As far as decadent diamonds, diadems and baubles go, High Jewellery collections are the creme de la creme of twinkling delights.
Worn by queens throughout their reign, A-Listers on red carpets around the world, and those precious few who find themselves lucky enough to call a piece their own. High Jewellery pieces are some of the most cultivated, opulent and sought-after pieces in the fashion world.
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What is 'High Jewellery'?
High Jewellery is also known as 'Haute Joaillerie.' The distinction between regular jewellery and High Jewellery lies in the unique and exclusive nature of these collections. It elevates precious stones, beyond mere adornment, transcending fine jewellery by embodying the art in its purest form, making it not just jewellery but a masterpiece of artistic expression.
"We have a saying, that High Jewellery is to jewellery what Haute Couture is to fashion," explains Parisian luxury maison, Chaumet. Globally renown jewellers and a select few fashion houses create High Jewellery collections each year, often showing them to the press and public at Paris Couture Week.
What's the difference between fine jewellery and high jewellery?
Fine Jewellery: Fine jewellery is made from precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum, often adorned with gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. Fine jewellery is known for its craftsmanship and durability, suitable for everyday wear or special occasions. While fine jewellery pieces can be expensive, they are generally more accessible to a broader audience.
High Jewellery: High jewellery represents the pinnacle of jewellery artistry and luxury. These pieces are characterised by exceptional craftsmanship, rare and large gemstones, and intricate designs. High jewellery often involves custom-made, one-of-a-kind creations that cater to an elite clientele. The materials used are the finest available, and the production process can take months or even years, involving highly skilled artisans.
From Chaumet and Chopard to Van Cleef & Arpels, scroll on for the most lavish, exciting and spectacular High Jewellery collections to have on your radar...
1/18
Bvlgari Tubogas
Bvlgari Tubogas reflects the collection born in the 1940s and is now a signature for the Maison.
With its avant-garde technique, distinctive designs and contemporary flair, its a timelessly elegant collection that unites the brands heritage with modernity whilst still reflecting the house aesthetics.
2/18
Chanel Haute Joaillerie Sport
Inspired by Chanel's sporty style, an integral part of their history since the 1920s.
Patrice Legueìreau, the Director of the Chanel Jewellery Creation Studio, combined elegance with performance through the techniques, aesthetics and selections of gemstones used for the collection. It is to express the contours of an allure: that of a woman always on the move.
3/18
Boucheron Or Bleu
Creative Director Claire Choisne dedicated her new Carte Blanche collection to water.
She was inspired by the waters of Iceland -powerful and strong. Diamonds, sculpted and polished rock crystals, obsidian, pearls and mother-of-pearls were used on different pieces to achieve the realism of water and the different types of water found in Iceland, from icebergs washed up on the beach to the foam of the waves on the black sand shore.
4/18
Cartier - Nature Sauvage
Cartier chose to unveil its latest collection in Vienna, a hub of history and culture. Inspired by "a theatre of apparitions where precious animals parade", you'll find wildlife delicately incorporated into each piece. You might discover a pink flamingo pointing its head toward a bush of emerald reeds or a snow leopard softly stepping over a rock crystal. The playful collection has been designed to "surprise, amaze and bring modernity by way of unexpected encounters," explains Jacqueline Karachi, Director of High Jewellery
5/18
Chaumet en Scène
Chaumet en Scène is Chaumet's latest High Jewelry collection and is inspired by three performance pillars, music, dance and magic.
Chapter one, described by the brand as "setting the tempo" features three sets of jewellery, all featuring a selection of emeralds, sapphires and diamonds. Chapter Two, titled Leading the Dance, features a series of choreographies in which the stones are the performers, "Ceylon sapphires perform a contemporary ballet while the diamonds, tourmalines and rubellites engage in a frenzied tango, and the violet sapphires swing alongside their gold and material work."
The third and final tableau, As if by Magic is full of surprises. Diamonds and pearls are fused neck to one another to create a "magnetic illusion" while rubies bring a pop of decedent colour.
6/18
Pomellato The Dualism of Milan
Pomellato The Dualism of Milan is a colourful ode to Milan, Pomellato's home town. This is the brand's fifth high jewellery collection since its inception back in 1967 and explores the rich dual nature the Italian city holds. The 51-piece collection is divided into two parts with the first being Monochromatic Treasures, a subtle tonal collection featuring white diamonds, Tahitian pearls, moonstones and grey sapphires. The Second part, Colour Prism welcomes colourful Diamonds in all colours of the rainbow in the form of cocktail rings, necklaces and arm candy.
