The wonderful thing about Chopard jewellery is that it is designed by a woman for women. Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of Chopard, has managed to transmit her joie de vivre into all her creations, including the new Happy Curves range, a declination of the much-loved Happy Diamonds collection delivered just in time to feature on our Christmas gift wish list.
Once again, Happy Curves is all about diamonds in motion, dancing freely in circular or heart-shaped cases with lovely rounded contours. The two cambered sapphire crystals containing the diamonds add a whole new dimension to the jewellery, magnifying the beauty of the precious stones and, depending on the angle, playing with the dimensions of the diamonds. It's a bit like looking into an aquarium and seeing how the fish suddenly get bigger as they approach the glass, only instead of fish we are being entertained with diamonds.
With a range of rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces, all the pieces are crafted in white or rose gold with the option of a polished or gem-set finish. The rings make particularly seductive Christmas gifts ideas for women and offer the lucky wearer a neverending show of dancing diamonds in a very visible position on the finger.
Chopard's majestic Imperiale watch has been dressed for the Christmas season in elegant pastel colours and matching satin straps in soft white, lavender blue and powder pink. Classical in spirit, with Roman numerals and a round 36mm white gold or rose gold case, the new dial has been crafted in shimmering lavender, pink or white mother-of-pearl. True to its origins, the arabesque motifs that characterise the collection are featured in the centre of the dial, which has been enhanced for the season with brilliant-cut diamonds encrusted in the indices and interior bezel.
The lugs, reminiscent of antique columns, the bezel and the lotus flower crown are set with brilliant-cut diamonds illuminating this masterpiece of classical femininity. Befitting such a regal timepiece, the hours and minutes keep exceptional time thanks to the sophisticated mechanical self-winding movement in its interior.
The arabesque motif featured on the dial of the Imperiale watch returns in the Imperiale jewellery collection. Here the motif, sculpted in white gold and set with diamonds, is used as a setting for the most imperial gemstone since Byzantine times, the amethyst. Vibrant purple amethyst is contained in ornate arabesque cages to stunning effect in new Imperiale rings, earrings and pendants.
For a dramatic entrance, the Imperial cocktail ring - or the earrings, for that matter - will turn heads with its enormous, facetted amethyst decorated with four diamond encrusted arabesque motifs.
The only difficulty now will be which Christmas gift to choose.
