Category: Jewellery

Divine Duo: Diamonds inspired by the gods

Apollo and Artemis aren’t just Greek gods; they’re also the most valuable earrings ever sold at auction. Or at least that’s what they were called before they were auctioned off. The anonymous buyer who made off with these dazzling dangle earrings gave them new monikers – “The Memory of Autumn Leaves” and “The Dream of Autumn Leaves”. Although, considering that the pair sold for a combined total of US$57.4 million (HK$447.7 million), you wouldn’t want to go frolicking around in a pile of leaves while wearing them.

The more valuable of the two is the 14.54-carat internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond, which went for US$42 million alone. In recent years, only the Cullinan mine in South Africa has produced blue diamonds with any regularity, but the stones are still exceptionally rare. Less than 0.1 percent of the diamonds have a blue hue, and even fewer are graded a fancy vivid blue diamond. The fancy intense pink diamond earring is slightly larger at 16 carats, but it’s less rare than its periwinkle partner.

The earrings were the “stars” of the auction, according to Sotheby’s representative David Bennett. “These exquisite coloured diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right,” he says. “Together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking.”

Bvlgari invites style icons to party at flagship store

Bulgari hosted Serpenti Night at its flagship store at Landmark Chater recently. The event was held to celebrate the start of summer and to unveil Bulgari’s Serpenti 2017 collection. 

The Serpenti collection features jewellery, watches, handbags and eyewear designed to add vibrant hues to a lady’s summer look. Models at the party wore snake-inspired 3D paper dresses and were adorned in items from the Serpenti 2017 collection.

Bulgari has also given its store windows a makeover. The windows feature classic Vespa and Cinquecento miniature scooters in white ceramic with Bulgari jewellery draped over them.

The party was attended by Yen Kuok, Vincy Yeung, Pearl Shek, Antonia Cruz, Tiffany Chan, Denise Ho, Jacqueline Chow, Andrew Pong and more.

Guests sparkle at Pandora’s Autumn-Winter 2017 collection launch event

Danish jewellery maker Pandora unveiled its Autumn-Winter 2017 collection at the Kerry Hotel in Hung Hom last month. The jewellery manufacturer and retailer also showcased its Christmas and Disney collections at the event.  

Guests were treated to a demonstration by Pandora’s in-house craftsmen from Thailand on how the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. A specially designed 360-degree video booth was also set-up to simulate falling autumn leaves and snow.

International cellist Winca Chan and a group of female dancers entertained those in attendance.

The guest list included Charlene Choi, Ekin Cheng, Miki Yeung, Jason Chan, Sarah Song, Ken Hung, Kathy Yuen, Rubberband, Cara G and more.

Chaumet hosts jewellery exhibition at IFC Mall

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Chaumet transformed the IFC Mall Oval Atrium into a French-style patio inspired by Follies – outdoor constructions designed for entertaining in the 17th century – for its The Art of Jewellery Since 1780 exhibition.

The exhibition showcased Chaumet’s creations, taking visitors on a journey through the history of the Parisian jeweller.

The exhibition featured some of Chaumet’s tiaras – the high-end jeweller has made over 3,000 tiaras since 1780 – which guests were allowed to try on. There was also a digital interactive table display presenting the legacy and history of Chaumet and a display of high jewellery pieces and collections.

To help get across the brand’s story, Chaumet hosted a virtual reality (VR) experience, Here and Beyond: An Imperial Virtual Journey. The VR film took guests on a journey from 12 Place Vendôme to the Forbidden City.

Jean-Marc Mansvelt, CEO of Chaumet, attended the opening cocktail party along with special guests including Charlie Young, Cecilia So, Phil Lam and Jason Chan.

Larry Jewelry invites Picchiotti family to Hong Kong for 50th anniversary

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Larry Jewelry, the exclusive retailer of Picchiotti jewellery in Hong Kong, invited the family from Valenza, Italy, to celebrate the retailer’s 50th anniversary.

The event at Larry Jewelry’s flagship store in Central was an exclusive preview of their latest fine jewellery collection and was attended by Caric Hon, executive director and CEO of Larry Jewelry, and Umberto Picchiotti, vice-president of Picchiotti, among a number of other guests.

“Both Larry Jewelry and Picchiotti are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and we also share a similar history and philosophy in crafting jewels. We are delighted to work with this leading Italian jewellery brand and present its dazzling creations in Hong Kong,” says Hon.

Guests at the event were shown the Picchiotti L’Anfiteatro, an 8.05-carat ruby ring designed by Picchiotti and new designs in the Xpandable collection.

6 last-minute gifts for Father’s Day

Fathers across Hong Kong will get the chance this Sunday to take a well-deserved break from all the dad stuff they are required to do, which, in fairness, isn’t really that much. But if mums get a Mother’s Day, then dads should also get in on the act.

This Father’s Day, show your dad that you really care with a nice gift from our choices below.

Suited up

BB_GF_100083042_HK$24,900

Brooks Brothers, the oldest men’s clothing company in the US, has introduced its Summer 2017 Golden Fleece collection just in time for Father’s Day. The collection is made up of outfits with splashes of colour in lightweight fabrics. The collection features suits and sport coats made from wool or a blend of wool and luxury fibres.

Sweet tooth

DALLOYAU_Éclair Cognac

For the dad with a sweet tooth, Dalloyau has launched a selection of biscuits and sweet treats. The French brand with over 300 years of culinary expertise has released the treats as a special way to thank your dad.

