On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, Aurélie Bidermann presents one of her iconic models, the Baby Chivor necklace, in an exclusive version. Two glass plates sealed by solid gold rings that, this time, contain multicolored sapphires.
The Aurélie Bidermann Baby Chivor necklace is available as a limited edition, only on the e-shop aureliebidermann.com.
Love has always been at the heart of French ‘Haute Joaillier’ Chaumet since its founding in 1780. Its liens (or links) motif, symbolising the unbreakable bond between people, has also remained a signature of the brand since appearing in earliest designs of tiaras, brooches and necklaces from the belle époque and art deco eras.
A light-hearted Liens Séduction series adds another link in the chain for the tender Liens de Chaumet collection.
From diamond and sapphire bands that intersect to form bejewelled X’s on a 1907 choker, to braids of gold and diamonds that line the edge of a 1946 evening bag, the liens not only expresses union and intimacy, but also connects the past, present and future.
Since spawning a collection in its own right during the seventies, the liens has built on its token as love and tenderness. Successive reinterpretations of the motif within the Liens Collection have further cemented it as an emblem of eternal commitment and celebration of attachment in myraid forms — passion, friendship, and filial affection. And the fourth and latest Liens range, Liens Séduction, continues to perpetuate this tradition with its delightful romantic design, which evokes arms entwined in a lingering embrace.
To launch the Liens Séduction, the French Maison premiered Histoires de Liens, a film directed by Damien Kirsl. Its mosaic of six scenes underlines the inspiration behind these designs — a ribbon of diamonds tied around the finger, moulded from metal to create a playful dance of light, and convey the ubiquituous appeal of the liens motif.
Come into the beautiful world of Chaumet and discover Liens Séduction, and their Liens collection.
The three birthstones associated with December are Tanzanite, Zircon, and Turquoise
Turquoise
The name turquoise, from the French expression Pierre tourques or Turkish stone, originated in the thirteenth century and describes one of the oldest known gemstones. Turquoise varies in color from greenish blue, through robin’s egg-blue, to sky blue shades and its transparency ranges from translucent to opaque. Turquoise is plentiful and is available in a wide range of sizes. It is most often used for beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays.
A vintage 14kt white gold, turquoise, emerald, blue sapphire and diamond necklace, the clasp of which can be worn as a brooch.
Vintage Cartier turquoise and diamond ring, circa 1950’s
An 18kt white gold, platinum, turquoise and diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels
Fabulous vintage Cartier turquoise and diamond bracelet, circa 1960’s
Tiffany & Co. Tassels necklace with turquoise stones and round diamonds set in yellow gold and platinum, inspired by an original design by Jean Schlumberger.
An 18 karat gold, platinum, turquoise, ruby and diamond necklace by Bulgari
Although its popularity fluctuates in fashion, it is a perennial favorite in the American Southwest.
Tanzanite
Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, and found exclusively in this tiny area of the world, tanzanite exhibits a rich violet-blue color for which the gemstone is treasured; often it is heat-treated to achieve this color. Colors range from blue to purple, and tanzanites that are medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation, and slightly violet blue command premium prices.
As tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire, it often was purchased as an alternative. However, it has increased in popularity and now is valued more for its own beauty and brilliance than as a sapphire substitute
Zircon
Derived from the Arabic words zar and gun, meaning gold and color, zircon is found in a wide range of colors such as: blue, yellow, orange, brown, green, colorless, and red (the most prized color). For many years colorless zircon was used to imitate diamonds. Folk wisdom grants zircon the power to relieve pain, whet the appetite, protect travelers from disease and injury, to ensure a warm welcome, and to prevent nightmares guaranteeing a deep, tranquil sleep.
Major sources of zircon are the Chanthaburi area of Thailand, the Palin area of Cambodia, and the southern part of Vietnam.
by Jean Amr
As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world’s emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Zambia.
From the former collection of princess Salimah Aga Khan, Van Cleef & Arpels Indian-style yellow gold, melon carved emeralds, diamond necklace, 1970 (Click photo to enlarge).
Van Cleef & Arpels, 18kt yellow gold, diamond and carved emerald ring
Emerald and diamond ‘Camellia’ brooch by Van Cleef and Arpels, circa 1975 (Click photo to enlarge).
Centering a rectangular carved emerald with baguette, single, triangular and fancy-shaped diamond shoulders, completed by a plain mount; estimated total diamond weight: 2.70 carats; mounted in platinum; size 5 1/4
Antique Indian melon carved emerald necklace (Privat collection) (Click photo to enlarge).
