Ice Cube collection  Graphic and contemporary

The Ice Cube collection welcomes new jewellery with the arrival of a series of bangles. Composed of rows of small cubes that have shaped the success of the collection’s rings, earrings and necklaces, they are the ideal fashion accessory to wear solo or with other bracelets. Nine variations are available in ethical 18K rose, yellow or white gold, interpreted in gem-set or non-set versions.

Ice Cube collection

Ice Cube collection  Graphic and contemporary

Ice Cube collection
Graphic and contemporary

Graphic and contemporary

The art of stacking

With these Ice Cube bangles, Chopard is treating one of its most emblematic collections to its very own place within the jewellery stacking trend. Aesthetic simplicity and purity ensure that Ice Cube jewellery models can be mixed and matched at will while preserving their inherent elegance and light touch.

Ice Cube collection  Graphic and contemporary

Ice Cube collection
Graphic and contemporary

To provide an abundance of combinations, Chopard offers nine different versions of the Ice Cube bracelet, available in three gold colours, with the outside of the small cubes either polished or else partially or entirely set with diamonds. They play as much on the minimalism and simplicity of their design as on the light bouncing off the multiple facets of these creations – designed to adorn both women and men.

Jewellery with an edge

The Chopard Ice Cube is synonymous with quintessentially contemporary jewellery; and the collection’s pared-down and deliberately androgynous graphic and rectangular shapes overturn traditional jewellery-making conventions. Created in 1999 as an assembly of small graphic cubes, Ice Cube offers a range of symmetrical rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets subtly mingling gold colours and light effects.

In 2017, Chopard proved itself a trailblazer in its choice of materials by making Ice Cube the first fine jewellery collection to be crafted from 100% ethical gold. Since July 2018, this commitment has been extended to encompass all the gold watch and jewellery creations produced by the Maison.

Technical details

Ice Cube collection

Bangle in ethical 18K gold

Ref. @857702-1006 – white gold

Ref. @857702-5006 – rose gold

Ref. @857702-0006 – yellow gold

Ref. @857702-1009 – white gold partially set with diamonds

Ref. @857702-5009 – rose gold partially set with diamonds

Ref. @857702-0009 – yellow gold partially set with diamonds

Ref. @857702-1012 – white gold entirely set with diamonds

Ref. @857702-5012 – rose gold entirely set with diamonds

Ref. @857702-0012 – yellow gold entirely set with diamonds

WINGS OF LIGHT

Capturing the splendor of lush jungle, Wings of Light embodies a flourishing natural utopia. Join us and discover this secret world that hides treasures that are impossible, and unforg

ENCHANTED FLIGHT

Among thick liana walls and regal palms, a universe of explosive shapes and colors awaits. Towering trunks and jeweled garlands swoop and weave like fine gold mesh. Rainbows of sparkling precious gemstones soar across feathered light. Branches flutter and fall, bedecked with lush leaves, vibrant flowers and rich fruits.

ENCHANTED FLIGHT CREATIONS

Take flight with majestic wings and vibrant feathers.

MAGNIFICENT HAVEN

Beyond cascading sapphire rivers and dense flora appears a clearing. Wild forest trunks are tamed, rough ground is pathed, fierce waters are calm pools: the heart of this jungle is a haven. A structure of meticulous skill stands, like a lasting monument to audacity and dedication. Smooth panels and clean lines mirror the balance of nature as earth, stone, and water unify in perfect harmony. Surrounded by the murmurs of jungle wilderness, here is a place of refuge.

MAGNIFICENT HAVEN CREATIONS

A moment of perfect harmony among regal trees, jungle pools and sleek structures with intense gemstones and surprising shapes.

ECSTATIC DANCE

A cool breeze softens the air as the sun melts to sizzling pink: change is on the horizon. Branches stir and whisper with excitement – while some rest for the night, others awaken. Bewitched by the lure of laughter, music and aromatic scents, curious wanderers find a sunset soiree. Future beloved memories unfold as electrifying stories echo through the night. This is shared joy: a captivating sight to behold, and one of life’s moments to savor and treasure always.

 

The Graff name is synonymous with the world’s finest yellow diamonds. With insight from three industry experts, Maria Dulton uncovers their extraordinary journey from rare rough stones to polished beauty.

The name Graff is synonymous with the best yellow diamonds in the world.

If any stone can capture joy, the yellow diamond wins hands down. On the drabbest of days, the golden light from a perfect yellow radiates wellbeing like the warmth of a hazy summer afternoon. Could a yellow diamond be a contradiction of world order, a shard of sunlight captured forever in a virtually indestructible mineral born in the mysterious depths of our planet?

Science tells us otherwise, and it is nitrogen, the rather less romantic element, that billions of years ago differentiated a colourless diamond from its daffodil-bright sibling.

The yellow is the only coloured diamond whose grading begins on the lower end of the GIA D-Z grading scale and continues into the ‘Fancy’ hues, giving yellows the widest and most fascinating range of variants.

The most prized are the four Fancy grades, from Fancy Light to top-of-the-range Fancy Vivid, with its perfect equilibrium of colour and saturation.

Until the discovery of diamonds in South Africa in the second half of the 19th century, few yellow diamonds had been found. Those from existing sources in India and Brazil were considered natural wonders worthy of curiosity cabinets and royal collections.

But today, yellow diamonds are one of the most sought-after gems, and that is in no small part thanks to four decades of work by Laurence Graff, who was one of the first to shine the spotlight on Fancy yellow diamonds at a time when only white would do.

Laurence Graff recalls the moment in New York, in the 1970s, when a diamond cutter showed him a 31 carat yellow diamond. He was taken aback by how the radiant cut maximised its colour. Following his heart, he bought the stone, and from that moment on it could be said he had contracted an enduring case of yellow fever.

It wasn’t long before he acquired and recut his first headline-grabbing yellow, the 47.39 carat Star of Bombay, followed since by almost two dozen more outstanding yellow diamonds that are among the finest of their kind in the world.

“Today, yellow diamonds are one of the most sought-after gems, and that is in no small part thanks to four decades of work by Laurence Graff.”

Ever the innovator, ground-breaking techniques were developed by Graff to find new cuts that would best enhance the colour of a diamond. Today, discerning connoisseurs know that if they are looking for an exquisite yellow diamond, they will find it in Graff’s peerless collection.

At 118.08 carats, the Delaire Sunrise remains one of the most famous stones cut by Graff and the largest Fancy Vivid Yellow square emerald cut diamond in the world.

Beyond the perfect Fancy Vivid there is a growing interest in more unusual hues, from Brownish Yellow to Fancy Deep Orange Yellow. But, whichever you choose, the sun will never set on a yellow diamond’s ability to spread its brilliant and joyful glow.

ALAN HART

— The Scientist —

Gemmologist and CEO of GEM-A

As the former Head of the Earth Sciences Collection at the Natural History Museum in London, and now CEO of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, I see diamonds from a scientist’s perspective. But yellow diamonds hold a very special appeal.

At the British Museum there are drawers and drawers of white diamonds, but it is coloured diamonds that attract your attention. You just don’t see them that often, as only one in every 10,000 diamonds discovered displays colour.

While colourless diamonds are almost uniform, I am fascinated by the cause of the colour in diamonds, as each one has a unique history – whether it is the amount of boron present in blues, the structure of nitrogen in yellow diamonds, or the strain on the molecular lattice that gives pinks their rosy tones.

Each nuance of colour has its own story that began in the earth billions of years ago. From its primordial state to observing the light effects and final colour achieved by a master cutter, the journey of a polished coloured diamond is perhaps one of the longest and most wondrous of any object on earth.

The vast majority of diamonds, including yellows, were formed deep within the earth some three billion years ago, at depths usually greater than 140km. Here, in a part of the mantle that is relatively rigid, carbon is transformed under great temperature and pressure into a diamond.

However, with a yellow diamond, the key difference is the inclusion of the element nitrogen within its structure. This causes the diamond to absorb light in the blue region of the visible spectrum, resulting in the yellow colour that we see.

“A yellow diamond is a window into the workings of our planet.”