7/18
Tiffany & Co. Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste
The latest expression of Tiffany’s esteemed high jewellery collection is all about celebrating French jewellery designer, Jean Schlumberger’s boundless imagination and his fascination with the mysteries of the universe. The collection will launch in three phases over the course of 2024, each featuring a selection of impeccably crafted necklaces, rings, bracelets, broaches and earrings.
8/18
Gucci - Labirinti
An ode to a thriving Italian garden, Gucci's latest collection is inspired by enchanting mazes and winding labyrinths centred around three themes; symmetry and ordered beauty, geometric splendor, and blooming nature.
The collection, which features a total of 140 one-of-a-kind masterpieces, embraces a unique blend of the rational and emotional – two forces of creativity that drive human endeavor. It celebrates the exuberant spirit, where instinct and passion play with aesthetic clarity and refinement.
9/18
Chanel - Tweed De Chanel
In 1932, Gabrielle Chanel introduced her first and only jewellery collection, Bijoux de Diamants, breaking with the codes of traditional jewellery. Since then the house has continued its founder's dream, creating an array of High Jewellery Collections, all inspired by Gabrielle. Since then each High Jewellery collection is a testament to turning dreams into reality.
This includes the art of transforming the iconic, airy tweed of the House into pieces of High Jewellery that drape with the same delicacy and allure as the original fabric. Under the guidance of Patrice Leguéreau, Director of Chanel Fine Jewellery, the ;Tweed de Chanel' collection reimagines tweed in an unprecedented form: a delicate mosaic of gemstones. A prime example of this innovative approach is the Tweed Royal Necklace, a masterpiece born from 2,400 hours of meticulous workmanship. This necklace showcases an intricately flexible lattice of gemstone tweed, blending yellow gold with a magnificent mix of rubies and diamonds. At its heart sits a majestic lion's head, emblematic of Chanel High Jewellery, which can be detached and adorned as a brooch. The centerpiece, a pear-cut diamond, is also designed to be versatile, easily transitioning into a standalone ring.
10/18
Bulgari - Aeterna High-Jewellery Collection
In the year of its 140th anniversary, Bulgari has unveiled Aeterna, an ode to the Roman Maison's desire to embrace the past while delighting in the present and envisioning a magnificent future. Featuring over 500 masterpieces, including High Jewellery, luxury bags, and fragrances. The collection also includes a selection of embellished watches which reflect the joy of a starry Italian summer night, lit up by vibrant fireworks and each equipped with the Piccolissimo mechanical micro round movement. The jewellery itself is stunning, showcasing an "unrivalled ability to master the most precious gems of nature," explains the brand.
11/18
Cindy Chao The Art Jewel - The Rhythm of Life 20th Anniversary Collection
To celebrate two decades of exquisite craftsmanship, Cindy Chao has unveiled her latest collection featuring two iconic motifs, Dragonfly and leaf of Four Seasons. Celebrity fans of the brand include Michelle Yeoh, Julia Roberts and Salma Hayek to name a few.
A favourite of the collection is the Four Seasons leaf motif which symbolises the ever-changing seasonality and brings to mind the perpetual cycle of nature. Chao worked with 12 European master craftsman to study and forge the organic forms of leaves in different seasons. To capture the true ambience of each season they only worked on the leaves in their respective seasons meaning it took three cycles of four seasons to accomplish the finial objets des arts. Each Leaf Brooch is set with around 1,500 gemstones on the titanium base of just 1.77mm in thickness and weighs a mere 22 grams, a true reflection of the lightness of a real leaf.
12/18
Graff - Galaxia
Beloved British multinational jeweller Graff presented their latest offering with a cinematic campaign celebrating the otherworldly beauty of its creations. The new collection features some of the brand's most decadent jewels, with an ethereal, ultra-feminine allure inspired by the night's sky.
Standouts from the collection include an emerald and diamond necklace showcasing three incredibly rare 4 carat lozenge shape Colombian emeralds and pair of earrings featuring 21 carat Fancy Yellow radiant cut diamonds, surrounded by intricate rows of white diamonds. Anne-Eva Geffroy, Design Director at Graff, commented,
"Throughout our design process, we drew inspiration from the unique qualities and individual nuances of each diamond and gemstone, but also from the virtues that we associate with femininity such as power, creativity and strength. For this reason, each jewellery creation is imbued with a figurative energy that is contemporary yet timeless while also remaining true to the legacy of the House."
