Chopard Loves Cinema: Up Close and Personal with New High Jewellery

June 6, 2022

By Katerina Perez

7 min read

Last week, the most glamorous fashion icons, actors, musicians and countless other celebrities from around the world descended upon the south of France for the annual Cannes Film Festival, a time-honoured tradition, built on years of cinematic history. Amongst the crème de la crème of Hollywood parties, red carpet premieres and screenings that took place during the 75th edition of this world-famous event, one of the most memorable was the exclusive preview and joint press presentation with the Festival’s partner, Chopard.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to interview the Co-President and Creative Director of Chopard, Caroline Scheufele about the maison’s latest high jewellery chapter – Chopard Loves Cinema. I started on the rooftop terrace at the Hôtel Martinez admiring the panoramic backdrop of La Croisette, the bay of Cannes and the Palais des Festivals, before entering the presentation room full of resplendent jewels. Now, this is where the fun really began!

Chopard suite at the Martinez hotel in Cannes

Chopard suite at the Martinez hotel in Cannes

 Chopard suite at the Martinez hotel in Cannes

Chopard suite at the Martinez hotel in Cannes

 Chopard rooftop at the Martinez hotel

Chopard rooftop at the Martinez hotel

Around 100 guests, mostly from Asia who sadly couldn’t attend Cannes in person, joined me and Ms Scheufele over Zoom to dissect the brand’s novelties that pay homage to the cinematic world. Chopard Loves Cinema is composed of 75 high jewellery pieces (each year the number of jewels represents the ‘age’ of the Festival, next year there will be 76) that draw inspiration from Disney classics like Rapunzel and Cinderella, as well as science fiction and action blockbusters. This mixture of fairy-tale and fantastical films was brought to life through the imaginative designs dreamed up by Chopard.

Chopard bracelet made in gold and titanium and embellished with a kunzite in the centre, inspired by Rapunzel film

Chopard bracelet made in gold and titanium and embellished with a kunzite in the centre, inspired by Rapunzel film

“To add to their uniqueness, each jewel is made in-house in our Swiss workshops by one chosen jeweller,” Scheufele commented at the presentation. As she is a strong believer in individuality, she assigns one of her sketches to a specific person in her design team. This is not only to ensure continuity but also because she believes this approach adds a personal touch to each piece in the collection. By giving each jeweller the freedom to translate and express their creative vision, we can enjoy a more unique and dynamic collection.

Julia Roberts and Caroline scheufele on the Red carpet in Cannes

Julia Roberts and Caroline scheufele on the Red carpet in Cannes

 Fairmined-certified ethical 18-carat white and yellow gold adorned with a rare central yellow diamond weighting over 100 carats and set with pear-shaped and cushion-shaped diamonds totalling 54.67 carats

Fairmined-certified ethical 18-carat white and yellow gold adorned with a rare central yellow diamond weighting over 100 carats and set with pear-shaped and cushion-shaped diamonds totalling 54.67 carats

 Yellow diamond necklace from the Red Carpet Collection

Yellow diamond necklace from the Red Carpet Collection

 Chopard Loves Cinema yellow diamond sketch

Chopard Loves Cinema yellow diamond sketch

 Julia Roberts wearing Red Carpet collection rose brooch

Julia Roberts wearing Red Carpet collection rose brooch

 Chopard Loves Cinema titanium brooch with diamonds - a tribute to black and white cinema

Chopard Loves Cinema titanium brooch with diamonds - a tribute to black and white cinema

 Chopard Loves Cinema rose brooch in the making

Chopard Loves Cinema rose brooch in the making

Let’s first look at some pieces that represent the level of craftsmanship, for example, a black and white diamond bracelet featuring a family of sapphire-blue-eyed dalmatians! Scheufele’s love of man’s best friend is no secret and this is not the first time one has appeared in a Chopard High Jewellery collection (and I very much doubt it will be the last). According to Scheufele, diamonds and dogs truly are a perfect pairing; even her trusty canine companion, Baron was present throughout the presentation. Upon closer inspection of the bracelet, you can see that each of the puppies featured is set with minute diamonds (there are only a handful of setters in the world who are able to work with the stones of this size) and then, once each gemstone is set, the complete dog figures are added one by one to the bracelet. Some of them are even articulated, making them even more lifelike!

