Statement Jewels, Clothing Optional
Yield to the Diva Richard Burton once declared that he had introduced Elizabeth Taylor to beer and that she had introduced him to a “nice little shop” on Rome’s Via Condotti. He was, of course, referring to Bulgari, where the Welsh actor had purchased a treasure trove of magnificent jewels for his two-time wife, including a 23-carat Colombian-emerald brooch, which served as an engagement gift, and a sautoir set with a 52-carat Burmese sapphire for her 40th birthday. But Taylor wasn’t the only screen siren who adored Bulgari. Gina Lollobrigida, Monica Vitti, Grace Kelly, and Sophia Loren all hit the town in the house’s signature multicolored cabochons. In honor of these women, Bulgari has created the Diva collection, a series of vibrant, commanding, wholly alluring pieces—like this extraordinary necklace—that no doubt would have had Burton reaching for his wallet.
Bulgari gold, mother-of-pearl, emerald, rubellite, amethyst, and diamond necklace, price upon request, bulgari.com.
Photographs by Coppi Barbieri Styled by Claudia Mata
Shades of Brilliance Color was not a subject that Christian Dior took lightly. Taking pen to paper, the couturier spent endless hours pontificating on the power of red and what varying nuances of blue could convey. Not surprisingly, when it came to jewelry, he believed the brighter the stones, the better. “Color is what gives jewels their worth,” he asserted in 1956. “They light up and enhance the face.” True to that unwavering perspective, Victoire de Castellane, the longtime artistic director of Dior Fine Jewelry, has created Cher Dior, a rich and reverent collection of 21 eye-popping pieces. This Majestueuse necklace—with its many vividly colored gems—would surely have delighted Dior, who also noted that “Nothing is more elegant than a black skirt and sweater worn with a sparkling multistoned necklace.” We find it quite fetching on its own.
Dior Fine Jewelry gold, ruby, sapphire, garnet, tourmaline, emerald, and diamond necklace, price upon request, dior.com.
Photographs by Coppi Barbieri Styled by Claudia Mata
The Deep End There is an obvious visual connection between diamonds and water—it’s no coincidence that the precious stones are often referred to as “ice.” De Beers’s new collection, Phenomena, was inspired by H20 in its many incarnations—from the arc of a stream to the majesty of a glacier. This Reef necklace, for example, owes its elegant lines to the wonders of the ocean. The intricate stone settings of the main chain mimic the angular, raised silhouette of coral, and the 8.49-carat pear-cut diamond at its center is as mesmerizing as the crystalline depths of the big blue. If nothing else, think of this piece as the ultimate ice breaker.
De Beers platinum and diamond necklace, price upon request, debeers.com. Beauty note: Velvety skin is the ultimate backdrop for decadent gems. Soften up with Restorsea Retexturizing Body Butter.
Photographs by Coppi Barbieri Styled by Claudia Mata
Fierce Creature Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel made her first trip to Venice in 1920, to recover from the loss of her lover, Boy Capel, who had died the year before in a car accident. Wandering along the canals, she found what would become her signature motif: the majestic lion, which she spotted in everything from mosaics to the entrance of the Doge’s Palace. Soon she began to emblazon buttons and handbag clasps with feline imagery. Now, almost a century later, Chanel is rekindling Mademoiselle’s obsession, with its 58-piece high jewelry collection Sous le Signe du Lion. This Lion Royal necklace doubles as a sautoir and a choker, and the lion head can be detached and worn as a brooch. Either way, you’ll be one cool cat.
Chanel Fine Jewelry platinum, gold, and diamond necklace, price upon request, chanel.com.
Photographs by Coppi Barbieri Styled by Claudia Mata