13/18
DeBeers - Forces of Nature
De Beers announced the Forces of Nature High Jewellery collection on the 22 January, featuring eight unique solitaire diamond rings complemented by either a crown or jacket. Drawing inspiration from the majestic wildlife of Southern Africa, these transformable rings embody the splendour of nature, crafted with exceptionally rare diamonds handpicked for their unmatched quality and character. Each piece begins with a standout hero diamond, symbolising a specific creature through its distinct energy and allure, leading to the creation of eight bespoke pieces that abstractly represent iconic native animals.
The collection showcases masterful craftsmanship, with designs that range from a lion-inspired ring with a golden mane to a giraffe Crown Ring accented with rough diamonds, each offering versatile wearability. De Beers' innovative approach allows these rings to be worn in multiple ways, transforming from elegant solitaires into stunning statement pieces. “The eight featured animals are an ode to the natural intoxicating beauty of the African continent, whose earth yields jaw-dropping natural treasures," Céline Assimon, De Beers CEO, told Hello! Fashion, "When designing the rings, we had no constraints: we were guided by the individual character of eight extraordinary diamonds. Their incomparable beauty challenged us to create strikingly modern, abstract interpretations of the majestic creatures that roam the environment that De Beers strives to conserve through our Building Forever programme."
14/18
Boodles - A Family Journey
The 'Family Journey' collection marks a significant chapter in Boodles' legacy, celebrating a transformative odyssey that unveiled new horizons for the brand. In 1962, then-Chairman Anthony Wainwright embarked on a remarkable 16-day expedition to connect with dealers of exquisite diamonds and gemstones.
The relationships he forged during this journey revolutionised Boodles, granting access to unparalleled quality in jewels. Fast forward sixty years, current Chairman, Nicholas Wainwright, has paid tribute to his father's pioneering spirit by undertaking his own expedition through ten European cities in ten days. The journey breathed life into the pieces you see in this collection. A highlight is the necklace inspired by Barcelona, capturing the city's dynamic energy with bold, brilliant hues, "visit Barcelona’s Park Güell and look out for Gaudí’s salamander, made of pink, yellow and green tiles. We’ve channelled his riot of colour, crafting a suite featuring a necklace, earrings and a ring — with a 3.32 carat pink sapphire at its heart."
15/18
Chopard - Precious Lace
Taking inspiration from the delicate lace textile, Precious Lace is a collection of artisan-crafted pieces that mimics the intricate detail and Savoir-faire that goes into making traditional lace material. “Our jewellery Artisans replicate the delicacy of lace with the extreme precision of their goldwork, combined with an airy design highlighting the radiance of precious stones.”
16/18
Van Cleef & Arpels - Le Grand Tour
The Van Cleef & Arpels 'Le Grand Tour' collection was unveiled in the breathtaking gardens of Rome's Villa Medici, marking one of the most magnificent high-jewellery presentations of the year.
Each piece in the collection serves as a magical memento, inspired by Grand Tours. The "Grand Tour" was a tradition that began in the 16th century, where affluent Europeans embarked on long journeys across the continent. This voyage was seen as an elaborate cultural immersion, allowing them to deepen their understanding of art, literature, architecture, music, and other disciplines in a form of luxurious extended educational retreat. Think 'Gap Year' but for the 1%. "We followed the trail of our predecessors and chose cities that were renowned stops historically," explains Nicolas Bos, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, "We took inspiration from antique jewelry – Roman, Etruscan, Medieval or Renaissance –, marrying it with our own heritage, style and craftsmanship."
17/18
Chaumet - Le Jardin de Chaumet
Over the last two centuries Chaumet has prided itself as a jewellery that celebrates the natural world, "the Maison’s story has been written in complete harmony with nature," the brand explains. The 'Le Jardin de Chaumet' High Jewellery Collection was unveiled in 2023 in their iconic 12 Vendôme address.
"Divided into four chapters, Le Jardin de Chaumet invites you to stroll through the undergrowth, wander among the flowers or in the fields, and let your imagination wander as you gaze upon the bouquets of the world."
18/18
Boucheron - More is More
In the wake of two challenging post-pandemic years, creative director Claire Choisne felt an overwhelming urge to break free from constraints, channeling a deep-seated desire to offer joy to the well heeled Boucheron clientele. It was from this yearning that the Carte Blanche 'More is More' collection was born, marking a bold departure from traditional High Jewelry norms.
Choisne and her team embarked on a journey of creativity, embracing extravagant dimensions and elemental shapes like spheres and cubes, painting their creations with vibrant colors, stark contrasts, and unprecedented creations which give off an 80s inspired vibe. They ventured into the realm of optical illusions, incorporated novel materials, and in some instances, completely redefined the essence of High Jewellery. "This collection demonstrates that joy and happiness are compatible with the conservative High Jewellery industry," explains Boucheron, "This collection is unexpected, surprising, and comforting."