The new Secrets de Lys collection by Mellerio dits Meller:

August 19, 2014

By Katerina Perez

2 min read

Mellerio dits Meller Secrets de Lys ear cuffs crafted in platinum and set with diamonds

Mellerio dits Meller Secrets de Lys ear cuffs crafted in platinum and set with diamonds

Mellerio dits Meller Secrets de Lys ear cuffs crafted in platinum and set with diamonds

Most of the large jewellery houses have their own signature flower: Piaget has the rose, Chanel the camelia and Chaumet the hortensia, but Mellerio dits Meller has the queen of flowers and the flower of queens: the lily. In its latest high jewellery collection Secrets de Lys, this flower has once more come into bloom.

The collection includes five floral works: stud earrings, cuff earrings, a bracelet and two richly designed necklaces. These are a continuation of a lily flower – fleur de lis – theme already started by Mellerio dits Meller. This blossoming white flower bud has long served as an insignia of the rulers of France and now the flower is a favourite of the historic French maison.

As was the case last season, the current Mellerio dits Meller collection is dedicated to the French queen Marie de Médicis. The ruler was renowned for her love of precious stones and jewellery in which, incidentally, she was well versed. NTV reporter Alexander Kalinin wrote: “Paintings, busts, gold, faceted precious stones, crystal, marble – the Medici family certainly had taste; one might even say they had a sense of what was truly valuable. But the name Medici is not just synonymous with beautiful objects. The people who created these works were equally valuable to the famous dynasty. Michelangelo designed the facade of their family church, Botticelli painted for them, Raphael and Titian thanked their patrons with family portraits.” Meanwhile the Italian Mellerio family, under the patronage of the same queen, made her wonderful pieces.

Look at the maison’s modern creations such as the Secrets de Lys sautoir (below). This piece, made with platinum and a magnificent bright yellow diamond, would be just as effective if worn by an emperor of the past or a born aristocrat of the present. I was primarily fascinated not only by the chic 15 carat stone in the sautoir but also by the unconventional design decisions taken. As in the previous masterpieces of Dentelles de Lys, the precious ornaments of Secret de Lys were not put at the front but rather fall towards the chest in two parallel circular lines. It’s possible to cross these over each other if you like or to simply wear the necklace in a completely new way, with a yellow diamond on your neck or hefty golden twists around your spine. Because I managed to make it to a preview of the collection in Paris, I was able to experiment with the necklace to my heart’s content.

And last but not least, I should also mention that the high jewellery collection Secrets de Lys is complemented by diamond ear cuffs (on the right). Here we have another bold design decision, don’t we? Considering that modern jewellery art has already been breaking away from tradition for several years now, any innovations in the high jewellery industry can only be encouraged. KP

Mellerio dits Meller Secrets de Lys necklace with a 15cts yellow diamond

Mellerio dits Meller Secrets de Lys necklace with a 15cts yellow diamond

In Katerina Perez’s shoes: interview with Suzanne Syz

continue reading

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

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

Watches and Wonders 2025: Eight of the Most Artful Dials 

From lovers kissing on a bridge to precious animals painted in enamel or gems, this year’s watch launches included timepieces with extraordinary dials that blur the line between watchmaking and wearable art.

by Rachael Taylor

Birthday Wishes: Embracing the Power of Being Different 

Today, I want to share my thoughts on embracing your inner self and channelling all that power into your biggest passions…

by Katerina Perez

Flip the Script: Meet the Jewellers Creating Luxury Customised Watches

Jewellery designers are increasingly turning their artistic talents to the world of horology, customising luxury watches with unique embellishments that carry their personal style signatures. From reimagined Rolexes to gemstone-studded bezels, discover how jewellers are making their mark on the world of timepieces

by Rachael Taylor

Iconic Revival: Boucheron Reinvents the Serpent Bohème Jewellery

That nostalgic feeling of seeing past creations—sometimes forgotten, sometimes iconic—sparking a rush of inspiration to reimagine and breathe new life into what once was. That's exactly what Boucheron has achieved with its latest revival: the Serpent Bohème Vintage collection

by Hirshi Sujanti

Art Deco Innovation: Exploring the Iconic Van Cleef & Arpels Mystery Setting

The Mystery Setting by Van Cleef & Arpels stands out as a masterpiece of Art Deco ingenuity. As the world celebrates the centenary of Art Deco in 2025, we are taking the opportunity to spotlight one of the most technically ambitious innovations to emerge from this golden era of jewellery design

by Claire Roberts

Emerald Odyssey: Chopard Unveils its Insofu High Jewellery Collection

There's nothing quite like the thrill of a new collection unveiling. But what truly excites me isn't just the sparkle and glamour – it's when a brand takes a bold and unexpected approach. This is exactly what Chopard has done with its latest Insofu High Jewellery collection, which all started with the extraordinary 6,225-carat 'Insofu' rough emerald. Let's take a closer look at the creations that have emerged from this incredible mineral specimen

by Hirshi Sujanti

Watches and Wonders 2025: The Best Jewellery Watches 

From diamond-drenched serpents to enamelled blooms and secret talismans, these new jewellery watches unveiled in Geneva embody the artistry, emotion and extravagance of high jewellery watchmaking for women

by Rachael Taylor

Refined Character: The Ancient-Meets-Modern Allure of Dionysios Fine Jewels

The Dionysios signature is all about warm, soulful jewellery that’s characterful without being overtly historical or too starkly modern. Let’s take a closer look at some of the brand’s highlights…

by Katerina Perez

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.