Ready to Blaze: Garrard’s Ode to a Trailblazing Icon
The House of Garrard has taken inspiration from its royal heritage with Princess Diana to create a playful and colourful high jewellery collection that’s ready to set hearts alight. Full of bold shapes and bright gemstones, the Blaze collection marks the beginning of a new chapter in Garrard’s design aesthetic, one that is more daring than we’ve previously seen from the brand.
<a href=”https://garrard.com/int/get-ready-to-blaze/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>The Blaze collection celebrates many firsts for Garrard. Famed for its connection with British royalty, the brand has harnessed the energy of its history with the Crown and unleashed it in unexpected ways, turning the most iconic designs on their heads. It is also worth noting that the brand has introduced a brand ambassador for the first time since its founding in 1735… this is trailblazing in its own right!
Garrard was the first official Crown Jeweller, appointed by the British royal family in 1843, making it the oldest jewellery brand with connections to the Crown. Today, most of the royal pieces in existence are Garrard creations. From Queen Mary’s consort crown to Princess Diana’s engagement ring, which is now being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Garrard has sealed its place in history as the go-to jeweller for royal weddings, state events, ballroom outings and everything in between. The brand’s creative director, Sara Prentice, was inspired by the infamous cluster setting of Princess Diana’s engagement ring when creating the new signature look for each piece in the Blaze collection. She flips the classic motif to create a compilation of cabochon-cut gemstones, set in a more edgy and distinctive manner.
Garrard Blaze Collection jewellery modelled by Olivia Cooke
Colours play a major role in the aesthetic of this collection. The 32 pieces (necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings) are all similar in design, yet vary in colour. Blue, pink, green and white colour schemes are created with sapphires, rubellites, tourmalines and diamonds, along with many other matching precious gemstones to create a rainbow of jewels, each set in a complementary shade of gold. The variety of shapes, cuts and sizes bring a contemporary feel to each piece. In the words of Prentice herself: “This electrifying new collection is all about an explosion of colour. By inverting our classic design, we were able to play with the cluster motif in a truly unexpected way.”
In another unexpected turn of events, Garrard has used this collection to present to the world the face of their latest campaign. The British actress Olivia Cooke is mostly known for her roles in the TV show Slow Horses as well as the soon to be released Game of Thrones sequel, House of the Dragon. A glamorous icon in her own right, the actress brings a welcome dose of energy and modernity to the brand: “There’s a daring touch to Garrard’s new Blaze collection – the electric colours have a real energy and life of their own, and I have loved exploring it,” says Cooke.
Garrard Blaze Collection jewellery modelled by Olivia Cooke
Electrifying, unexpected and exploding with colour. The Garrard Blaze collection spotlights the genius of the brand’s master craftsmen, who have managed to forge ahead into new territory while holding onto their traditions. Seamlessly moving through time and adjusting to an ever-changing world, it’s no wonder this jeweller has its place in history.
WORDS
Katerina Perez With more than 12 years’ experience in the jewellery sector, Katerina’s expert knowledge spans everything from retail sales and management to content creation, including brand building, jewellery writing and styling. Born and raised in St Petersburg, Katerina’s favourite hobby as a child was playing with the treasures in her grandmother's jewellery box, inspiring a lifelong love of jewellery from a very early age. She spent five years in St Petersburg University of Culture and Arts studying not journalism but business studies and languages, and her writing skills have developed as her passion for her favourite subject – jewellery – has grown. This is why her writing comes straight from the heart rather than the pages of a book. Daughter of an entrepreneur mother, Katerina exchanged her retail management job for jewellery writing in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.
Related Articles
The Gift of Heritage: Antique and Vintage Jewellery for a Truly Unique Christmas
If you are ready to explore antique creations for the ultimate Christmas surprise, here’s our advice for making the best shopping decisions…
Latest Stories
Add articles and images to your favorites. Just
Jeweller of the Month:MADLY Gems
Singaporean brand celebrates 10-year anniversary
Jewels Katerina Perez Loves
Continue Reading
Ask Katerina:Diamond Jewellery Styling Tips for Modern Dressing
Here are some of the answers I gave during the presentation to aid your jewellery dressing…
Brand Focus:Van Cleef & Arpels
Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox