Tagged: Cartier

September 18, 2012

Biennale Des Antiquaires Paris 2012

The Biennale des Antiquaires is the grande dame of jewelry/antique shows currently being held at the Grand Palais in Paris. The show is staged by Karl Lagerfeld and if Chanel runway shows are any indication of the dreamy opulence that Mr. Lagerfeld is capable of, the Biennale des Antiquaires will be an exercise in over-the-top fantasy. The biggest names of haute jewelry will all be showing, Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Chaumet, Dior, Harry Winston, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels and newcomer, Wallace Chan from Hong Kong. Here are some of the pieces on show:

Dior Joaillerie, Dentelle Opale d’Orient bracelet, in platinum, yellow gold, diamonds, Australian black opals, spessartites, garnets, tsavorites, rubies, spinelles and tanzanites.

Boucheron, Serpent Opalescent necklace, in diamonds, opals and quartz.

Wallace Chan, A Drop Into The Ocean necklace features diamonds, sapphires and a 379.21 carat aquamarine.

Chanel Joaillerie, Constellation du Lion necklace, in 18 carat white and yellow gold, with 159 baguette-cut diamonds, 878 brilliant-cut diamonds, 32 yellow diamonds, and quartz.

Cartier, Pink Kunzite and diamond watch.

Van Cleef & Arpels, Lierre white gold, diamond, black spinelle and platinum necklace, set with 52 emeralds (93.12 carats).

Piaget, Magnificent Adornments necklace in 18 carat white gold,18 rubellites, 370 brilliant-cut diamonds, and nine pear-cut diamond.

Harry Winston, Wave necklace with 534 brilliant-cut diamonds and a single 60.14 carat pear-cut diamond, in a platinum setting.

Chaumet, Aigrette white gold diadem, with a white Ethiopian 40-carat opal cabochon, 250 diamonds, 34 blue tourmalines and 22 violet tanzanites.

Bulgari, white gold necklace with three emeralds, 12 brilliant-cut diamonds and trapezoid diamonds.

Photos courtesy of Vogue Paris. All jewelry will be on show at the Biennale Des Antiquaires until the 23rd of September 2012, tickets can be purchased here.

Big Kiss and Bigger Diamonds,

JZP

May 11, 2012

Met Costume Institute Gala 2012: Bauble Buzz-Kill

I really don’t care for borrowed jewelry on the red carpet. Bill Cunningham (he’s only THE most famous street fashion photographer in the WORLD! WAY before the Sartorialist.) put it nicely when he said, “I prefer parties where women spend their own money and wear their own dresses.…When you spend your own money, you make a different choice.” INDEED Mr. Cunningham, I do agree and the same applies to jewels.

How impressive is it that design houses and joailliers lend baubles to celebrities? Most jewelry in red carpet pics are borrowed for the night (with the exception of the rare few who we adore and have had the privilege of designing pieces for–no names will be mentioned). It really is no more impressive than borrowing a dress that was chosen by your stylist for the evening. Yawn. Yawn. Even so, the bling at the Met Ball this year was boring rather than blinding. Gone are the Taylor-Burton and Barkin-Perlman-type connoisseurs–the ones who invested in jewelry and cultivated collections! Oh how devastating!

I am almost reluctant to post any photos, as far as the jewelry went it was tepid. However, whats a blog without pics. Here are the best of the bunch and I use the word “best” EXCEEDINGLY loosely. . .

Met Costume Institute Gala 2012: Bauble Buzz Kill — January Jones in Cartier. Getty Images

That’s all. I wouldn’t deign to give anyone else’s accoutrements even a paltry second glance. The clothing was divine. . .the diamonds. . .disappointing darlings. The lesson to be learned here, if you’re borrowing jewelry please at least choose some statement worthy pieces, we want to see intricate designs, good craftsmanship and SIZE! If you’re buying to collect, focus more on QUALITY and what moves you aesthetically.

Big Kiss and Need I Stress. . .BIGGER and BETTER DIAMONDS,

JZP

April 26, 2012

Cartier “Nails” Relaunch of Juste Un Clous Collection

Cartier, ah j’adore! Cartier’s high-end pieces are absolutely exquisite, this we all know. However, as my DMD readers are also aware, I don’t generally like the “mass market” lines produced by haute joallier houses. That is, until Cartier relaunched its “Juste un Clou” earlier this month. The original nail bracelet was designed by Aldo Cipullo in the 1970′s and this newer collection is inspired by the earlier designs. If you happen to be in NYC, I would highly suggest you check out the exhibit that is currently showing at Cartier’s Fifth Avenue mansion called, “Cartier & Aldo Cipullo: New York City in the ’70s”. It is most definitely swoon-alicious!