Secrets & Lights By Piaget: A Journey Along The Silk Road

September 8, 2015

By Katerina Perez

3 min read

Piaget’s new Secrets & Lights collection is a masterpiece of jewellery and watchmaking art which celebrates the history of the Silk Road and the wealth of culture and different cities that adorn the famous route.

The sources of inspiration for the collection, made up of 93 pieces of jewellery and 38 watch designs, are two legendary places in particular: Venice and Samarkand. Their unforgettable architecture and rich artistic heritage have inspired a collection split into two parts: Secrets of Venice and Lights of Samarkand.

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Piaget’s spokesperson observed that “both cities inspire us, of course, with their spirit, architecture, and all the other aspects that make them remarkable. However, we very often forget the processes by which such places become so beautiful, which is why we wanted to emphasize both sides of the coin: the exquisite beauty of the finished piece and the mystery of the jewellery-making techniques which so often go unappreciated.”

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

With this collection, Piaget’s designers have once again stayed true to the traditions and style of the Jewellery House, while at the same time experimenting with new techniques and artistic choices. A good example of this is the cuff-bracelet with emeralds, sapphires and diamonds bordered by a flower of feathers, a piece designed in collaboration with Nelly Saunier, an artist known for working with feathers. Among the vibrant pieces of Secrets & Lights there are three cocktail rings celebrating Venice.  According to Piaget: “each ring is dedicated to a different part of the city. The Castello ring features a diamond fringe which shakes when you move, making it a very playful jewel. It’s a nice twist on a classic piece, which makes it stand out.”

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

The second of the diamond rings hides a secret. The crown slides to the side to reveal a bewitching night sky created using grand feu and cloisonné enamel techniques. Thanks to the skilled work of the engraver, you can see the constellation Leo on the smooth, shiny surface of the enamel. The third ring, Palazzo, has a pattern formed from crosshatching of spinel and diamond which brings to life the elegance of Venetian art.

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Personally, I think the most impressive design from the Venice half of the collection is the Passeggiata necklace, which features several beautiful diamonds and rubies. It is named after the old tradition of the young and the beautiful taking an evening walk, or ‘passeggiata’, along the promenades of Venice. Piaget’s gemmologists acquired a parcel of almost 50 cts rubies that the gemstone dealer had been collecting for nearly five years. They are perfectly alike in terms of purity and colour to make up the necklace.

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

The quality of gemstones in Lights of Samarkand is matched only by the unique technical approach and level of execution of the design. It is almost as if each piece of jewellery has its own amazing oriental fairy tale to tell. Just as their predecessors brought back incredible rare gemstones from Samarkand, Piaget’s gemmologists have travelled all over the world in search of stones to form the captivating centrepiece of their elegant designs. One such example is a Colombian cushion-cut emerald weighing more than 7 carats which formed the centrepiece of a four-petal flower ring.

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

Secrets & Lights By Piaget

The diamond and turquoise bracelet features a similar pattern, recreating motifs from charming arabesques. This particular piece is a good example of the designers’ skill when it comes to gold. In their skilful hands this precious metal so beloved by Piaget becomes a jewellery canvas, flowing and smooth, like fabric made from gold. So say Piaget themselves, and I for one cannot help but agree with them.

Cindy Chao Rose Petal Earrings: Experiment With A New Material

continue reading

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

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

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.