By Claire Roberts
To coincide with Paris Fashion Week, Van Cleef & Arpels is launching its new collection of high jewels in the most stylish city in the world.
With the streets flooded with fashion industry figures, who are gathered to witness some of the biggest designers in the world reveal their haute couture designs for autumn/winter 2014, the French maison has unveiled Pierres de Caractère Variations, a collection of incredible pieces that The Jewellery Editor will be trying on later this week in Paris.
The new high jewellery collection for 2013 focuses on exceptionally rare and colourful stones. The Oriental Princess necklace - one of the highlights of the collection - features 42 flaming-red rubies from Mozambique weighing more than 40ct. A remarkable old cut D IF type 2A diamond glitters in the Ancolie Précieuse ring, while two emerald-cut Fancy Vivid Orangy Yellow diamonds weighing 9.04ct glow atop a pair of stunning Precious Light tassle earrings. The Zip Elegance necklace is a jewel-heavy reworking of an iconic 1951 Van Cleef & Arpels design. Set with round diamonds, white cultured pearls and onyx and red coral motifs and beads, it fastens just like a real zip and can be worn as a bracelet.
Every year since 2006 Van Cleef & Arpels has launched a collection of high jewels, giving the esteemed maison the chance to showcase some of its finest gemstones. For over a century, Van Cleef & Arpels has placed great importance on sourcing the finest stones. Beyond the traditional criteria of cut, colour, purity and carat size, its gemologists choose stones for their spiritual quality and the emotions they evoke. These stones, called Pierres de Caractère™, are at the heart of every piece of Van Cleef & Arpels high jewellery.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Summer Cocktail ring in white gold, with round diamonds, pink gold, coral, round mauve sapphires and one oval-cut pink spinel of 21.19ct.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Pongal ring in yellow gold, with diamonds, cabochon-cut rubies and one cushion-cut Colombian emerald of 27.81ct.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Lotus d’Orient ring in white gold, with round and pear-shaped diamonds, round sapphires, fluted chrysoprase and one 24.44ct oval Mozambican Paraiba-like tourmaline.
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A master craftsman polishes one small section of the Oriental Princess necklace with a brush.
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The 8.07ct pear-shaped D FL type 2A diamond from the Oriental Princess necklace.
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The Fancy Vivid Orangy Yellow diamonds (each weighing 4.52ct) that form the centrepiece of the Precious Light earrings.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Newet bracelet in white gold, with diamonds, turquoise, onyx, pear-shaped green tourmalines and two cushion-cut purple Madagascan sapphires of 2.83ct and 4.26ct.
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A sketch of the Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Oriental Princess ruby and diamond high jewellery necklace modelled at the store reopening.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Rayons Précieux necklace in yellow gold, with round diamonds, gradation of round yellow sapphires and Mandarin garnets, and pear-shaped Mandarin garnets. The Rayons Précieux suite also incorporates a pair of earrings.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Zip Elegance necklace transformable into a bracelet in white gold, with round diamonds, onyx and red coral motifs and beads, and white cultured pearls.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Ancolie Précieuse ring in white gold with round and pear-shaped diamonds, calibrated rubies and one cushion-cut D IF type 2A diamond of 9.03ct.
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Van Cleef & Arpels Pierres de Caractère Matinée d’Orient bracelet in white gold, with round diamonds, pear-shaped aquamarines and cabochon-cut turquoise, part of a suite that also includes a necklace and earrings.
