Last week, Paris was alive with haute couture and haute joaillerie presentations. And this fashion week had some very nice surprises in store for us! It was therefore with great pleasure that I accepted Chanel’s invitation to discover the new collection inspired by the Café Society and presented at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
Before presenting the pieces that caught my attention the most, let’s take a look at the history of this influential milieu that was the Café Society. Between the 1920s and 1960s, after the First World War, a circle of intellectuals, billionaires, socialites and aristocrats emerged. The sumptuous parties it organises are its trademark.
Marie-Laure de Noailles, the Duke of Windsor, Barbara Hutton, Salvador Dali, Orson Welles and Louise de Vilmorin, to name but a few, were among its members. One spends without counting the cost in the Café Society where bon mot and elegance are the watchwords! Of course, one can also meet patrons, as this circle was one of the main financial backers of the creation of its time. A sort of jet-set before its time, it is fashionable to be part of it and to show off at the parties organised by its members.
Avant-gardism and audacity perfectly characterize the spirit of the circle. It is not for nothing that this theme was chosen for the new Chanel high jewellery collection. Far from the more classical and figurative codes to which the house has accustomed us, the collection is a real success. Modern, graphic, Art Deco, these are some of the adjectives that sum up the line of this presentation. The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is an additional reference: let’s remember that it was in this place that the “Rite of Spring” was performed for the first time in 1913, a performance that aroused passions by its modernity. Daring, I tell you!
So it was on the theatre stage, to the sound of Meca Tonique’s electronic music, that I was able to discover the pieces superbly made by the company’s workshops. I was fascinated by the “Sunset”, “Morning in Vendôme” and “Bubbles” collections. Let’s discover the most outstanding pieces.
Bubbles watch in white gold, set with 1606 diamonds for a weight of 21.2 carats and sculpted onyx elements. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Sunset brooch in white and pink gold, set with a 3-carat cushion-cut Padparadscha sapphire, 599 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 6.1 carats and 9 sculpted pink opals. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Muse earrings in white gold, set with 40 sapphire balls for a total weight of 23.6 carats, 6 brilliant-cut sapphires, 6 fancy-cut sapphires, 6 diamond balls for a total weight of 2 carats and 118 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 3.3 carats. Photo : Chanel Joaillerie
Morning in Vendôme necklace in white and yellow gold, set with a 12-carat emerald-cut yellow diamond, 2160 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 31.6 carats, 339 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds for a total weight of 4.4 carats and sculpted onyx. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Morning in Vendôme ring in white and yellow gold, set with a 6.1 carat emerald, 168 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 4.2 carats, 20 baguette-cut sapphires for a total weight of 1.3 carats, 16 baguette-cut emeralds for a total weight of 1 carat and 149 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Broadway ring in white gold set with 102 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 3.7 carats, 27 square-cut diamonds for a total weight of 2.5 carats, 1 princess-cut diamond for a total weight of 1.5 carats, 6 baguette-cut diamonds for a total weight of 1 carat and 4 trapeze-cut diamonds. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Sunset earrings in white and pink gold, set with 8 oval-cut Padparadscha sapphires for a total weight of 9.2 carats, 4 fancy-cut Padparadscha sapphires, 6 fancy-cut pink sapphires and 248 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 3.8 carats. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Bubbles necklace in white gold set with a 2-carat square-cut diamond, 2173 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 27.3 carats and sculpted onyx. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Cruise necklace in white gold set with a 28.3 carat brilliant-cut aquamarine, 499 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 27.8 carats, 2087 aquamarines for a total weight of 789 carats and 622 brilliant-cut black spinels for a total weight of 7 carats. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Charleston earrings in white gold, set with 240 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 9 carats, 32 baguette-cut diamonds for a total weight of 5.9 carats, 4 princess-cut diamonds for a total weight of 1.6 carats and sculpted onyx. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Morning in Vendôme earrings in white and yellow gold set with 2 emerald-cut yellow diamonds for a total weight of 7.3 carats, 188 brilliant-cut white diamonds for a total weight of 2 carats, 64 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds and sculpted onyx. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Sunset necklace in white and rose gold and set with a 5.5 carat cushion-cut Padparadscha sapphire, 8 oval-cut Padparadscha sapphires for a total weight of 17.2 carats, 44 fancy-cut Padparadscha sapphires for a total weight of 4.9 carats, 62 fancy-cut pink sapphires for a total weight of 4.9 carats and 2,387 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total of 62.9 carats. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Midnightbracelet in white gold set with 1659 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 31.8 carats and sculpted onyx. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
Sunrise ring in yellow gold set with 5 princess cut diamonds for a total weight of 1 carat, 40 brilliant cut yellow sapphires and red lacquer. Photo : Chanel Joaillerie
White gold Tuxedo ring set with a 1 carat brilliant cut diamond, 142 brilliant cut diamonds for a total weight of 1.8 carats and carved onyx. Photo : Chanel Joaillerie
Detail of the removable brooch of the Morning in Vendôme necklace. White and yellow gold, set with a 12-carat emerald-cut yellow diamond. Photo: Chanel Joaillerie
A huge thank you to Chanel for this beautiful moment.
See you soon!
