Ariana Grande Sparkles In Chopard Jewels On Jimmy Fallon Show For Christmas

I’ve never seen a performance by Ariana Grande and now I understand the hype. Wearing an oversized red Christmas sweater with a snowflake motif and dripping in Chopard diamond jewels, she spread Christmas cheer with the debut performance of her new song, Imagine, on the “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” 

Backed by “The Roots,” the singer and band were tight throughout the song highlighted by complex rhythms and increased emotional tension that finished with virtuosic flair as the singer hit notes so high they sounded like whistles. 

Grande wore a necklace featuring a 5.01-carat heart-shaped brilliant-cut diamond and 10.31 carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold. Stud earrings centered with a 6.90-carat heart-shaped brilliant-cut diamond and a 6.69-carat heart-shaped brilliant-cut diamond and more diamonds set in 18k white gold, both from the “Haute Joaillerie Collection.” She matched this with a ring from the “L’Heure Du Diamant Collection” that contains 6.06-carats of diamonds set in 18k white gold; and a ring from the “Precious Chopard Collection” featuring 5.79-carats of rubies with diamonds set in 18k white gold.

There are lots of ways to spread holiday cheer, this year I chose this remarkable performance to do it. Happy Holidays.

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Rihanna Teams With Chopard For New Jewelry Collection

Rihanna, who has worked with Chopard for the past few years, has now extended this relationship to produce a new line of jewelry with the luxury brand. Known as “Rihanna ♥ Chopard,” it consists of high jewelry pieces and limited collection of jewels made with “Fairmined” gold.

The luxury brand released two images of the Rihanna ♥ Chopard Haute Joaillerie Collection that will be officially be unveiled May 2017 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Festival de Cannes red carpet and celebrate Chopard’s 20th year as the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival. They are a one-of-a-kind floral inspired multi-colored chandelier earrings and marquise-cut diamond solitaire ring.

Earrings in 18k white gold and titanium set with blue, pink and yellow sapphires, tsavorites, rubellites, green beryls, aquamarines, Paraiba tourmalines, rubies, amethysts, topazs, lazulites and diamonds.

The world-renowned signer and fashion icon did provide a discreet look at the two new pieces. At the recent Grammy Awards, she wore the floral earrings and on the March 2017 cover of Harper’s Bazaar, she wore the transformable diamond earrings. Chopard said the high jewelry collection is inspired by Rihanna’s island roots—the lush gardens of Barbados and the bright colors of Carnival.

Earrings in 18k white ethical gold certified ‘Fairmined’ featuring four pear-shaped diamonds (9.7cts) and set with brilliant-cut (5.2cts), pear-shaped (4.7cts), oval-cut and marquise-cut diamonds. All diamonds are sourced from a producer who is a RJC certified member.

The second collection is the limited edition Rihanna ♥ Chopard Joaillerie Collection is defined by minimalist geometry and sharp, clean lines. It is based on Chopard’s classic Ice Cube shape with a mix what the luxury brand describes as “a synergy of urban modernism and pure design.”

Linear rectangular motifs link frosty rose gold cubes with solid ceramic blocks in a color personally selected by Rihanna and named “Jungle Green.” Crafted from ethical 18k Fairmined rose gold, the nine-piece capsule collection will be available with icy polished or diamond set gold cubes. Fairmined is an assurance label that certifies gold from empowered responsible artisanal and small-scale mining organizations who meet world leading standards for responsible practices.

The collection’s unveiling today coincides with the release of a global advertising campaign featuring Rihanna. Pieces will be available in June with pre-orders online at www.chopard.com/us/rihanna-loves-chopard and Chopard boutiques starting today.

Necklace in 18k rose ethical gold certified Fairmined and green ceramic.

To create the collection, Rihanna teamed with Caroline Scheufele, Chopard co-president and creative director.

Rihanna in recent years has worn Chopard jewels on red carpets at major events so the two described this collaboration as natural.

“I have always been in love with Chopard’s exquisite jewelry, so to actually design collections with them is something I still can't believe,” Rihanna said in a statement.

“Rihanna and I collaborated closely on the collections so you can feel her unstoppable energy, strong creativity, and inherent sense of design in every piece,” Scheufele added. “With her unique style, she redefines the way people see and wear jewelry.” 

