By Ase Anderson in London
Chopard continues to show its commitment to sustainable luxury by adding five new high jewellery pieces to its Green Carpet Collection, two of which have already made their red carpet debut.
The Geneva-based jeweller and watchmaker put ethics at the heart of its creations when it launched 'The Journey' to sustainable luxury at last year's Cannes Film Festival. It was a groundbreaking move that has seen Chopard team up with Livia Firth, the creative director of Eco-Age and founder of the Green Carpet Challenge. By focusing on issues such as the respectful sourcing and traceability of raw materials, Chopard aims to set an example in promoting ethics in the world of fine jewellery.
The five new pieces of Chopard jewellery, which consist of a ring, three pairs of earrings and a watch, have all been handcrafted in Chopard's Haute Joaillerie workshops in Geneva.
Beady-eyed jewellery lovers might recognise several of the jewels, including the laurel-style Green Carpet Collection earrings. Cate Blanchett, the toast of awards season this year for her role in Woody Allen's hard-hitting drama Blue Jasmine, took home a Golden Globe for best actress in January wearing the Greek-style earrings, which are adorned with marquise-cut diamonds, placed in size order.
The following month, the French actress Léa Seydoux, nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star award, seduced the red carpet in London in a second pair of Green Carpet Collection earrings, set with 62 pear-cut and round-cut diamonds.
Completing the fine jewellery line-up, the Chopard ring in white gold is reminiscent of a sparkling bonbon, encrusted with pear-shaped and round-cut diamonds surrounding a central 1.3 carat stone. It comes with a pair of matching earrings.
The four new high jewellery pieces are joined by an exquisite Chopard watch in which the dial rises from a nest of navette-cut diamonds surrounding the case. The burst of light from the diamonds - 7.35 carats in total - and white gold are offset to stunning effect by a black satin strap.
All five pieces have been created from Fairmined gold, which is a guarantee that it was mined in accordance with the highest social, environmental and ethical standards. The gold comes from community mines in South America that are supported by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). Chopard has set up a sustainable co-operative project with the mines in order to lay the foundations for ethical trade and aid social and economic development in the area.
The diamonds used in Chopard's Green Carpet collection were sourced from the IGC Group, one of the world's oldest diamond firms and a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
