Object of Lust

For the most flawless of gemstones and tremendous designs, jewellery lovers head to Place Vendôme in Paris for the sensational unveiling of spectacular collections.  No expense is spared, in the snapping up of jewels from the world's most formidable Maisons.

With much of the past few years spent unable to travel, January and July 2022's Haute Joaillerie collections looked to the beauty of the outside world for inspiration - the ocean for Chaumet; the sky for Chanel; India for Boucheron and flowers for Tiffany, Chopard and Bulgari. However, several Maisons went one step further in inviting their clients to sumptuous foreign venues for the unveiling of their remarkable craftsmanship: Antibes for Van Cleef & Arpels and Madrid for Cartier . Whilst Alessandro Michele of Gucci leads us on a whimsical journey from the seventeenth century Grand Tours to psychedelic trips of the seventies.

Discover Collector Mag's edit of the most sought after and collectible necklaces of 2022:

1- Van Cleef & Arpel’s Chevron Mystérieux Necklace

The Chevron Mystérieux necklace is the star of a collection created around a 910 carat white diamond from Lesotho. Inspired by the 1950s, when crossover straps were a prominent design on evening gowns, this fabulous piece is set with a wide band of diamonds, sapphires and emeralds. The mystery-set jewels sweep around the neck to form an inverted chevron motif, from which three magnificent pear-cut diamonds, 31.24cts, 12.18 cts and 12,07 cts, surrounded by emeralds and sapphires, are suspended. They are cleverly detachable - the smaller of the two can be converted into matching earrings, whilst the larger can be added to a white gold chain as a pendant.

2-CARTIER’S RÉCIF NECKLACE

Ribbed beads of coral and emerald are juxtaposed along a rope of diamonds in this exquisite atoll shaped necklace; with amethyst accents interspersed between the beads to give depth to this opulent ode to the coral reef. 

3- Chaumet’s Chant de Sirènes necklace

Mermaids have forever been a myth beloved by everyone from sailors to pirates, little girls and storytellers. Chaumet's sonnet to the sirens has named its lavish lariat 'Mermaid's Song'. Sumptuously set with glossy Tahitian grey pearls, eight Paraiba tourmalines and an enormous green tourmaline, of 23,81 cts, the necklace is wound within delicate strands of diamonds.

4- Chanel’s Allure celeste necklace

This sumptuous signature piece of jewellery celebrates the celestial signs in the galaxy, that so fascinated Coco Chanel. The scintillating sun, moon and stars of this transformable necklace can be worn as brooches while the strings of diamonds become bracelets, what a cosmopolitan cosmos!

5-De Beers’ Ascending Shadows Necklace

Inspired by plays of light on the spiral staircase at the Old Bond Street flagship - this spectacular collar-choker uses dark blue titanium to depict the shadows on the steps, whilst pavé-set round brilliants swirl as splashes of light on pale blue titanium, with a marquise diamond on each central edge. A 3.4 ct pear-shaped fancy pale grey diamond sits in the centre between your collar bones. The matching choker, is equally exquisite.

6-Graff’s Sun + Moon Necklace

Ever since its inception, Graff's desire has been to drip women in jewels. And Graffabulous, does not disappoint, with forever concentrating on their fabulous gemstones in the biggest collection ever created. This superlative piece is set with the most extravagant of yellow and white diamonds, to create a necklace so sumptuous - you'd outshine anything else, on the planet!

7-Gucci’s Hortus Deliciarum necklace

Oscar winning Jessica Chastain is the face of Alessandro Michele's third high jewellery collection. This fabulous piece is set with a multitude of multicoloured sapphires amongst diamond florals and bows; the focal point is a vintage micro-mosaic depicting a temple to the gods.

8-Dior’s Dior Print Necklace

This exquisite necklace is part of 130+ piece collection which takes inspiration from the vast variety of 'prints' used in couture, the centre stone of Dior's now multifaceted empire. Victoire de Castellane translates prints such as checks, stripes, florals,  Liberty motifs and even tie-dye into jewels set with seemingly every stone under the sun: Paraiba tourmalines, pink, violet and blue sapphires, spinels and diamonds, emeralds, amethysts. Here gold ribbons, set with pavé-set gemstones, twist and turn in a sparkling swirl about the necklace.

9-Chopard’s beaded Peace & Love necklace

This joyous sautoir set with wealth of multi-coloured apatites, peridots and tsavorites fashioned into beads, and amethysts, rubellites, spessartites and sapphires as bejewelled buds in the peace motif pendant, is part of a collection launched at the Cannes Festival this year, that celebrates flower power.

10-Tiffany & Co’s Dandelion Necklace

Who would think to use a simple dandelion as the design of a piece of High Jewellery? The American powerhouse that's who! And it transforms into five different conformations too. Modelled by Gal Gadot in the ad campaign this embodiment of earthly elegance, was inspired by an early 20th century hair ornament of dandelion seeds by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Set with only diamonds of a variety of cuts, including the rare 'kite cut', this exquisite piece brings the simple field flower to the forefront of high jewellery.

11- Bulgari’s Eden The Garden Of Wonders necklace

This collier, eponymously named after the collection itself, is magnificently set with bold and beautiful gems to concoct a piece that spectacularly sweeps about the neck, to rest on the collar bone. Sumptuous cushion cut rubellites and tanzanites, and voluptuous pear shamed aquamarines are suspended symmetrically and bib-like, below a garland of interlocking diamond, emerald, chrysoprase and turquoise waves punctuated with opulent cushion-cut brilliant tanzanites.

12-Boucheron’s Galet Diamant Necklace

Creative director, Claire Choisne, took us on a journey d'ailleurs (elsewhere) with her incredible 2022 collection. This exceptional piece, the Diamond Pebble necklace, is created with hollowed out pebbles, so they seem translucent. Pear and brilliant-shaped diamonds embellish these natural stones to create a piece of jewellery that wouldn't seem out of place, in outer space.