A 2020 Inspired by Architecture: Perspectives de Chaumet

 

 

This fall, the Maison unveils its new High Jewellery collection, Perspectives de Chaumet. Born in 12 Vendôme’s workshop in Paris, these 80 unique designs reinterpret the theme of architecture, between innovation and transmission.

Earlier in 2020, as Chaumet celebrated its 240th anniversary, Chaumet reopened its historic address on 12 Place Vendôme. To mark the occasion, Chaumet’s workshop revealed a brand-new collection of High Jewellery, Trésors d’Ailleurs, composed of monumental rings that adorn the hand with architecture marvels from the four corners of the world.

Expanding the recurring theme of architecture, the new High Jewelry thematic collection, Perspectives de Chaumet, explores this art in depth, from the Italian Renaissance to the Bauhaus movement.

Just this once, the collection was not revealed, as tradition dictates, at the Parisian Haute-Couture Fashion Week. 12 Vendôme’s workshops having closed during lockdown, the Parisian jewellers were not able to finish the entire collection in time.

A jeweller’s craft requires patience. It took over 800 hours of work by Chaumet’s jewellers, polishers and gem-setters to create the Lacis tiara, and over 500 hours of work for one of both Skyline necklaces. This freedom from the official calendar allowed the Chaumet Maison’s jewellers to take the necessary time to express the full extent of their virtuosity.

“The deliberately contemporary Lacis tiara puts in majesty one of the Maison’s most emblematic jewellery technique: the fil couteau” shared Chaumet. “Aiming to dissimulate the metal in order to further sublimate the stones, the fil couteau provides here a delicate structure to this airy jewel recalling the Maison’s early XXth century’s masterpieces.”

Recalling the stone latticework and mashrabiyas of contemporary architecture, with its white gold interlacing Lacis delineates symmetrical and delicate jewellery while also suggesting maze of narrow streets. This modern reinterpretation of diamond mesh, an historic Chaumet signature, is especially striking in the form of a light tiara, a secret watch, and rings and bracelets with airy volumes.

The Skyline ring reinvents the iconic architecture of contemporary cities. Combining strong volumes with transparent effects, prominent angles with harmonious curves, this jewellery building is set with an extremely rare Asscher-cut D FL type IIa diamond of 7.34 carats. An extraordinary diamond that you don’t see every day: colourless, flawless and entirely pure.

Skyline transformable ring in yellow gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds.

This two-part sculptural ring offers an unprecedented variation on the Chaumet tradition of transformable jewels.Evoking a somewhat skewed graphic horizon, Skyline reinvents the iconic architecture of contemporary cities as symbolic of power and elevation. Combining strong volumes with transparent effects, prominent angles with a harmony of curves, these jewel buildings are dedicated to women who assert the power of their femininity.

Chaumet Lacis Secret Watch

Lacis, a piece unique timepiece, is a secret watch bringing together Chaumet’s two-hundred year know-how in jewellery and watchmaking. This contemporary interpretation of Chaumet’s lace pattern is revealing time in a glittering aventurine dial. The 18-carat white gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds is decorated with a “résille” secret cover set with two pear-shaped diamonds (0.80ct each).