Category: Jewellery

Best Dressed Ladies at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards

When it comes to any award show, most of us never fail to take notice of the stunning looks worn on the red carpet. Thereby, as much as we were interested in seeing which deserving actor won which award, we also kept an eye for the best dressed ladies at the recent 2020 Golden Globe Awards show. Below are the ladies of Hollywood who caught our attention with their sense of style ‒ all, of course, in the best possible way.

Ana de Armas

2020 Golden Globe Awards

Ana de Armas, who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy award shined on the red carpet with her sparkling dark blue Ralph & Russo gown. The Knives Out heroine elevated the look further with her Tiffany & Co. jewellery. An elegant necklace made of 19 pear-shaped sapphires with princess-cut diamonds between each sapphire stone that matched the colour of her dress was paired with pear-shaped diamond earrings and tanzanite ring. Her accessories complemented her strapless dress so well that our only dilemma was in deciding if she stood out or her ensemble did. 

Charlize Theron 

2020 Golden Globe Awards

Another Hollywood lady who finished her red carpet look with ornaments by the American high-end jewellery brand Tiffany & Co. was Charlize Theron, who was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. Designed to mimic a grosgrain ribbon, the Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book Collection necklace worn by the lead actor of Bombshell featured baguette sapphires and diamonds that was centered by an emerald gemstone that was the true highlight of the piece. Moreover, her bold and minimalistic look with Dior’s black and green Haute Couture dress was equally mesmerising. Her entire look was timeless. 

Cynthia Erivo

2020 Golden Globe Awards

While this year’s nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Cynthia Erivo ’s Thom Browne tuxedo dress was remarkable, it was her BVLGARI necklace– valued up to US$3 million – that made jaws drop. With a 40-carat cabochon sapphire pendant attached to a necklace made of diamonds and sapphires, the BVLGARI high jewellery accentuated her look perfectly. She paired the necklace with the luxury brand’s earrings and rings that were made of sapphires and diamonds too. The Harriet star’s song, Stand Up, was also nominated for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. Put together, her vogue on the award this award show was on the point. 

Jennifer Lopez

2020 Golden Globe Awards
Photo Credits © Steve Granitz

Often appreciated for her fashion sense, Hustlers actor Jennifer Lopez obviously made it to our list of best dressed ladies for good reason. Draped in a tri-colour Valentino Haute Couture dress, she completed her red carpet look with a Harry Winston jewellery set, starring an 18K gold and platinum necklace lined with Colombian emeralds and diamonds. The nominee for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture matched it with a cushion-cut Colombian emerald and diamond earrings.  In conclusion, J Lo’s entire outfit was yet another testimony to her long-standing sense of fashion.

Scarlett Johansson

2020 Golden Globe Awards

The iconic Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson looked marvellous as ever with her crimson Vera Wang silk dress. Johansson, who was nominated for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama award for her starring role in Marriage Story, accentuated her red carpet look with a BVLGARI diamond necklace,  a heritage bracelet and stud earrings. With striking white diamonds that went well with her red gown, her red carpet look was simple yet sophisticated. Thus, making it as one of Gafencu’s favourite red carpet look at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.

Click here to read our article on the best dressed men at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.

Winning Beads: Lustrous, lovely pearls…

Over its 100,000-year-old history, the pearl has embodied countless avatars, be it lustrous beads gracing designer Coco Chanel’s ensembles or inexpensive plastic varieties sold in flea markets a dime a dozen.

pearl

“With each pearl being unique, variations in lustre, colour, shape and texture determine their value.”

pearl
Sarah Zhuang Lotus necklace

In fact, while natural pearls were once considered so valuable that pirates would kill seafarers to loot them, centuries of overexposure and cheap knock-offs led these underwater gems to become extremely unfashionable and an accessory best-suited to frumpy septuagenarians. Fortuitously, however, the passage of time has revived the popularity of these gossamer gems, both in their natural and artificial forms.