The availability of high-quality emerald is limited; consequently, treatments to improve clarity are performed regularly.
by Jean Amr
Don’t miss the unique exhibition ‘A Passion for Jewels’ in Zurich from 7 to 23 April 2016. The Bvlgari store in Zurich (Bahnhofstrasse 25) showcases a selection of Bvlgari masterpieces that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor, now part of the Maison’s Heritage Collection. The impeccable craftsmanship and magnificent stones of the creations on display will tell a compelling story made of love, glamour and beauty.
Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery collection was renowned as one of the greatest ever assembled. In 2011, Christie’s held a sale of Taylor’s private collection, which set records as the most valuable sale of jewellery in auction history. From this sale, Bvlgari re-acquired seven pieces that best represented Taylor’s predilection for the brand and her unerring collector’s eye.
Indeed, the bold and sumptuous style of Bvlgari perfectly matched her decided tastes and since 1962, when the actress settled in Rome to film Cleopatra, the affinity became a lifelong, intense relationship with the brand.
The only Italian word Elizabeth knows is Bvlgari.
Richard Burten
This predilection was encouraged by Elizabeth Taylor’s love affair with Richard Burton, started on the film set and sealed with magnificent Bvlgari jewels: legend has it that after filming their first scene together they instantly fell in love, despite the fact that they were both married. Their love affair spread like wildfire throughout the international press and the Bvlgari Via Condotti store was one of the favourite hide-outs of the couple in Rome. A ‘secret door’ in the back of the shop, still visible today, allowed the couple to escape from paparazzi lining in front of the store. Recalling the memorable moments spent at the Condotti store, Taylor stated that
…..undeniably one of the biggest advantages of filming Cleopatra in Rome was Bvlgari’s shop. I used to visit Gianni Bulgari in the afternoon and we’d sit and swap stories.
The exhibition includes Taylor’s first piece of Bulgari jewelry, an emerald and diamond En Tremblant brooch, the “Cleopatra Mirror,” the Taylor Burton fianceìe ring, a diamond brooch with a 23.44 octagonal step-cut diamond, an emerald and diamond necklace; a platinum sautoir with diamonds and sapphires; a Trombino ring that Taylor bought to compliment the platinum sautoir; and, lastly, one of Taylor’s most frequently worn pieces – a diamond and gold sautoir set with six ancient Roman coins.
Richard Burton’s emerald engagement ring (above): the actress cherished this piece and when she decided to auction it to raise funds for the fight against AIDS, she wrote a letter to the new owners instructing them to “Wear it with love!”.
The spectacular necklace (above) of emeralds and diamonds Burton presented her with on the occasion of their marriage in 1964. The very starting point of this platinum jewel was a brooch, featuring an 18.61 carat emerald surrounded by diamonds, one of the first gifts from Richard Burton and subsequently re-worked as pendant, and ‘completed’ as a necklece, that the actress loved so much that it was the only jewel she wore the day they married.
The Bvlgari emerald suite bracelet (above) was a gift from Richard Burton for her 35th birthday on February 27, 1967,
Beside the fabulous stones, Taylor also admired the craftsmanship behind her jewels; a perfect example is her Tremblant brooch (above) with emeralds and diamonds, whose flowers quiver following the movements of the wearer’s body thanks to a spring attached to the petals.
The Trombino ring (above) on display featuring a cabochon sapphire, was purchased by Taylor herself as an ideal complement to the sautoir.
Another magnificent Bvlgari creation, the sautoir featuring an octagonal pendant with a 65 carat sapphire (above), was chosen by Richard Burton in 1972 to mark Elizabeth Taylor’s fortieth birthday, as the intense blue of the stone reminded him of the colour of her eyes.
At this moment the Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas watches are realy High-Fashion. This precious Bvlgari Serpenti gold, diamonds and emerald tubogas watch-bracelet dates 1962!
Another piece she chose and wore frequently is the necklace of 1975 with ancient coins, one of the most celebrated Bulgari motifs ever.
The two birthstones for March are aquamarine and bloodstone.
Aquamarine
With its watery blue, pale green hues and crystal clearness, the gem’s name, aquamarine, is derived from the Latin words for water (aqua) and sea (marina), or ‘water of the sea’, so it’s no coincidence that the aquamarine has long been associated with the ocean. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. Ancient legends claim that the aquamarine was found in a Mermaid’s treasure chest, as evidenced by the ancient philosopher Pliny, who paid tribute to this gem of vitality, stating, “the lovely aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house, in the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied”. In the Christian era, the Apostle St. Thomas is identified by the aquamarine as it resembled the blue skies and sea he frequently journeyed by to preach salvation.
