Jewelled Bags #2: The Ultimate Luxury Accessories for Gem Lovers

August 17, 2020

By Katerina Perez

6 min read

People often ask me: what would you write about if you were not focussed solely on jewellery? It seems that this one obsession leaves little room for others, but I do have another great passion: designer handbags. In 2018, I shared with you a selection of beautiful bejewelled clutches, but thankfully the world of fashion never stands still and today I am pleased to introduce you to five brands that create luxury handbags set with diamonds and colourful gemstones.

href=”https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/andrea-buccellati” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Buccellati

Since 1919, Buccellati has been offering its customers not only jewellery and watches but also a wide range of cutlery, figurines, dinnerware, cigarette cases, keyrings, souvenirs and, of course, evening bags. In developing them, Mario Buccellati, who founded the Italian jewellery house in 1919, wanted to highlight the close ties between Buccellati and La Scala opera house in Milan, which was located next to the first Buccellati store. Of all the designs, my favourites are the two clutches by Gianmaria Buccellati created in 1980 and 2008, which perfectly reflect the brand’s signature materials and techniques. The first is crafted from rigato-engraved silver and embellished with gold-engraved flowers and leaves, with the clasp encrusted with 44 emeralds (0.97 carats), 17 rubies (0.69 carats) and 28 diamonds (0.63 carats). The second, in engraved silver, features delicate lace edging and a rose and yellow gold clasp set with a 3.77 carat turquoise. Both real masterpieces made by true Italian masters.

Buccellati clutch bag in rigato-engraved silver with golden flowers and engraved leaves, designed by Gianmaria Buccellati in 1980

Buccellati clutch bag in engraved silver, crafted in 2008 by Gianmaria Buccellati, with a turquoise, pink and yellow gold clasp

href=”https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/Bvlgari-Jannah” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Bvlgari

Another Italian brand, Bvlgari, regularly delights us with beautifully detailed evening bag designs, some of which are so unique that they exist only in a single edition. For example, the Serpenti, which is crafted from crocodile skin and foil-covered in pure 24 carat gold, is the most exquisite bag Bvlgari has ever created, reinforcing the link between the worlds of high jewellery and accessories. The iconic snakehead clasp is set with pavé diamonds, with tourmalines for eyes. Inside the purse there is a gold plaque that reads “Bulgari Limited Edition 1/1”, indicating that this is a completely unique creation. For lovers of minaudières, Bvlgari offers the Melone range in silver or gold with the iconic Tubogas chain, decorated with lizard skin and black enamel.

Bvlgari High Jewellery 24KT Serpenti bag

Made of crocodile skin and pure 24 carat gold, the High Jewellery Serpenti bag is the most precious bag Bvlgari has ever created

Bvlgari Melone minaudière in silver, lizard skin and black enamel

Bvlgari Melone minaudière in gold, lizard skin and black enamel

href=”https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/tie-and-dior-high-jewellery-collection-summer” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Dior

This year, the House of Dior exhibited its exquisite Gem Clutch in satin with precious stones, a collaboration between creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri and Victoire de Castellane, who is creative director of Dior’s fine jewellery division. Inspired by the Rose Dior Bagatelle collection, the Gem Clutch is an exquisite reminder of Christian Dior’s boundless love for flowers and the Bagatelle Park in Paris, in which 1,200 varieties of plants grow. Entirely made by hand, a rose, Monsieur Dior’s favourite bloom, graces the clasp of the handbag. With a wide range of colours to choose between, you can pick the bag that best matches your outfit, from emerald green to purple, pale pink to fuchsia, grey to red.

Dior's new Gem Clutch in satin and precious stones

Crafted in the finest satin, Dior's Gem Clutch is available in a range of colours, from emerald green to purple, pale pink to fuchsia

Each Dior Gem Clutch is entirely made by hand

The Gem Clutch was a collaboration between Dior's creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri and Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior’s fine jewellery division

The Gem Clutch was inspired by the Rose Dior Bagatelle jewellery collection

A diamond and tsavorite rose, Monsieur Dior’s favourite bloom, graces the clasp of the handbag

A sketch of the delicate diamond and tsavorite clasp that fastens Dior's new Gem Clutch

href=”https://www.katerinaperez.com/articles/Tabbah-COUTURE-2019″ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Tabbah

Tabbah has been on the jewellery scene for over 150 years. Their assortment of jewellery ranges from family heirlooms to more contemporary lines – a rare combination that is a testament to Tabbah’s far-reaching outlook. Written on the Maison’s Instagram, beneath one of the jewels, is a quote from Audrey Hepburn: “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible!” These are words I would attribute to the impeccable craftsmanship of Tabbah, which is embodied in its clutch bags crafted from 18 carat gold, beautifully engraved and set with coloured gemstones and diamonds. While Tabbah doesn’t specialise in bejewelled accessories, it does welcome the freedom to choose the jewellery you like, which includes spectacular clutches such as these.

A beautifully engraved 18-carat gold Tabbah clutch bag

Different diamond cuts set in engraved gold decorate the edges of Tabbah's one-of-a-kind clutch

The engraved spherical clasp is entirely set with pavé diamonds

href=”https://www.darbyscott.com/” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>Darby Scott

Anglo-American designer Darby Scott is widely known for her creations in exotic leathers and luxurious fabrics set with semi-precious stones, natural seashells, horn, bone and wood. Here, you will find not just one or two pieces but entire collections. But that’s not all: from the collection entitled The Vault, Darby also offers its customers sophisticated everyday handbags that are both functional and luxurious evening accessories. One of my favourites is the one-of-a-kind evening edition adorned with 130 faceted stones: amethysts, citrines, ametrine and topaz alongside hundreds of diamonds. And particularly of note, 10% from the sale of each purchase from The Vault will be donated to a charitable foundation of the buyer’s choosing.

Anglo-American designer Darby Scott has created a one-of-a-kind evening bag adorned with a multitude of gemstones

From The Vault collection, it is a 1/1 piece

The evening bag is set with 130 coloured stones, including ametrine, amethyst, lime citrine, champagne topaz and smokey topaz, and diamonds over champagne silk

10% from the sale of each purchase from The Vault will be donated to a charitable foundation of the buyer’s choosing

As you can see, each handbag has its own rich backstory, but their creators are very similar in two respects: their love for jewellery art and their open-mindedness to experiment with precious stones beyond the realms of jewellery.

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