The Brilliance of Boucheron: 7 High Jewels Not to Miss

Paris--Performance art met high jewelry at Boucheron’s haute joaillerie presentation last week.

The jewelry house enlisted Olivier Saillard, the director of the Palais Galliera Musée de la Mode, to direct models Saskia de Brauw and Marie Piovesan, plus a number of actors, in a piece of performance art showcasing the latest high jewelry offerings from creative director Claire Choisne.

On display were pieces from three groups within the 26 Vendôme collection: “Nature Triomphante,” or Triumphant Nature, “Architecture Inspirée,” or Inspired Architecture, and “Porté Couture,” or Worn Couture.

A back (bottom left) and front (top right) view of the Cape de Lumière, constructed of gold, citrine and diamonds
From the Worn Couture collection, the Cape de Lumière, which was shown in the finale of the performance, took over 1,000 hours to complete. Seventy of those hours were spent simply sketching the design on a mannequin, Choisne told Wallpaper.

Frédéric Boucheron’s parents were drapers, so the jeweled cape rendered in gold, citrine and white diamonds is a fitting tribute to the founder’s heritage.

The Ruban Graphique Necklace, composed of emeralds, diamonds, onyx, black lacquer and white gold from the Worn Couture collection
The Ruban Graphic Necklace takes its inspiration from ribbons and was executed in onyx and white gold with black lacquer, diamonds and emeralds. The center stone is a 4.45 Colombian emerald.

This design’s ring counterpart is available in an emerald or ruby version.

The Cabochon ring
This Cabochon ring from the Worn Couture collection features a 3.99-carat emerald cabochon set in white gold with onyx and diamonds.

Cabochon-cut stones were a prominent theme of the 26 Vendôme collection, featuring in a number of rings and necklaces.

A sketch (left) and photograph of the Hôtel Particulier necklace.
The Hotel Particulier necklace is from the Inspired Architecture collection, and is a reminder of Frédéric Boucheron’s first store, established in 1858, located at 152 Galerie de Valois.

The necklace alternately represents the maison’s parquet flooring, the views from the building’s windows and the quality of the light that filtered inside.

The star of the design, which consists of yellow and white diamonds, gray moonstones, mother-of-pearl, onyx and white gold, is the 21.80-carat yellow sapphire at its center.

Blé d’Eté bracelet
Oddly enough, wheat may just be the star of this summer’s high jewelry collections.

According to Boucheron, seven ears of wheat symbolize luck in France, which makes the phenomenon slightly more understandable.

The pictured bracelet in white