The Fancy Vivid grading for a yellow diamond is light to medium in tone. It should not be too dark and have a very high saturation or strength of colour.

In this category, the deep yellow colour is shown to its best effect, making it the most desirable colour grade. Although, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and other grades and colours can be every bit as pleasing.

Beyond its attractiveness, a yellow diamond is a window into the workings of our planet. While a jeweller seeks out perfection, as a scientist I am interested in the imperfections.

Each trapped particle can tell us what minerals are forming deep within the planet that help to understand our earth, and even if there might be diamonds on other planets.

And, remember, as we live on a dynamic planet, beneath our very feet diamonds are still being formed that may see the light of day millions of years from now.

PHILIPPE FURCAGE

— The Diamond Cutter —

Master Cutter at Safdico

Polishing a yellow diamond is all about keeping the colour within the stone and bringing it from the bottom to the top of the diamond. The colour should reflect back from the uppermost facet and not shine through, which is the opposite of what a polisher aims for in a colourless diamond. It is a skill that only a master cutter with at least 10 years’ experience can attempt. You may have noticed that coloured diamonds often display a cut that is modified compared to their colourless counterparts, as again this helps hold the colour in the diamond. This is why most yellow diamonds are modified oval, cushion or pear cuts with the lower facets and corners angled, or modified to increase the intensity of the colour. For the same reason, you don’t often see a round brilliant cut yellow diamond with a deep culet, which would water down the colour.

At the wheel, all we have is our eyes and some basic tools, and we really have to look for the colour. Each stone is different and a research project in its own right.

It takes about six weeks to polish a one carat yellow diamond within the overall three-month process. But a big diamond can take a year or more to polish.

We progress very slowly and gently, as yellow diamonds are more stressed than colourless diamonds due to their crystallisation process, which means they react differently at the wheel.

It is also important to take into consideration the provenance of a coloured rough diamond as geological differences affect the hue and intensity in different ways, and how the diamond reacts to the polishing process.

An experienced cutter can look at a rough diamond and evaluate what the final colour will be. This is down to experience, as often we are looking at diamonds at auction and are not able to make a window into the stone. But, even so, we can fairly accurately estimate the intensity and purity of colour.

Once a yellow diamond is in our possession, we aim to take the colour up a level, from say Fancy Intense to Fancy Vivid, but it is always a gamble and not an exact science. Within each colour grade there are many subtleties of shades and intensity, so it is about finding the most beautiful cut for each stone.

This is the old art of the polisher that only experience can teach.

ANNE-EVA GEFFROY

— The Designer —

Design Director at Graff

The range of yellow diamonds with which I work is exceptional in terms of colour, quality, cut and quantity. Few jewellers have the luxury of such a wide range of yellows at their fingertips, from the traditional colour gradings — Light to Vivid — but also exceptional examples of other colours such as Deep Orange Yellow and Brownish Yellow.

Because we have many valuable diamonds and also some of the rarest in the world, the design of a yellow diamond jewel is often based around the stone. I don’t dream up an idea and then look for the diamonds – I start with the stones. And in our atelier, diamonds, the epitome of femininity, are always referred to as ‘she’.

It is vital to know the stones intimately so I hold them in my hands every day. Our London studio faces north, which offers the perfect light for looking at diamonds. I spend a lot of time studying each one, even before my initial gouache drawings take shape.

With yellow diamonds in particular, I love making bracelets or watches that feature more than one stone. You don’t see this very often as other designers simply don’t have the yellow diamonds to choose from to create these magnificent combinations.

When you see a bracelet or earrings made from dozens of yellow diamonds, the colours are so vibrant that they look almost unreal. And there is a skill to combining them so that the Vivid diamonds, the brightest of them all, don’t steal the show.

“A ring is the purest way to present a yellow diamond, through gestures you share its beauty from all sides.”

Unlike other jewellers, even after the gold frame of the jewel has been crafted downstairs in the workshop, it comes back to my team and we play with the angles and height of each stone to maximise the harmony and beauty until it is just right.

We have to be prepared to start from scratch if something is not perfect, as our aim is to create a balance in the architecture of each jewel, which has to be as natural as breathing.