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Mikimoto High Jewellery Collection Juex de Rubens necklace

It is mainly thanks to the scientific endeavours of Japanese entrepreneur Mikimoto Kokichi that saltwater cultivated pearls today enjoy almost the same allure as their far scarcer, naturally-occurring cousins. There are three main types of harvested pearls: the Pinctada fucata – from which small, round, extremely coveted Akoya pearls are derived; the Pinctada maxima – that gives us large, lustrous South Sea pearls; and the Pinctada margaritifera – that produces black Tahitian pearls. However, as each pearl is as unique as a fingerprint, variations in lustre, colour, shape and texture determine their value, with perfectly round, blemish-free, lustrous, rare-hued pearls commanding the highest prices.

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NuÒ by Cindy Yeung Majestic Collection necklace and earrings

Christmas Gifts for Her: Our top picks to present that special lady in your life

With only a few short weeks left to complete your Christmas shopping, the clock is ticking on picking up that perfect gift for your special ladies. To save you from the last-minute ‘what should I get?’ confusion, we have put together a list of beautiful and practical Christmas gifts for her from some of the world’s best-loved brands that the women in your life will cherish.

Rituals’ gift set

Christmas Gifts

Everyone loves themselves some self-pampering for the holidays, and it’s never been easier thanks to beauty brand Rituals’ elegant collection of gift sets. Some of everyone’s favourite Rituals collections – The Ritual of Ayurveda, The Ritual of Sakura and The Ritual of Samurai – are available as gift sets in different sizes – small, medium, large and extra large. Fortunately, the boxing can be used as an attractive storage space after the products have been used, giving the gift an extra life. Get your choice of the gift set from one of the Rituals stores in Hong Kong.

Senreve’s Midi Maestra

Christmas Gifts

A bag is a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. Thereby, one can never go wrong with a good bag, and San Francisco-based bag expert Senreve’s Midi Maestra is definitely a great choice. This multipurpose and multi-feature bag with eight interior compartments and four ways to be carried – as a backpack, cross-body, satchel or tote. This Italian-manufactured bag comes in different types of materials including luxury pebbled leather, mimosa to mixed leather and suede. Click on the link here to buy the bag.

Panthère de Cartier Jewellery

Christmas Gifts

Haute joaillerie maison Cartier’s Panthère de Cartier collection is elegant, iconic and timeless, offering the discerning femme fashionista with beautiful rings, bracelets, necklaces and more. Proudly burnished with the brand’s iconic panther motic, this collection will definitely top off as a stylish accessory that can be worn for on all occasions especially for its lightweight, slimness and of course the panther artwork on it . These exotic creations are available in the buyer’s choice of white, rose and yellow gold, and comes adorned with various precious stones including diamonds, emeralds and more. Click here to shop from the collection.

Chopard’s Happy Moon

Christmas Gifts

Taking inspiration from the night sky that is beautifully lit by the moon and the stars, the haute horology house Chopard’s Happy Moon is a watch with astronomical attributes. The first moon-phase featured timepiece from the Happy Sport collection, it showcases a distinctly starry motif, with shimmering constellations punctuating its deep blue dial. The Happy Moon is made from ethical 18K gold and is studded with diamonds for an added sparkle.

Nyetimber Classic Cuvee

Christmas Gifts

In addition to the sweet treats and delicious food, a bottle of bubbly is what completes the dinner table on a Christmas night. If you are confused about which sparkling wine to get, British sparkling wine-maker MV Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvee is the answer. Keeping up with the expectations of any Nyetimber wine, this beverage is a blend of 50-60 percent Chardonnay, 30-40 percent Pinot Noir and 10-20 percent Pinot Meunier..Toasty and spicy with hints of honey, almonds and pastry on the nose, t is available to buy on Watson’s Wine.

Shanghai Tang’ s 2019 Christmas Collection

Christmas Gifts

Luxury lifestyle label Shanghai Tang’s 2019 Christmas Collection is definitely a one step solution for any confusions one may have for what to get her for Christmas. However, the collection is sure to spoil you with a wide range of choices – Silver Jubilee, women’s ready-to-wear sets, accessories and scarves, lacquer boxes, trinket boxes, photo frames, fragrances and more. With red being a very prominent colour in the collection, it definitely holds the spirits of Christmas while still embodying a wholly Oriental appeal. Click here to shop from Shanghai Tang.

Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels

Christmas Gifts

Another piece of jewellery that would make a beautiful gift is the Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels from K.S. Sze & Sons Jewelers. Known for their reputation as one of the most sought-after jewellery shops in Hong Kong, the Day & Night of Vivid Pink Spinels is crafted with pink spinels and 18K white gold. For more jaw-dropping designs, check out its Sri Lanka Royal Blue Sapphires Collection, Pear Diamond Necklace, and Paraiba Tourmaline.

Crowning glory: Hair accessories for best-dressed tresses

Both on runways and in real life, hair accessories have made an undeniable comeback. Be it bows, barrettes or brooches, both haute joaillerie maisons and haute couture houses have left no shape, size or statement unexplored in the matter of tress adornments.

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Tiffany Blue Book High Jewellery Collection 2019 hair clips

Yet, it’s hardly a new trend. Indeed, hair pins, dating as far back as circa 1070 BC, are proudly displayed at both London’s famed Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, implying that the humble bobby pin has been holding hair in place for quite a few millennia now. In fact, according to historian M.E. Pilou Miller, the hair pin is considered among the most ancient of human accessories, crafted from handy materials ranging from bone and wood to precious metals.

hair accessories
Les Ciels de Chaumet Etoiles head ornament

However, their functionality isn’t the sole reason why hair accessories have withstood the test of time and trends. Be it Afro hair jewellery like beads and gold cuffs, Thai dance headdresses, Indian bridal hair accoutrements or Western tiaras, almost every culture has its own take on the ornaments that grace our crowns. Indeed, in times Victorian, when displaying long, loose tresses was considered immoral, the humble hair clip became almost a gatekeeper of morality, holding in place not only a woman’s curls, but also her character.

Hair accessories
Cartier Tradition tiara

Now though, such prudent pieces have given way to maximalist hair jewellery. Flaunting crystals, diamonds and other precious and semi-precious stones, they not only add a sheen of glamour to our coiffures, but also bestow the modern woman with extra confidence, as she sets out to conquer the world with her head held high.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Pink Pride: Fancy pink diamond shines bright at Sotheby’s auction

There’s no denying that there’s something both alluringly mystical and enticingly feminine about coloured diamonds, with their crystalline structure and vibrant sparkle ensuring that any passing gaze is snared by their presence. There is one special type of these precious gemstones, though, that has fired the imagination of haute joaillerie enthusiasts the world over recently – the rarified pink diamond.

Any doubters need look no further than the recent Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Sale held by auction house Sotheby’s last month, where an exquisite 10.64-carat pink diamond ring was the star of the show, fetching nearly US$19.9 million and outshining far larger stones – an Anna Hu necklace set with a 100-carat yellow diamond and an 80.88-carat emerald-cut white diamond, to name but two.

To experts, the final hammer price came as no surprise. After all, not only is it Internally Flawless, it also boasts a uniquely pinkish-purple colouring. What’s more, given that just four percent of all diamonds are of the pink variety, and that just one percent of those rarities are certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as being over 10 carats, its superior performance was pretty much assured from the start.

L’Odyssée de Cartier: A haute joaillerie journey 150 years in the making

For over a century and a half, Cartier, the most eminent of high jewellery brands, has wowed the world with its stunningly intricate designs. Now, the maison is inviting its legion of fans to explore L’Odyssée de Cartier, a unique journey into its rich heritage, one that represents a creative dialogue between its past, present and future. Divided into individual chapters, each features a short film that traces the influences that birthed the quintessential Cartier style of today.

L'Odyssée de Cartier - Chapter 1

Chapter One of L’Odyssée de Cartier; explores the rise of Jeanne Toussaint, the legendary French lady and fashion icon who revolutionised contemporary jewellery to be seen as a symbol of fierce independence and intelligence for women everywhere. This trailblazer was also the mastermind who birthed the brand’s now-iconic Panthère emblem.

L'Odyssée de Cartier - Chapter 2

Chapter Two then transports the audiences to Cartier’s historic New Bond Street locale in London, highlighting the unique British influences that have shaped its heritage.