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Inside The Haute Joaillerie Section Of TEFAF Maastricht

Wallace Chan introduces a group tour at TEFAF to his dreamlike world

From the dreamlike world of Wallace Chan to the precise jewelry art of Hemmerle, the high jewelry area of TEFAF Maastricht, though small, contained a wealth of variety. And from the moment the show started, the jewelry lovers who came to the small out-of-the-way city of Maastricht, Netherlands, to attend The European Fine Arts Fair (more commonly known as TEFAF) started buying.

The bamboo framed exhibition space of Hemmerle

On the March 9 preview day, moments after the doors opened at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC) for the VIP buyers, I was inside the bamboo framed Hemmerle exhibition space when a woman came in, tried on a pair of one-of-a-kind gold earrings made with a wax process that created gold strands in a basket-like weave. She walked back and forth briefly looking in the mirror and bought them on the spot. I took a picture before they were whisked away.

Hemmerle earrings that sold within minutes after TEFAF opened. Old mine cut diamonds appear to be floating inside gold strands that looked as if they were weaved

“The fair is our first public presentation each year and we are glad to report strong consistent sales from the first 10 minutes of day 1,” said Christian Hemmerle at the close of the 10-day fair.

These earrings from Wallace Chan have everything: wood and titanium; emeralds, sapphires and diamonds; shadows and light 

Before I had a chance to enter Wallace Chan’s booth, the famed Hong Kong jewelry artist sold one of his elaborate titanium and colored-gem brooches. Chan, who always is in a good frame of mind, was particularly happy at this year’s show, saying he loves seeing old friends here.

Belperron diamond and ruby necklace. the center stone is a
rare star ruby

Meanwhile, Ward and Nico Landrigan, the father and son team that own the mid-20th Century brands, Verdura and Belperron, also were in good spirits after selling a circa 1960 yellow gold and diamond Verdura brooch. 

A Verdura bird clutching a natural pearl with diamond and emerald wings.

I was trying to have lunch with the public relations representative of Hancocks of London and couple of other jewelry writers (I said trying because the restaurant was so full they stopped serving food, giving an idea of how crowded it was), when the PR rep looked at her phone and suddenly said, “I have to go the tiara’s been sold.” The “tiara” is the Spencer family Edwardian diamond tiara. It was given to Lady Delia Spencer, great aunt to Princess Diana, by her father the 6th Earl Spencer, on her wedding day in 1914. Set with more than 800 old cut diamonds, estimated to weigh a total of 48 carats, the tiara can be transformed into a choker necklace and bracelet.

The Spencer Tiara sold by Hancocks of London

Very few of the prices of these sales were revealed but these are not typical impulse purchases. These are items that sell from tens of thousands of dollars to the stratosphere. One price that was revealed was the “Nef” necklace, from German high jeweler Otto Jakob that sold for €142,000 ($153,580).

An emerald ring by Reza

I had to cancel an appointment with Olivier Reza, the head of the Parisian jewelry brand, Reza, because the jeweler’s booth was too crowded with customers. 

Van Cleef & Arpels transformable necklace and earrings, 1959, made of emeralds, yellow and blue sapphires, and diamonds

Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard, the two largest brands in the high jewelry section, brought combinations of vintage and new jewels. 

Chopard L.U.C. XPS made with Fairmined gold

Opening day, March 10, was more manageable but still very crowded. I spoke to one woman lived about an hour away in Germany who said it was the first time she attended an art fair. She came to see Wallace Chan’s exhibit and was so amazed and astounded by what he presented that she returned to the booth seven times. She purchased Chan’s book “Dream Light Water” and had the artist sign it. 

Honcocks of London's booth

Final numbers released by TEFAF show that the fair was very active with more than 71,000 visitors, from more than 60 nations visiting the 275 dealers during the 10-day fair. This includes approximately 200 museums. 

The bust Verdura and Belperron booth

High jewelry amounts to one of nine art categories that TEFAF offers. The others are Antiques, Classical Antiquities, Curated, Design, Modern, Paintings, Paper, and Showcase. Trade fair officials were touting some of the larger sales. Among them:

* Antiquariat Bibermuehle AG Heribert Tenschert sold a 12-volume series of books, Historia naturalis, originally created for Emperor Rudolph II of Habsburg, 1596-1610, to a private collector. The series came to market for the first time in 25 year and was sold for a seven-figure sum. 

