches

Finally, let’s talk brooches! All the way back in January 2023, we wrote about the Boucheron Like a Queen High Jewellery collection, including the Rolling Red brooch with 17 oval-shaped rubies from Mozambique totalling 18.82 carats. The Tweed de Chanel High Jewellery collection also piqued our interest and caused quite a sensation on Instagram. We especially loved the Chanel Tweed Lion brooch with an oval-cut red spinel of 9.13 carats, diamonds, rubies, spinels, and spessartite garnets. Another top pick is the Van Cleef & Arpels Dea Eterna clip with a 3.47 carat oval-cut pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, grey cultured pearl, and diamonds from Le Grand Tour High Jewellery collection. Our final two choices return to the ocean, which is undoubtedly one of the biggest themes of the year. The Mikimoto Praise to the Sea collection contained boundless brooch options, including dolphins, manta rays, octopuses, whales and starfish. Our top pick, however, is a playful duo of clown fish swimming through coral tendrils in fire opal, sapphires, mother of pearl and onyx. Last but not least, the Anna Hu Siren’s Aria Seashell brooch is a showstopper. It’s grounded by a natural pecten keppelianus seashell with diamond ‘seaweed’, Mediterranean coral, Akoya pearls and a natural baroque pearl of 29.30 carats.

Rolling Red brooch with 17 oval rubies from Mozambique for a total weight of 18.82 carats, paved with diamonds in 18k white gold from the Boucheron Like a Queen High Jewellery Collection

Rolling Red brooch with 17 oval rubies from Mozambique for a total weight of 18.82 carats, paved with diamonds in 18k white gold from the Boucheron Like a Queen High Jewellery Collection

 Chanel Tweed Lion brooch with an oval-cut red spinel of 9.13-carats, diamonds, rubies, spinels and spessartite garnets in white and yellow gold, from the Tweed Lion set of the Tweed de Chanel High Jewellery Collection

Chanel Tweed Lion brooch with an oval-cut red spinel of 9.13-carats, diamonds, rubies, spinels and spessartite garnets in white and yellow gold, from the Tweed Lion set of the Tweed de Chanel High Jewellery Collection

 Van Cleef & Arpels Dea Eterna clip in gold, white gold, rose gold, featuring a 3.47-ct oval-cut pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, gray cultured pearl and diamonds from Le Grand Tour High Jewellery Collection

Van Cleef & Arpels Dea Eterna clip in gold, white gold, rose gold, featuring a 3.47-ct oval-cut pink sapphire, blue sapphires, lapis lazuli, gray cultured pearl and diamonds from Le Grand Tour High Jewellery Collection

 Mikimoto high jewellery brooch in gold, sapphire, mother of pearl, opal, onyx and diamond from the Praise to the Sea collection

Mikimoto high jewellery brooch in gold, sapphire, mother of pearl, opal, onyx and diamond from the Praise to the Sea collection

 Anna Hu Siren’s Aria Seashell brooch with natural pecten keppelianus seashell, diamond ‘seaweed’, Mediterranean coral, Akoya pearls and a natural baroque pearl of 29.30 carats

Anna Hu Siren’s Aria Seashell brooch with natural pecten keppelianus seashell, diamond ‘seaweed’, Mediterranean coral, Akoya pearls and a natural baroque pearl of 29.30 carats

So, what do you think of our top jewellery picks for 2023? Some have been chosen for their gemmological merit, others their exemplary design, and some for their sheer joyfulness. Whatever captures your attention, I hope you have found inspiration and fresh ideas from this extraordinary collection of finery.

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