Symbolism at Chanel is a familiar thing. Over the years, the haute couture house has nurtured a constellation of icons and motifs—a quilted pattern, a flower, a number, among others, that are instantly recognisable. In its fine jewellery, the approach is to turn these markers of the Chanel universe into precious jewels that mix and match with stylish ease.
Perhaps the most historic among its jewellery symbols is the starry Comète, which is inspired by the 1932 Les Bijoux des Diamants high jewellery collection. It was the first and only collection of its kind designed by Gabrielle Chanel, and remains a cornerstone of how the house approaches its jewels today.
“I wanted to cover women in constellations,” said Gabrielle Chanel of the diamond shooting star designs when she revealed the collection.
Today, the Comète collection is a range of white gold and diamond jewels that add accents of starlight to an outfit. Perhaps the most playful is Les Infinis de Comète, a long necklace with a pair of movable clasps that allows it to be worn several ways. Long and simple like a sautoir, doubled up on the neck to create different lengths, clasped as a Y-shaped lariat, or even twirled around the wrist as a bracelet.
That sort of versatility is also at the heart of Coco Crush, a collection inspired by the house’s famous quilted leather. As jewellery, they’re crafted with softly curved edges in shades of beige, yellow and white gold, and offered with or without diamonds.
With its almost abstracted geometry, Coco Crush pieces are supremely versatile. They can be stacked or worn solo, in mixed shades of gold, and pair just as easily with larger, bolder statement designs.
Take the Camélia collection, for example, which turns Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite flower into precious jewellery blooms. The geometric curves and touches of open working mean that even when the camellias are rendered large, as it is in a new Bouton de Camélia choker in yellow gold, they still have a light airiness to them.
The Camélia also lends itself well to a modern take on a cocktail ring. The Bouton de Camélia design, set with a centre diamond and with pavé diamonds on the contours of the petals, makes an elegantly imposing statement.
Repetition is one more way to emphasise a look. Something beautiful on its own becomes potent when combined. Collection Nº5, inspired by the legendary perfume, distils the idea of eternal beauty into gold and diamonds. The heart of the design extends the iconic numeral into precious chains or bands of gold, paired with diamonds set in a drop-shape to evoke a drop of Nº5 de Chanel.
Photographer Stefan Khoo
Styling Jasmine Ashvinkumar
Hair Yuhi Kim using DunGüd from Woorailoora
Make-up Clarence Lee using Chanel Beauty
Nails Ann Lim using Shellac from CND
Photographer’s assistant Alif
Stylist’s assistant Nurul Firdousee
Model Carolina Tilgner/Mannequin
The November ‘Nurture’ issue of Vogue Singapore is available online and in-stores.
