Jewelry Selection

Diamonds, gold and sapphire… If these precious stones are the subjects of dreams, the creations you can find on the Place Vendôme are what dreams are definitely made of! This is what you will find in the articles of Icon-Icon’s jewellery section: the histories and the current activities related to the most prestigious jewellers in the world.

Thus, Icon-Icon dives into the craziest jewels. Jewels made by jewellery houses that seduced the most elegant personalities of past centuries with refined, wonderful jewels and items.

Pieces that are fantastic because they are ingenious, like Bulgari’s Serpenti. Or even better: Van Cleef & Arpel’s Zip necklace — or the ballerinas, true works of art made by Van Cleef.

Sometimes, High Fashion meets High Jewellery. For instance, Dior’s iconic Bar Suit, which was turned into a fabulous ring by Victoire de Castellane’s genius mind! Hermès is not to be outdone, since the house has been immortalising its aesthetical standards thanks to jewels with revered simplicity. The Chaîne d’Ancre, for instance, perfectly designed for bracelets and rings! Sometimes, the most eloquent jewels are the fruits of artistic inspiration. For example, Jean Cocteau came up with the Trinity ring for Cartier. A saturnal symbol of love. Indeed, the Place Vendôme is a major reference when it comes to the splendour of High Jewellery. How could we forget about Chaumet, Cartier and Mellerio dits Meller? Chanel as well. By the way, did you know that Coco Chanel had started a first jewellery collection in 1932? Incurring the wrath of jewellers, she was forced to dismantle her pieces. One by one. Also, did you know that Empress Joséphine ought to be largely credited for Chaumet’s iconic aesthetical standards? From their Le Blé collection to their Liens pieces, Joséphine’s passion for nature inspired the jeweller more than once. And also the cocottes of the Belle Époque!

But Icon-Icon relies on history to shed light on current creations. The rich creativity of these houses never ceases to produce splendid and revolutionary pieces, from Paris to New York… Because there were other great jewellers who could work diamonds — let’s ask Marylin what she thinks about Harry Winston! Or Audrey Hepburn what she dreams of when she is staring at Tiffany’s window! Even better… Ask yourself about the unique relationship between Elizabeth Taylor and diamonds, such as the Taylor–Burton, and Bulgari’s creations — this is how you get to the heart of jewellery!

Because the jewels worn by Hollywood celebrities while performing, whether we are talking about diamonds, rubies or emeralds, always contribute to making the film’s narration something extraordinary. Sometimes, the plot relies on these legendary jewels, such as the Heart of the Ocean, the blue diamond worn by Kate Winslet in The Titanic, or Cartier’s Toussaint necklace that Sandra Bullock and her team try to steal in Ocean’s 8. There is also Elizabeth Taylor and her Serpenti bracelet, in Cleopatra…

But the reputations of actresses and the diamonds’ radiance might have often outshone the complex and multiform histories of these great jewellery houses… And this is precisely what Icon-Icon aims at shedding light on, to allow its readers to better understand how these great names are still relevant even today!