Statement jewels: The best pieces to wear on your next tropical getaway
These conversation starters come with striking designs and are studded with precious stones in mood-enhancing hues.
Van Cleef & Arpels' Delphes long necklace. (Photo: Aik Chen; Art: Chern Ling)
Here's a thought: Instead of saving your jewels for a special occasion, make like Elizabeth Taylor and wear them to – heck, in – the pool! Take your pick from pieces inspired by everything from ancient ritual objects to the agave plant, as well as vintage designs that continues to find relevance today.
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BVLGARI
Kudos to jewellers like Bulgari for adopting unusual stones in a starring role. On this high jewellery bracelet wrought from pink gold, 51 milky white chalcedony beads take the lead. Hailing from the same family as onyx and agate, the chalcedony beads are topped with 47 rubies. The lattice-like bracelet is also studded with 40 cabochon emeralds, while 46 round and pave-set diamonds diamonds (of D-F colour and IF-VVS clarity) lend sparkle.
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CARTIER
Cartier's enduring Tutti Frutti collection – now more than a century old – continues to find striking new expressions. On this platinum necklace set with chrysoprase, rubies, onyx, and diamonds, a Buddhist-Hindu ritual object takes centrestage as the pendant’s leitmotif. The object, the vajra, represents indestructibility and irresistible force – two powerful properties any wearer would be proud to be associated with.
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CHOPARD
Nothing expresses the bounty of summer like the image of ripe fruit, and this trio of white gold rings from Chopard brings to mind exactly that. Blueberries, kiwifruit and pears, perhaps? The deep hue of the 20.99-carat, cushion-shaped sapphire is enhanced by interlocking swirls of pave-set diamonds and sapphires. Conjuring farm-fresh lushness is the 4.13-carat, cushion-shaped peridot, also enhanced by pave diamonds. Most prized of all is the 5.02-carat, brilliant-cut, Fancy Intense Yellow/IF diamond that studs the final ring. A piece unique, its individuality is highlighted by the sensuous curves of the metal.
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PIAGET
The agave plant isn’t only useful being the main component in the production of tequila; the hardy shrub also inspired the design of this pair of Piaget earrings. According to the jeweller, the earrings, set in white gold, required 130 hours of work to put together. More astonishing, though, was the fact that it took over a year to source the six pairs of Columbian emeralds that matched in size and colour. The largest of these are pear-shaped and weigh 1.26-carats and 1.14-carats. Diamonds in pear- and marquise-cuts round out the offer.
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VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
The Delphes long necklace, from Van Cleef & Arpels’ Heritage collection, might have been produced more than 40 years ago (1973, to be exact), but it is thoroughly modern in its approach. That is, it’s a transformable piece that can be fashioned into bracelets depending on the wearer’s whim. The bold, vibrant palette of yellow gold, coral and chrysoprase is a signature of the line, and will liven up even the simplest of warm-weather ensembles.
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TIFFANY & CO.
To some, this striking Tiffany & Co. necklace with sapphires and diamonds in platinum might seem to sport the design of an ‘eye’, with prominent ‘eyelashes’. In reality, however, the Jean Schlumberger Surreal Shell necklace is inspired by cowrie shells, with five sapphires (totalling 49.69 carats) surrounded by 32.10 carats of diamonds. It makes us want to book the next flight out to a pristine tropical beach resort.