We set yellow diamonds in yellow gold claws and baskets for the simple reason that it is less visible when looking into the stone, even if the rest of the jewel is in white gold.

Yellow diamonds combine best with white diamonds, particularly in necklaces or bracelets, as they make the colours more intense.

An exceptional yellow diamond, in my opinion, should be set into a ring. Whereas in a necklace you create a pattern that you fill with stones, a ring is the purest and most simple way to present a stone.

And don’t forget that on your hand you share your stone through your gestures, and with each movement you see the beauty of a yellow diamond from all sides.

Piaget Treasures Collection

PIAGET TREASURES COLLECTION

Special moments and milestones in life call for the most special gifts. While looking for an everlasting present, what is more precious than one of the four most treasured stones on earth. Designed to celebrate the most radiant moments in life, these timeless creations invite a sense of wonder.

Piaget Treasures Collection

Piaget Treasures Collection

Piaget Treasures Collection

Precious stones are the epitome of earth’s most beautiful and mysterious treasures. Piaget Treasures jewels and watches pay tribute to these natural wonders, highlighting the enchanting power of the four exceptional stones: diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. Presenting an infinite spectrum of shades, the exclusive collection embodies Piaget’s promise of eternal elegance. Precious stones possess a one-of-a-kind quality, developed and refined by Mother Nature throughout the years. The collection harnesses the inherent individuality of each stone, channeling the vibrant shades into true works of art.

Born from the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour’s, the marquise-cut diamond is part of each Piaget Treasures’ creation. The King Louis XV of France, under the spellbound of the Marquise for 20 years, requested in her honour a diamond cut in the shape of the much-loved smile.
Thanks to this particular shape, the light shines from the center of the stone, giving it a unique radiance so deeply cherished by Piaget that it became one of the Maison’s signature stones-cut.
The marquise-cut require a special expertise and can only be made out of a large stone, which make this cut so precious and rare.

Sapphires
The word “sapphire” comes from the word “sappir”, meaning “the most beautiful thing”. Most commonly recognised by its intense blue hue, sapphires can also be pink among other shades. Piaget believes in the integrity of each of its stones, and as such only works with unheated sapphires, giving a rare natural, intense colour. Part of its heritage, blue symbolizes the infinity for Piaget. “The sky is the limit” is an expression that fits perfectly the Maison, which stands out for its innate audacity. The blue of our opal with its countless shades, the streaks of blue-grey in our hawk’s eye stones, the sparkling blue of our sapphires…blue is the colour of dreams that are destined to become reality.

This 18K white gold watch features a magnificent 2.24-carats oval-cut blue sapphire from Madagascar. This delicate, stunning timepiece is adorned with marquise-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds as well as a mother-of-pearl dial.

Emeralds
Admired for its rare and singular beauty, “emerald” comes from the Persian word “zamarat”, which translates to “the heart of the stone”. These precious stones contain inclusions, a natural formation known poetically as their “garden”. Far from being seen as a defect, this “garden” gives the emerald its character and authenticity, making each stone unique. The most sought-after of its kind are found in Colombia, the land of emeralds and Piaget’s source for these precious gems. Their intense green shade with a slight tinge of blue is only rarely equaled by emeralds from other countries. Capturing and magnifying the splendour of this incomparable gemstones demands authentic mastery of the gemology and gem-setting art. Piaget cultivates these savoir-faire in its “Ateliers de Extraordinaire”, where real artists are constantly trying to find the best way to enhance these precious stones.

This white gold ring set with a cushion-cut emerald from Colombia of approximately 4.32 carats embodies the true beauty of this magnificent stone. Surrounded by a bed of diamond leaves, including 18 brilliant-cut diamonds, 10 pear-shaped diamonds and 10 marquise-cut diamonds, the ring’s radiant design is a tribute to Piaget’s Sunny Side of Life philosophy.