Verdura, 18kt yellow gold and aquamarine necklace
Other popular associations of the aquamarine is that with love, marriage and everlasting youth. According to Roman beliefs, the gem was believed to absorb the atmosphere of young love and was frequently given to brides at weddings so that the auras of the newlywed bliss would blend in with the aquamarine, preserving and increasing their mutual love, confirmed by the Roman Camillus Leonardus, “it renders the bearer cheerful and increases and preserves married love.” During Medieval times, the aquamarine rekindled the love of married couples and was thus a popular gift to give on certain milestone wedding anniversaries.
Cartier 18kt white gold, aquamarine, diamond cocktail ring, 1970’s
Similar to other gemstones in pre-modern medicine, the aquamarine was often used to cure certain ailments throughout history. The aforementioned ancient Roman Camillus Leonardus stated that “it cures distempers of the throat and jaws, and is good for indispositions of the live and disorders of the stomach”. In the dark about modern medicine, the Middle Ages often turned to gemstones for their supposed spiritual and healing powers. At the end of the eleventh century, Marbodus, the bishop of Rennes, wrote the influential Liber Lapidium (Book of Stones), in which he defined the magical qualities of sixty stones.
Chanel Café Society Cruise necklace set with a 28.30ct brilliant-cut aquamarine, diamonds, aquamarine beads and black spinels.
During antiquity, Sri Lanka and Burma were major sources for aquamarine and, according to Pliny, it was also found in India and the Ural Mountains. Today, the major source of aquamarine, as well as the source of the finest specimens, is Brazil, where the crystals occur most commonly in pegmatites whose cavities allow the crystals to grow to large sizes. The finest aquamarines originate from the pegmatite deposits of the Minas Gerais region in Brazil, which is also where the largest ever aquamarine was found in 1910 with a weight of over 110 kg. Apart from Brazil, aquamarine can be found in the mines of Colombia. Pakistan , Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Namibia.
Chanel Café Society Cruise secret watch with an aquamarine bead bracelet contrasted with black spinels and diamonds.
The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the color usually is more intense in larger stones. Because of these tones, you can’t go wrong, it suits with every outfit. Also this year the aquamarine is highly populair!
Bloodstone
The second birthstone for March is bloodstone, a dark-green jasper flecked with vivid red spots of iron oxide. This ancient stone was used by the Babylonians to make seals and amulets and was believed to have healing powers — especially for blood disorders. It is sometimes called the martyr’s stone as legend tells that it was created when drops of Christ’s blood stained some jasper at the foot of the cross.
Cartier Vintage 18k Yellow Gold Bloodstone Ring, 1970’s
Generally found embedded in rocks or in riverbeds as pebbles, primary sources for this stone are India, Brazil, and Australia.
It’s official: Christian Louboutin isn’t just for shoes and fancy nail polish anymore. Christian Louboutin has launged some amazing lipsticks. There’s nothing sexy about the word ‘products;’ call them ‘objets d’art’, on the other hand, and we must have them immediately. Louboutin knows this, after all, he’s made women lust after his creations for decades: First, with his red soles, then with nail polish and now, with 38 shades of lipstick in the most dramatic metal bullets (that double as necklaces) we’ve ever seen. There are three textures to choose from, Silky Satin, Velvet Matte and Sheer Voile, and all the shades are inspired by the brand’s iconic shoes and bags. At $90 each, they don’t come cheap, but the best things rarely do. Yes. That’s ‘a lot’ for one lipstick. But somehow, for some reason, we still want it. Come on! It’s a cheap way to wear an original Christian Louboutin
Curse you, incredible packaging design geniuses and brilliant branding people. Louboutin’s first lipstick offering features three finishes; Silky Satin, Sheer Voile, and Velvet Matte, and there are 38 shades to choose from, each inspired by the fashion house’s most iconic shoes and handbags. Take your pick from bold pinks, rich wine shades, delicate nudes, and, of course, the iconic and famous Louboutin red.
Inspired by Louboutin’s Egyptian roots, the packaging is ultra ostentatious too, with a pointed base, golden exterior and a crown-shaped cap. Plus, the most exciting part: each lipstick doubles up as a jewellery charm. Thread through a ribbon or chain to turn it into a necklace for speedy touch-ups and to feel kind of like a glamorous secret agent.
Offered in five nude shades, it defines and matches the actual tone of lip contour. The self-sharpening lip definer assists in perfecting the lip make up by defining and highlighting the wearer’s natural lip contour. Aesthetically inspired by Middle Easter antiquities and the Art Deco movement, the ergonomics of the tall slender body are rooted in calligraphy for a truly artistic experience (Click photo to enlarge).
Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin, Matte, Satin and Sheer, fall 2015 (Click photo to enlarge).
Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Matte, in it’s beautiful box, fall 2015 (Click photo to enlarge).
Always with you! Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Matte, fall 2015 (Click photo to enlarge).
The Louboutin lip definer and lipstick collection is availble now, so clear some space in your make-up bag, or on your neck.
by Jean Amr
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