Beauty Shapes Tomorrow: Nouvel Héritage Unveils High Jewels for 10th Anniversary

When a brand has a distinctive point of view, there must be an incredible pull towards high jewellery. After all, this elevated creative pursuit is where ideas, inspirations and signature styles are supposed to reach their apex – their most ambitious and audacious. For French brand Nouvel Héritage, the time has come to unveil its debut suite of five high jewellery creations, each one an ode to its iconic Mood and Latch collections, as well as the soon-to-be-launched Try Me line. They are all part of the brand's 10th anniversary celebrations and are the perfect vehicle for demonstrating its contemporary signature aesthetic, neatly described by its tagline' Beauty Shapes Tomorrow'. Let's explore each creation and the innovative 3D printing techniques used in their construction…

Nouvel Héritage is a brand I have always associated with individuality. Its creations are beautifully crafted in timeless materials and rooted in traditional French savoir-faire, but there's always a spark of engineering, a twist on contemporary technologies, or a piece of storytelling that sets its jewels apart. All this is achieved by founder Camille Parruitte McKenna, who has a bold, almost futuristic vision for her jewellery that has helped to set it apart over the last decade. Manufacturing is done in-house in Burgundy, which explains the precision, tightly formed details, straight lines and edges that are so often indicative of French craftsmanship. There's also the focus on elevating everyday functional objects, like the toggle on a sweatshirt (Latch) or safety pins, carabiners, and key rings (Try Me) that anchor Nouvel Héritage firmly in the present. Basically, it's a brand that doesn't always do what you expect, and that's a great thing.

At the 2025 Couture Show in Las Vegas, Nouvel Héritage continued its 10th anniversary celebrations with the launch of new high jewels, specifically five pieces that push the envelope on its core collections and take their design codes to the next, most luxurious level.

Incredibly, its Latch XL High Jewellery necklace sold almost straight away to a private collector, perhaps to someone who has already amassed a plentiful selection of pendants, rings and bracelets from the Latch fine jewellery collection. The piece is a real technical and artistic achievement, not least because of the precious metal additive manufacturing – a type of 3D printing that turns gold powder into solid objects – required to bring it to life. It took more than 18 months for engineers to calibrate the machines that do this, while also fine-tuning the design to ensure it could offer the incredibly tight chain links that Camille imagined. These links emerge from the additive manufacturing machine already intact, meaning it doesn't require hand-assembly. And I am told this is good news, because it would be impossible to fully assemble the chain by hand whilst also retaining its astonishing level of flexibility and suppleness. This is where contemporary technology can really work wonders in bringing a designer's vision to life.

These links emerge from the additive manufacturing machine already intact, meaning it doesn't require hand-assembly. And I am told this is good news, because it would be impossible to fully assemble the chain by hand whilst also retaining its astonishing level of flexibility and suppleness. This is where contemporary technology can really work wonders in bringing a designer's vision to life.

More than 30 people collaborated to bring this 18k yellow gold necklace to life, which is set with 2,752 diamonds weighing 29.43 carats. It took 300 hours of craftsmanship and stands as a testament to Nouvel Héritage's ability to combine avant-garde techniques with traditional hand craftsmanship, such as diamond-setting, polishing and finishing. Plans are now in place to use this same additive manufacturing technology for future pieces., including a version of the Latch XL in white gold since the yellow gold has already flown out the door!

The next high jewellery piece is the 18k white gold Mood necklace, which follows in the footsteps of the punk-inspired Mood collection. It really pushes the creative boundaries of the Mood fastening concept, which is a little bit like a fine jewellery hook and eye, dipped in diamonds, that locks into place. We can see this at the front of the Mood High Jewellery necklace, but this time the fastening is covered in diamonds and cushion-cut pink tourmalines. Across the whole piece, there are 856 snow-set diamonds, totalling nearly 18 carats, that wrap around the neck and descend onto a removable chain that can also be worn as a bracelet.

Finally, there are three more high-quality jewellery creations that give us a sneak peek at the concept behind the soon-to-be-released Try Me fine jewellery collection. These new launches will reinterpret the classic curb chain, adapting it into something unisex, modular and cool for everyday wear. According to the brand: "The Try Me collection embodies a controlled rebellion, where each piece evokes raw sensuality and assertive strength. Inspired by the idea of a broken and re-welded chain, it plays with contrasts: broken links, U-shaped nails welded together, and sharp points facing inward; the goal is to assert one's strength without causing harm."

We can see this inspiration in action in the Try Me necklace, ring and 'Tuxedo' (like a modern-day tie chain), which are all crafted in 18k yellow gold, black ceramic accents, and diamonds. The pieces are modular, which means they can be worn in multiple ways, such as a necklace, brooch, and double finger ring. The Try Me necklace is also printed directly in gold using additive manufacturing technology, allowing for more shapely links with pointed, angular ends. It's set with more than 500 diamonds, totalling 5.56 carats, and requiring more than 100 hours of setting and a further 80 hours of fine jewellery work.

The Try Me Tuxedo is a two-brooch system, which can be worn across a gentleman's tie, to hold a jacket together, or as a lapel brooch. Finally, there's the Try Me ring that slips over two fingers like a single link separated from a much larger chain… it can also be added to the Try Me necklace as an additional adornment.

Seeing a brand as self-assured as Nouvel Héritage step into the high jewellery space is hugely exciting and a great sign of what's to come. Despite being small in number, these new creations are the perfect accompaniment to the brand's existing creations and demonstrate the next evolutionary phase in its story. I am especially interested in following the launch of the Try Me collection, and seeing how this fascination with U-shaped links and curb chains translates into wearable, everyday essentials. Let's watch this space together!