* Tomasso Brothers Fine Art sold an important work by the Renaissance master Giambologna (1529-1608). It is the earliest recorded work by the artist and the only surviving sculpture that he carved in wood. The carving was acquired by a new client, described as an important European private collector, and was priced at about €1.5million ($1.62 million). 

* Antiques dealer Les Enluminures sold the 1,000-year-old Gospel Book of Liesborn Abbey in Westphalia to the German government for more than $3 million. 

* Ben Janssens Oriental Art Ltd said he sold more than 70 items by the mid-point of the fair, including a set of four iron paintings, Tiehua, China, Qing dynasty, 18th Century, which had an asking price of €50,000 ($54,000). 

Rossi & Rossi sold a colorful Tibetan cloth painting, “Sabzang Pakpa Zhonnu Lodro” (1358-1412/24) for approximately $400,000. 

The artwork at the entrance of TEFAF Maastricht

* Emanuel von Baeyer sold 12 works to private collectors with further works on reserve with museums. A key work that sold was The Signboard of the Gersaint Gallery, 1732, the very rare engraving after Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721). 

* James Butterwick sold more than €180,000 worth of works, including Still Life with Carafe and Glass on a Mirror, 1915 by Alexander Bogomazov (1880-1930) to a private Swiss collector.

* Landau Fine Art, Inc. had one of the biggest sales of the Fair, selling the monumental work “Henri Michaux acteur Japonais,” 1946 by Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985), which had an asking price of $6.5 million, to a private collector. 

* Bernard de Grunne sold 11 Sepik works from Papua New Guinea to one private collector. The pieces ranged from €80,000 to €250,000 ($86,500 to $270,000). 

* Classical antiquities sold at Charles Ede included a statuette of the “Apis bull, Late Dynastic Period,” 26th Dynasty, circa 664-525 BC, which had an asking price of £65,000 ($81,100), as well as a Graeco-Roman large footed basin, circa 2nd-century BC, with an asking price of £160,000 ($199,650).  

The talk prior to the fair was that art and jewelry sales are down. This is either an exception or the beginning of a new dawn for both the art and jewelry markets. 

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Chopard Sparkles On The Cannes Red Carpet

Julianne Moore in emerald earrings from Chopard's Green Carpet Collection

The Cannes Film Festival red carpet is one of the world’s top fashion stages. It’s the only international red carpet presentation that I know of where the jewels are on a near equal footing with the gowns and the stars who wear them. Other companies use the stage to adorn the stars with their jewels and watches but the Cannes Film Festival is Chopard’s world.

It’s a world that began in 1998, when the film festival introduced the first Palme d’Or designed by Chopard. It's the trophy awarded to the best film of the festival. The Swiss luxury brand’s partnership broke new ground in 2007 when it introduced its Red Carpet Collection. The collection of one-of-a-kind jewels is unveiled every year during the festival is worn by the stars throughout the event. This year, the company introduced 69 jewels, which honors the 69th edition of the annual festival.

It has to be one of the great marketing coups by a jewelry and watch company.

In recent years the collection included the “Green Carpet Collection” of jewels, which are crafted with Fairmined gold. This year for the first time the collection includes emeralds, mined in a responsible sustainable manner by Gemfields, a colored gemstone mining and marketing company, from its mine in Zambia.

The following stars appeared on the Cannes Red Carpet Wednesday wearing Chopard Red Carpet, Green Carpet and High Jewellery collections.

Julianne Moore wore earrings from the Green Carpet Collection in 18k white Fairmined gold set with two pear-shaped emeralds (10 and 11 carats each) and marquise-cut diamonds; and a ring from the Green Carpet Collection in 18k white Fairmined gold adorned with a 10.3-carat cushion shaped emerald and set with marquise-cut diamonds (top photo and above). All emeralds are responsibly mined at Gemfields’ Kagem mine in Zambia. All diamonds are sourced from a producer who is an RJC certified member.

Chinese Actress Zhao Tao chose a necklace in 18k rose gold set with rubies (131.5 carats) and diamonds (31.34 carats), a pair of earrings in 18k rose gold set with rubies (24.97 carats) and diamonds (2.84 carats) and a bracelet in 18k rose gold set with rubies (20.09 carats) and diamonds (20.15 carats, all from the Red Carpet Collection.

