For more than a century, the Place Vendôme in Paris has served as the world’s epicenter of high jewelry. Chaumet can trace its roots there back to 1812, while Frederic Boucheron set up shop in 1893. Today, steps from the famed Hôtel Ritz Paris, Chaumet and Boucheron are surrounded by good company with the boutiques of Van Cleef & Arpels, Chanel, Graff, Louis Vuitton, and several others devoted to the craft of one-of-a-kind jewels.
Every July, as fashion’s fall/winter Haute Couture collections debut in the City of Light, these prestigious jewelry houses, as well as some more contemporary, avant-garde brands, present their haute joaillerie designs in the grandiose square.
The pieces on display can take anywhere from 18 months to two years from concept to execution. The showcase represents not only the highest form of the craft, but also a house’s ability to source extraordinary stones, and tell romantic and fantastical stories. After one week under the spotlight in Paris, the pieces then go on tour to be discreetly presented to discerning clients from the U.S. to Asia, and beyond.
Here, we share 10 of the most spectacular pieces.