Chopard Loves Cinema bracelet inspired by 101 Dalmatians film

Chopard Loves Cinema bracelet inspired by 101 Dalmatians film

Next on my list of favourites is an Avatar inspired opal necklace. The lush green flora and supernatural blue fauna from this 2009 epic science fiction film inspired Scheufele to create a beaded sautoir for the collection. An impressive kaleidoscopic cabochon opal sits in a frame of Avatar-blue turquoise and Paraiba tourmalines, suspended on strands of emerald beads – a true work of art and feast for the eyes. Just holding the necklace in my hand transported me into protagonists Jake Sully and Neytiri’s fantastical world.

Chopard Red Carpet collection opal necklace inspired by Avatar film

Chopard Red Carpet collection opal necklace inspired by Avatar film

 Chopard Red Carpet collection necklace inspired by Mamma Mia! film

Chopard Red Carpet collection necklace inspired by Mamma Mia! film

 Chopard Chopard Loves Cinema necklace in the making

Chopard Chopard Loves Cinema necklace in the making

 Chopard Chopard Loves Cinema necklace in the making

Chopard Chopard Loves Cinema necklace in the making

 Chopard's Red Carpet collection chocker with a detachable brooch

Chopard's Red Carpet collection chocker with a detachable brooch

 Chopard's Red Carpet collection rose ring with rubies and a diamond in the centre

Chopard's Red Carpet collection rose ring with rubies and a diamond in the centre

 Chopard Red Carpet collection earrings with emeralds, turquoise

Chopard Red Carpet collection earrings with emeralds, turquoise

The real stars of this collection are not individual jewellery pieces, but the one of a kind, larger than life gemstones they are set with. A juicy 38.88-carat emerald ring was the first to catch my eye. Complemented by half-moon diamonds, this step-cut gemstone shines at the epicentre of an impressive cocktail ring. Following this was a magnificent 60-carat blue sapphire. This heart-shaped whopper of a gem is set in a frame of diamond lace, as the pendant to a beautiful and intricate diamond necklace (are you thinking of Titanic already?). As far as finales go, an 80 carat, pear-shaped champagne diamond, also set into a diamond lace frame, is the epitome of Hollywood drama. Shapely, weighty, and bold in colour, I think this diamond truly deserves a red carpet of its own.

Necklace featuring an 80-carat pear-shaped champagne diamond, 38.33-carat emerald ring, 60-carat heart-shaped blue sapphire, all by Chopard

Necklace featuring an 80-carat pear-shaped champagne diamond, 38.33-carat emerald ring, 60-carat heart-shaped blue sapphire, all by Chopard

I was delighted to see that Scheufele had chosen to set these gemstones in the brand’s signature lace diamond pattern. Reminiscent of the Chopard Precious Lace Collection, some jewels with sapphires, yellow and colourless diamonds, as well as a high jewellery emerald necklace were set with gems ‘woven’ into the design. Light, elegant and fabulous with frivolity, this collection highlights Maison’s stylistic signatures while adding a contemporary twist.

Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond chocker

Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond chocker

 Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond necklace

Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond necklace

 Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond ring

Chopard Loves Cinema emerald and diamond ring

 Chopard Loves Cinema yellow and pink diamond earrings

Chopard Loves Cinema yellow and pink diamond earrings

 Chopard Loves Cinema earrings

Chopard Loves Cinema earrings

 Chopard Loves Cinema diamond earrings

Chopard Loves Cinema diamond earrings

 Chopard Loves Cinema yellow diamond earrings

Chopard Loves Cinema yellow diamond earrings

 Chopard Loves Cinema diamond necklaces, featuring an 80-carat  pear shaped champagne diamond

Chopard Loves Cinema diamond necklaces, featuring an 80-carat pear shaped champagne diamond

Stepping aside from the jewels for the moment, one important thing to mention is the new look of the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or Trophy – this year it was made of rose quartz rather than rock crystal to commemorate 25 years of Chopard being the official partner to Cannes. Another nod to this important milestone in the brand’s history is the 25 diamonds that embellish one petal of the Fairmined gold palm leaf, plus 75 additional diamonds in honour of the Festival’s 75th anniversary.

Chopard Palme D'Or Trophy dedicated to 75 years of Cannes Film Festival and 25 years of Chopard being the official partner

Chopard Palme D'Or Trophy dedicated to 75 years of Cannes Film Festival and 25 years of Chopard being the official partner

As you can see, it is hard for me to pick just one favourite piece! Each jewel in this collection is full of drama, colour and movement, three essential characteristics of any award-worthy motion picture, as well as any iconic high jewel. I look forward to seeing what new gemstone protagonists the 76th collection will bring.

Couture Show: Italian Luxury Jeweller Luvor to Debut In Las Vegas

continue reading

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

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

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.