Victoria Beckham wore two bracelets in 18k white gold set with diamonds and a ring in 18k white gold set with a 8.88 carats of cushion-cut diamonds, all from the High Jewellery Collection. Caroline Scheufele, Chopard co-president and artistic director, walked the red carpet with Beckham in Chopard.

Kirsten Dunst, wore a pair of earrings in 18k white gold with diamonds (20.24 carats), a bracelet in platinum set with diamonds (9.12 carats) and a bracelet in 18k white gold set with diamonds (18.27 carats), all from the High Jewellery Collection.

Italian Actress Valeria Golino, wore a pair of pink spinel and diamond earrings and pale pink spinel ring, all from the High Jewellery Collection.

Thai Actress Araya Hargate wore an 18k white gold necklace set with 76.5 carats of conch pearls and 90.76 carats of diamonds. She also word diamond stud earrings in 18k white gold set with brilliant cut diamonds and a ring in 18k white gold with 5.21 carats of diamonds, all from the High Jewellery Collection.

French singer Line Renaud wore an 18k white gold necklace with 82.48 carats of diamonds, all from the High Jewellery Collection.

Italian Model Bianca Balti shined in a pair of earrings in 18k white gold set with sapphires and diamonds and a bracelet in 18k white gold set with sapphires and diamonds, all from the High Jewellery Collection.

French Actress Frédérique Bel wore a pair of 18k white gold earrings featuring diamonds and rubies and bracelet featuring rubies and diamonds, all from the High Jewellery Collection. 

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Chopard and de Grisogono Rock the Red Carpet at Cannes Film Festival

Julianne Moore in Chopard

Switzerland is known for its world renowned watch industry but there are a few companies that produce world class luxury jewelry as well. Two brands, Chopard and de Grisogono, sparkled during Tuesday’s opening night Red Carpet ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Chopard’s partnership with what is arguably the world’s most glamorous film festival has marked its 60th year, which includes creating the Palme d’Or trophy, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. The High Jewelry Red Carpet Collection, developed each year for the opening red carpet event, consists of 68 unique pieces this year. They were unveiled Tuesday, worn by world renowned actresses and models as well as Cannes officials. The jewels are designed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president of Chopard.

Meanwhile, de Grisogono and its highly charismatic founder and creative director, Fawaz Gruosi, always makes a mark at this event showcasing its highly creative designs. This year the company displayed white gold and diamonds accented by warm hues. 

The two brands best examples of its high jewelry pieces on the red carpet include: 

2015 Academy Award winner Julianne Moore in pear-shaped emerald earrings (52 carats) set with white diamonds in platinum from Chopard’s Red Carpet Collection and an octagonal step-cut emerald ring (13 carats) set in white diamond pavé‎ in 18k white gold (top photo).

2014 Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o wore Chopard pink quartz earrings (13 carats) with rubellites and white diamond set in 18-karat white gold, an amethyst ring with tanzanite, tsavorites and white diamonds set in 18k white gold; an aquamarine ring (5 carats) with amethyst, tanzanites; and white diamonds set in 18k white gold, all from Chopard’s Temptations Collection. She also wore a white diamond bead necklace (41 carats) set in 18k rose gold and a marquise-cut white diamond ring set in 18k white gold.

Fashion model Bar Refaeli wore de Grisogono cabochon-cut India earrings, Sensuale ring and the brand's iconic Allegra ring in gold, brown and creamy warm hues. She is pictured with Fawaz Gruosi, founder and creative director of the luxury jewelry brand.

Chopard ambassadress, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing in a pair of Chopard earrings featuring pear-shaped emeralds (25 carats) and white diamonds (24 carats) set in 18k yellow gold, a white diamond bracelet (29 carats) set in 18k white gold, an emerald-cut emerald ring (30 carats) set with white diamond pave in platinum and a round-cut white diamond ring set in 18k white gold.

Actress Natalie Portman wore de Grisogono diamonds, pairing the teardrop shape of Gocce earrings with the fan-shaped Jane ring and the Tubetto bangle 


French Actress Emmanuelle Beart wore a pair of Chopard white diamond hoop earrings (13 carats) set in 18k white gold, a white diamond bracelet (44 carats) set in 18k white gold and two ashoka-cut white diamond rings set in platinum.

Chinese actress Zhao Tao wore Chopard marquise-cut white diamond chandelier earrings (30 carats) set in 18k white gold.