L'Odyssée de Cartier - Chapter 3

Onwards to Chapter Three, and the setting shifts to Russia in an exploration of the stunning Slavic-inspired artistry that birthed such iconic creations as the Garland style and the Ballets Russes.

L'Odyssée de Cartier - Chapter 4

Then the environs change once more in Chapter Four, travelling to the Persian Gulf to showcase the beautiful architecture, symbols and Islamic motifs that have informed Cartier’s signature geometric flair.

Start your own digital L’Odyssée de Cartier journey now by viewing the videos of Chapters One through Four of L’Odyssée de Cartier today at http://www.cartier.hk.

Into the wild with pop-up exhibition by Cartier and DFS Group

Haute joaillerie maison Cartier joined hands with luxury travel retailer DFS Group to host an exhibition dedicated to the emblematic Panthère de Cartier at T Galleria by DFS, Macau City of Dreams. Titled ‘Into the Wild’, the exhibition takes guests on a sojourn into the rich history of the maison and showcases its never-ending creative evolution. 

The Cartier installation features three main universes: “The Design”, which carries an animate Jewelry Designer table and exceptional creations on display; “The Salon”, a perfect photo backdrop and recollection honoring the panther woman, Jeanne Toussaint; and “The Community”, a digital wall where celebrities of yesterday and today incarnate the wild spirit of Panthère.

The journey continues inside the nearby Cartier boutique where the emblematic panther takes over windows and counters to unveil brand new Panthère de Cartier Jewelry and Watch creations.

Right Dangle: Geometric jewellery greater than the sum of their parts

When Euclid, the famed classical Greek scholar, first stumbled upon the concept of geometry in ancient Athens, it was such a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of science that no subsequent feat of engineering or architecture could have been ever possible without the use of this particular mathematical discovery.

But while geometry is all but an academic pursuit for the maths-minded scholar, thankfully, the reach of geometric design has spread well beyond the groves of Academia. Not only are geometric patterns instrumental in shaping almost every possible modern structure, it suffices to say that these designs have been equally adaptable to apparel, accessories and even jewellery.

Their appeal, specifically in the world of haute joaillerie, has proved to be timeless. While outré, exceptional, eye-catching pieces are perhaps more suited to special occasions, it is the simple, classic geometric patterns of everyday jewellery that we can rely on time and again. Not only do their minimalist lines lend themselves well to every occasion, be it formal dinners or casual soirées, their basic shapes – ovals, squares, triangles – combine harmoniously to create jewellery items that are far greater than the sum of their parts.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Royal Shine: Mughal treasure revealed at Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction

As the second-most-valuable private jewellery collection ever to go under the gavel, Christie’s Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction, held earlier this summer in New York, fetched a staggering US$109 million in total. While the gem-studded event certainly featured some truly remarkable haute joaillerie designs, one particular item deserves special mention – The Mirror of Paradise diamond ring.

While its third appearance on the auction block saw it fail to meet its pre-sale estimate of US$7-10 million, it still fetched a wholly respectable sum of US$6.52 million, thanks in no small part to the gargantuan gem that fronts this Mughal-era platinum creation.

Weighing in at 52.58 carats, the baguette-cut, D-colour, Internally Flawless, Type IIa white diamond gracing its fascia was mined in southern India’s renowned Golconda region. Golconda mines bear the unique distinction of producing diamonds without any nitrogen, a characteristic that imbues its precious stones with superb luminosity and impeccable purity. So sought-after are these gemstones that its several of its other products have become world-famous in their own right, including the Koh-i-Noor, which now languishes in the British crown jewels collection, and the Hope Diamond, now on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.

Black jewellery: Are you enchanted by their black magic?

There’s something about the colour black that transcends time, cultures, fashion… Be it the iconic little black dress, or a dash of black mascara to darken your lashes, there’s nothing quite like this darkest hue in the colour spectrum to add glamour to your looks. But what makes black such an attractive colour is that it also has an air of mystery… a dark side yet to be explored. It seems now that the haute jewellery houses are also drawn to the mystique of black, forsaking bright-hued, multi-spectrumed gems for the simple shine of bold, black jewels. Here are a few of our favourite black jewellery this season.