Pick from Piment Biscuits with a hint of spice, Parmesan cheese, Espelette peppers and black pepper; Parmesan Cheese and Thyme Biscuits made with ingredients that complement each other beautifully; Éclair Cognac with a crunchy outer shell filled with smooth custard cream of fine cognac; and many more

Edgy fragrance

Father's Day Set

Givenchy has released a fragrance gift set that is based around the streetwear style of the French fashion house. The gift set comes in a box designed with black and white and steel as the main concepts. It includes a signature perfume and deodorant stick.

Elegant timepiece

L4.908.4.71.6_$12700

Longines offers a number of watches, including La Grande Classique de Longines collection, for dads who need a touch of elegance in their life. Designed for modern gentlemen who prefer a minimalistic style, La Grande Classique is an ultra-slim timepiece with a white dial adorned with classical Roman numerals and black hands. The 36 mm stainless steel case is fitted with an automatic L591 self-winding mechanical movement.

Chinese accessories

Retro Chinese Round Sunglasses Black-Gold_HK$1,980 (1)

Shanghai Tang has a range of contemporary gifts from modern Chinese chic accessories to ready-to-wear outfits to homeware. Spoil your dad with a men’s coin bracelet with a Chinese coin carved from green aventurine gemstone, a silk cashmere jacquard scarf with a double fish design in red and ink and retro Chinese round sunglasses inspired by 1960’s Hong Kong.

Glinting jewels

5. Celestial Cufflinks

For the dad who likes his jewels, Nirav Modi has a selection of cufflinks that will complement any suit. Choose from Luminance Cufflinks with a mélange of pear and marquise elements, Mughal Cufflinks with a floral motif of the Mughal era and a brilliant-cut diamond at its centre and Celestial Cufflinks featuring a solitaire in the centre within a diamond halo.

Chinese actress Sandra Ma stars in Cartier’s ‘Panthère Inside’ advertising film

Luxury jewellery brand and watchmaker Cartier recently launched an advertising film, Panthère Inside, starring Sandra Ma. In the film Sandra can be seen wearing Cartier’s signature Panthère de Cartier watch in 18-carat yellow gold.

The Panthère de Cartier collection is a tribute to modern women who are both beautiful and independent. The film explores a side of Ma that has never been captured on-screen before. Bold and beautiful as the watch she’s wearing, she embodies the grace and confidence of a panther navigating the urban jungle.

Click here to watch the video

According to director Susie Au, Ma epitomises the modern Chinese woman. Her gentle look hides a confident personality which makes her the perfect model for this collection. Ma says, “My search for my true hidden self led me to be an actor and today I have found another side of me.”

Deco-dent Gems

Jewels - An emerald, diamond and platinum plaque clip brooch, French, $20,000-30,000

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

Jackie Collins, the late British-American romance author and sister of silver screen starlet Joan Collins, knew a thing or two about style. Dubbed the “queen of the ‘bonkbuster’” for her steamy and sometimes salacious novels, she was famed not only for her page-turning plots, but also for her flashy taste in fashion. Her go-to get-up often comprised leopard-print pieces, chunky jewellery and a blazer.

Jewellery table top.1_eff

Photo courtesy of Bonhams

She also had a penchant for all things Art Deco. Many of her vintage 1920s and 30s pieces – artworks and jewellery alike – were sold as part of a Bonhams’ auction on 16 May. Three pieces of Art Deco jewellery, including a bracelet, brooch and necklace, were plucked up for US$161,250 (HK$1.26 million). One of the three pieces, a diamond emerald and platinum necklace, sold for US$56,250 alone. The jagged, geometric pattern of the necklace is softened by a dazzling array of diamonds – 44 carats in total. The brooch, which is French in origin, boasts a Colombian emerald surrounded by round, half-moon, square step and baguette-cut diamonds, and some more square calibré-cut emeralds. After Jackie’s death from breast cancer in 2015, her sister said in a tribute, “Wherever you are, my darling sister, you deserve a red carpet and a throne.” We hope she’s right and imagine that it’s a leopard-print throne, encrusted with jewels.

Will Smith, Colin Farrell attend Chopard’s Gentlemen’s Evening in Cannes

Chopard recently hosted an exclusive event for gentlemen on the rooftop of the Hotel Martinez in Cannes. The Gentlemen’s Evening was the perfect occasion for debonair gents to relax and unwind with Roederer champagne, Grey Goose, Patron Anejo cocktails and cigars by Daniel Marshall.

The event, co-hosted by London club Annabel’s and held during the Cannes Film Festival, put the spotlight on men and allowed those in attendance to relax in an extremely gentlemanly atmosphere.

The Gentlemen’s Evening was attended by Chopard co-presidents Caroline and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, as well as a number of well-known figures including Colin Farrell, Will Smith, Marion Cotillard and Christoph Waltz.

Earlier at Cannes, Will Smith wore a Chopard L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie watch in 18-carat white gold and Colin Farrell sported a L.U.C XPS Fairmined 18-carat rose gold watch.

Chopard takes guests out of this world at Cannes SPACE Party

Chopard hosted one of the most eagerly-anticipated events of the Cannes Festival last week, SPACE Party.

The exclusive event was attended by a veritable who’s who of A-listers, including Julianne Moore, Rihanna, Will Smith, Eva Herzigova, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid.

The party was hosted by Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele and the stars at the party fully embraced the “Galactic with a touch of diamond!” dress code.

“The Cannes Festival is a must for Chopard. Each year, I seek to dazzle my guests by offering them an original and unforgettable evening,” said Scheufele.

Guests enjoyed dinner served in a space shuttle, while models adorned in the latest red carpet creations from Chopard and wearing clothes by Elie Saab paraded past.

The evening was also a celebration of the collaboration between Chopard and Rihanna, who wore jewellery from the Rihanna ♥ Chopard collection earlier in the day at the festival.