Chanel looks to materials or motifs woven throughout its history for chic and often playful high jewellery. Last year, the ubiquitous Scottish tweed was knitted in diamonds; the year before, the intricately embellished Coromandel screens which inspired Gabrielle Chanel were rethought in precious gems.
This year, it is one of Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite destinations, Venice, which becomes the focus of the Escale à Venise collection. Composed of 70 pieces and divided into four sets, it reinterprets the city’s most famous features. In the La Sérénissime set, the architecture is reflected in a diamond framework, the facades of the palace and marble floors of the churches becoming rich patterns of diamonds interlaced with a bold hue of gems.
In Gran Canale, the nautical world of the gondolas is drawn in lapis lazuli; in a play on colour, the diagonal stripes of the red and white mooring poles are drawn in red spinels and diamonds. The bold colours carry through to the Isole Della Laguna set, which looks to Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite flower for its inspiration. The camellia, its asymmetrical outline reproduced in carnelians and fire opals, makes a vivid foil for a rock crystal and yellow gold ring.
The spiritual head of the city, the lion, takes centre stage in Spirito di Venezia. It is a theme we have seen before – nodding to Gabrielle Chanel’s star sign, the lion was the focus of 2013’s high jewellery collection. Here, it is cast in profile and set with pear and shuttle-cut diamonds, grandly presiding over a necklace and bracelet
INFORMATION
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Year in review: top 10 furniture launches of 2024, as selected by Wallpaper* global design director Hugo MacdonaldThe furniture launches that wowed global design director Hugo Macdonald this year
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Unboxing beauty products from 2024, as seen on the pages of Wallpaper*Wallpaper's 2024 beauty picks included Chanel lipstick, Bottega Veneta perfume and solid soap from the likes of Aesop, Celine, Diptyque, Hermès and Sisley
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The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
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What happens when a Chanel watch becomes a sound machine?Meet the Chanel Première Sound – an adaptable necklace with a watch and removable earphones
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Chanel shows its sporting colours with a bold high jewellery collectionChanel's high jewellery collection is inspired by its founder’s athletic aesthetic
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Art takes London: Tiffany & Co, Damien Hirst and artists take over Selfridges' windowsFour British contemporary artists celebrate Tiffany & Co's pioneering history with a series of storied window displays
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Late summer jewels: what to wear at Golden HourLate summer signals a jewellery style-shift. These independent designers have got it covered
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Chaumet, Cartier and Chanel up their high jewellery watch game for 2024In 2024's high jewellery watch designs, performance tech and centuries-old techniques combine to brilliant effect
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Skeletonised watches are making a dazzling return in 2024Skeletonised watches return, once again opening up their dials, letting us enjoy mechanical watchmaking at its intricate finest
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All smiles: How a grillz jewellery making class in London became an international hitWhat started as a passion project quickly exploded in popularity. We get the story behind the grillz-making workshop at Cockpit London
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Dark watches show it’s time to embrace an inky paletteDiscover new dark watches from brands including Audemars Piguet, Omega, Chanel and Tudor