Victoria’s secret Supermodel Karlie Kloss wore de Grisogono Sole earrings and a sculptural Onde ring

Model Doutzen Kroes wore a Chopard marquise-cut white diamond bracelet (8 carats) set in 18k Fairmined white gold and a marquise-cut white diamond ring set in 18k Fairmined white gold, both from Chopard’s Green Carpet Collection.

Indian actress Katrina Kaif wore Chopard white diamond drop earrings (8 carats) set in 18k white gold and a pear-shaped white diamond bracelet (37 carats) set in 18k white gold. 

Actress and model Liya Kebede adorned her Louis Vuitton silver dress with the de Grisogono Allegra ring and 1-metrer long sautoir necklace.

Member of the Jury, French actress Sophie Marceau wore three Chopard white diamond bead necklaces (totaling 270 carats) set in 18k white gold, a white diamond bracelet (33 carats) set in 18k white gold and a pair of white diamond stud earrings.

Member of the Jury, Spanish actress Rossy de Palma sparkled in a white diamond necklace, earring and ring suite (totaling 100 carats) set in 18k white gold.

Italian actress Isabella Rossellini wore Chopard ruby earrings (57 carats) set in 18k rose gold and a ruby ring (24 carats) set in 18k rose gold. 

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The Best of The Best Jewelry At Baselworld 2015

Fabergé Secret Garden necklace

Baselworld is known as a watch show but it is also one of the best places in the world to see the newest and best in jewelry from around the world, particularly at the luxury end. 

Among the brands that really made an impression this year was Fabergé. Not only with its first Imperial style jeweled egg in nearly a century. I already featured its Pearl Egg but the company exhibited several high jewelry collections reminiscent of the Fabergé of old, including a candy-colored collection of jewels called “Secret Garden (top photo).” Natalia Shugaeva, Fabergé’s head designer, said she wanted to create a collection of jewels that are opulent and refined. She succeeded.

From friends to those who actually work for the brand the word most used to describe the work of Fawaz Gruosi and his high jewelry brand, De Grisogono, is “crazy.” It is meant in the best possible sense. His singular creative designs have won the brand fame throughout the world and this year at Baselworld there were several ultra-imaginative masterpieces on displays. It’s almost become typical to expect the wonderfully unexpected from De Grisogono. Yhe De Grisogono High Jewelry necklace picture is a perfect example in 18k white and rose gold, 12 briolette-cut emeralds, 19 round-cut rubies (approximately 12.66 cts.), 29 marquise-cut white diamonds (approximately 11.01 cts.), 1,366 emeralds (approx. 60.20 ct s ) and 2603 white diamonds (approximately 137.54 cts.).

Chopard unveiled its High Jewelry Collection at Baselworld and even among the selection of jewelry destined for Red Carpet events one piece stood out. An ocean blue ring featuring a 41.57-carat oval shaped paraíba tourmaline from Mozambique and 8.8-carats of diamonds set in a lace-work of 18k white gold.

Georg Jensen and its managing director of jewelry, Meeling Wong, created several collections of refined jewelry that reinterpret the traditional designs of the famed silversmith brand. Among the items that stood out was a collection of pieces in collaboration with colored gemstone mining company, Gemfields.

Graff Diamonds also provided an exceptional jewelry not only in terms of size but in nuanced ways, showcasing several pieces that can be worn in a variety of ways or with clever use of material. The latter could be seen in the diamond tassel necklace pictured above.

Antonini, introduced a number of new collections with what it calls “natural” white gold, which is more like white mixed with a grey or yellow tint. It is used in a matte finished. Meanwhile more traditional rhodium-finished white and black gold is creatively used as a background for rough-textured pavé settings.

Pasquale Bruni introduced a number of colorful items led by Fiori in Fiore (Flowers in Bloom), featuring diamonds mixed with pink sapphires and morganite. 

Roberto Coin made a statement with its steely-eyed Falco (hawk or falcon, take your pick) ring and bracelet.  

Brumani was again as always a great designer of multi-colored stones that reflect the vibrancy of its home country Brazil and this year was no different as with these pastel colored earrings show. 

Like few other brands, Sutra brought color to the party with exceptional gemstones and creative designs as with these turquoise, diamond and gold earrings. 

More color was provided by Yoko London through its pearl-centric designs. 

Spanish brand Carrera y Carrera celebrated its 140th year anniversary with a collection of delicate, hand-made gold pieces. 

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