The Premier League: High Jewellery in 2013, part 1Chopard

January 7, 2014

By Katerina Perez

3 min read

Following the very best traditions of the jewellery industry, the most renowned maisons released beautifully distinctive high jewellery collections in 2013. Glowing with the virtuosity and creativity of their craftsmen, Chopard, Cartier, Chaumet, Boucheron, Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef&Arpels and other revered brands have dazzled us yet again with masterpieces that have left deep impressions on the memories of many.

Each piece has had its own brilliant style, from the Indian decorative art-inspired works by Van Cleef&Arpels to the Renaissance influenced medallions by Louis Vuitton. Each maison has pursued its own artistic path, but in 2013 they were united by one common denominator: a bold fusion of rare precious stones. To bring the last year to a close, let us run through the scintillating array of the best haute joaillerie creations 2013.

A partner of the Cannes Film Festival, Chopard has spent the past seven years creating pieces destined for their annual Red Carpet collection. 2013 marked the 15th anniversary of the alliance between the film festival and the jewellery maison.

For the 66th ceremony, Chopard prepared 66 different creations inspired by the theme of love. Tender emotions were reflected in the delicate interweaving lines of the pieces, the rare stones shaped into hearts, and those eternal symbols of love: flowers.

Feelings of love and passion cannot be helped when it comes to the eternally romantic Chaumet. The Hortensia collection included 24 pieces divided into three colour groups. It was in this way that Chaumet’s new creative director, Claire Dévé-Rakoff, could “narrate” the three most important stages in the life of Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Empress Josephine.

These are the story of her marriage to Louis Bonaparte, the period during which she lived under the patronage of Alexander I, and the time of her desperate love for the Comte de Flahaut de La Billarderie. All the varying emotions of these episodes are brought out in the blue, red, white and pink coloured rays of sapphires, tanzanite, tourmalines, pink opals and pearls.

Tricks of colour can be seen in the high jewellery of Van Cleef&Arpels’ “Pierres de Caractère – Variations”. The collection’s 29 pieces are made of “stones with character” and split into three categories: bicolour contrasts, multicoloured combinations and similarly coloured stones.

 

Diamonds, aquamarines, turquoise, sapphires, emeralds and many other precious gems were elegantly put together to create necessary contrast corresponding to the theme. In each case, there is a mixture of shades clearly influenced by Indian and Middle Eastern decorative art.

Boucheron, meanwhile, has chosen to play not with colour but with light. Under the direction of the maison’s creative designer, Claire Choisne, “Hotel de la Lumière” was born, a collection dedicated to the maison’s 120th anniversary. In this collection, the designer managed to convey her overwhelming gratitude to the maison’s founder Frédéric Boucheron.

The name of the collection was no accident: Boucheron opened his first boutique at number 26 Place Vendôme where, from morning until night, bright rays of daylight flooded the display rooms making his works shimmer and glisten.

Victoria’s Secret Precious Fantasy Bras: 10 – Year Retrospective

continue reading

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

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

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.