Rubies
Rubies are a fiery symbol of love and passion. Its extreme rarity comes from complex geological factors. While most rubies are typically under one carat and heated to enhance their colour, Piaget strives for the best in class with only 10% of the production likely to meet the Maison’s superior quality criteria. Piaget’s gemologists travel across the world tirelessly working on acquiring the most beautiful gemstones. It took over a year to find the finest specimens of rubies and other precious stones of the Piaget Treasure collection. Rubies from Mozambique are renowned for their exceptional quality and offer an ideal combination of intense shade and pure red-based tones, giving it an exceptional colour.

Featuring a 2.17-carat cushion-cut ruby from Mozambique, this white gold ring radiates intensely with a beauty that stems from the sheer rareness of its center stone. The ring is perfectly balanced with eight delicate marquise-cut diamonds on either side.

Diamonds
The lure of a dazzling diamond is undeniable, as nature’s finest and most ancient creation. This precious stones evoke a sense of purity and timeless beauty. It takes over one million years for a diamond to be created and shaped deep inside the earth and only 1% of the world’s resources successfully meet the standard jewellery quality criteria. Out of this 1%, only one in 10,000 is considered “fancy coloured” and in this elite selection, only a few are classified as “fancy vivid” yellow (also called “fancy intense” yellow). Piaget ensures to exclusively select yellow diamonds that meet this uncompromising criterion, ensuring a bright and intense colour.

This series of creations perfectly capture the captivating nature of diamonds. With a single pear-shaped yellow diamond at the center of each these styles, the glow of such a stone is only further complemented by the timelessness of marquise-cut diamonds. The necklace naturally permeates a truly radiant and solar spirit with its classic design that features a remarkable 1.72-carat pear-shaped yellow diamond.

About Piaget
Piaget epitomizes daring creativity – a quality that has continued to permeate through the Maison since its beginnings in 1874. From his first workshop in La Côte-aux-Fées, Georges-Edouard Piaget devoted himself to crafting high-precision movements in a feat that formed the very foundations of our pioneering name. In the late 1950s, Piaget unveiled the ultra-thin movements that would later become the Maison’s trademark and the cornerstone of the Altiplano collection. As a true innovator of the watch and jewellery world, Piaget strongly believed in creativity and artistic values. It is within the walls of our “Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire” where master artisans continue to harness rare skills that have been preserved and perfected from generation to generation, transforming gold, stones and precious gems into dazzling works of art. Through its pursuit of masterful craftsmanship, the Maison has created emblems of daring excellence channelled into its collections including Piaget Altiplano, Piaget Polo, Limelight Gala, Possession, Piaget Rose and Extremely Piaget.
©Piaget 2019. All rights reserved. piaget.com

The beautiful constellations of Chaumet

To illuminate the festive evenings and punctuate these precious shared moments, the Joséphine, Liens and Bee My Love lines, as well as the clocks, can be used strikingly alone or in combination, allowing each user to create their own captivating constellations.

The selection of Joséphine

Capturing the atmosphere of the festive evenings, Joséphine Aigrette Impériale and Joséphine Splendeur Impériale are distinguished by their unique lightness and flexibility, allowing the majesty of the diamonds that shine with thousands of lights really shine. In white and pink gold, set with diamonds, pearls or colored gemstones, Joséphine Aigrette’s creations embrace the pear-cut diamond so precious by Joséphine, which gives life to fantasy.

The selection of Bee My Love

A graphic reinterpretation of honeycomb jewelry, Bee My Love offers a decidedly modern version of the imperial bee symbol. With bracelets, necklaces, tacks and earrings, brilliant with diamonds or polished metal, users of these geometric creations shaped like pink, yellow or white gold instantly convey an assertive air of regal femininity. Buzzing with beautiful golden bees and diamonds, the colors of the Exquises cocktail rings recall the atmosphere and bright tones of the New Year’s Eve festivities, infusing the collection with a dose of joy and joy.

The levy selection Since

its creation, the Liens collection has celebrated lasting relationships and ties that unite lovers, friends and family. Whether Liens Évidence bracelets shine with diamonds or polished gold, Jeux de Liens sautoirs set with mother of pearl or Liens Séduction rings in rose gold, each piece becomes a precious and intimate witness to the particular occasion for which it is intended . Worn accumulated and combined, mark those moments of happiness and sharing that distill the beauty of living.