7 new trends in fine jewellery guaranteed to cause a flashbulb frenzy
While diamonds may have been named a girl’s best friend, we think that a girl can never have too many sparkly accessories in her jewellery box—diamond or otherwise.
Just in time for fall, we present seven of the glitziest jewellery trends that will cause a flashbulb frenzy. Whether you’re ready to show off your astrological sign with a starry piece from luxury jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels, always wanted an excuse to wear opals even if they aren’t your birthstone or enjoy mixing intense geometric shapes with precious stones à la Kara Ross, these trends will make all the difference when it comes to getting dressed this fall. From bedazzled brooches to rare coloured stones these luxurious accessories will bring your wardrobe to life.
See the 7 jewellery trends for fall »
1 | FLORA AND FAUNA
What’s buzz-worthy in the garden of high-end gems? Flowers, from buds to full-blown blooms, and bejewelled insects. These feminine creations weave together superior craftsmanship and a sense of whimsy. Tiffany & Co.’s yellow and white diamond rose bracelet, from the company’s 175th anniversary collection, gets a green thumbs-up, as does Boucheron’s Haute Joaillerie set Bouquet d’Ailes, with its resplendent butterfly and dragonfly wings—two motifs close to the maison’s heart.
Shown: Boucheron necklace and brooch (top left) with emeralds, morganites, tourmalines and sapphires. Tiffany & Co. rose bracelet (bottom left) with tsavorites, spesserites and yellow and white diamonds
2 | ECO-ELEGANCE
Some fine-jewellery designers are pulling their inspiration right from the ground. Monique Péan’s latest collection, Sut’ana, mixes intense colour and geometric shapes with conflict-free diamonds, recycled 18-karat gold and fossilized woolly mammoth and walrus ivory (between 10,000 and 150,000 years old). These stunning eco-conscious creations also feature fair-trade precious stones. Raw gemstones are having a rock-star moment too. New York–based jewellery designer Kara Ross, whose VIP clientele includes Michelle Obama, creates one-of-a-kind pieces using gemstones, such as emeralds and tourmalines, in their natural form. Her raw aquamarine necklace, with 18-karat gold and inset white diamonds, is hang-on-your-wall-worthy.
Shown: Kara Ross necklace with raw aquamarines and white diamonds
3 | ASTROLOGY
Looking for someone to give you the moon and the stars? Luxury jewellery houses like Chanel and Van Cleef & Arpels have created a host of heavenly pieces fit for Earth angels. The former’s new collection, 1932, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of Bijoux de Diamants, Coco Chanel’s premier haute joaillerie collection, features 80 unique pieces, including the Céleste brooch (brilliant-cut diamonds orbit an out-of-this-world cultured pearl) and a sapphire cocktail ring dotted with white diamond stars. Van Cleef & Arpels recently launched La Bonne Étoile, a collection of precious talismans like astrological signs and shooting stars. For designer Temple St. Clair, the sky’s the limit—her moonstone lunar pendant adds a little amore to her namesake collection of jewels.
Shown: Van Cleef & Arpels clip with diamonds and 18K white gold
4 | BROOCHES
From fall’s runways (Bottega Veneta, Oscar de la Renta) to royals (Kate Middleton wore a diamond maple leaf during her visit to Canada in summer 2011), brooches are back on the style scene. Canadian jewellery designer Myles Mindham, who has specialized in bespoke creations for over 20 years, knows a thing or two about sticks and stones. His couture-quality collection of posh pins includes a pearl and diamond snail, an 18-karat gold bird’s nest that houses a round brilliant-cut diamond, an emerald and diamond frog, and a Japanese maple leaf in 18-karat gold sprinkled with pink and purple sapphires. French luxury house Cartier is known worldwide for its big-cat collections, which include breathtaking panther pins covered in white diamonds, emeralds and onyx. But a trip to the jungle isn’t the only way to broach this subject: the maison’s diamond-encrusted lovebirds, chalcedony rabbits and cornelian turtles are equally enchanting.
Shown: Cartier panther brooch (left) with white diamonds, sapphire cabochons, onyx and emerald. Myles Mindham japanese maple leaf brooch (right)
4 | COLOURED STONES
Pink sapphires, blue topaz, tsavorites and red tourmalines—when it comes to statement-making jewels, colour is king. Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior Joaillerie, unveiled the house’s new Technicolour collection during Paris Haute Couture week in July. Inspired by the costume jewellery Monsieur Dior designed for his couture collections in the 1950s, de Castellane’s jaw-dropping pieces include amethysts, yellow sapphires, red spinels and demantoid garnets (rare garnets with diamond-like lustre). This year, Toronto-based jeweller John De Jong launched JDJ Studio, the new home for his signature collections, which include Gemstone—a pretty assortment of rainbow-bright rings and things. David Yurman also has us wrapped around his little finger with his pavé gemstone-set pinky rings, debuting this fall. Eye candy, indeed.
Shown: David Yurman pavé gemstone rings with demantoid garnets, purple sapphires and cognac diamonds
6 | OPALS
Diamonds are forever but opals are oh so now. Australia’s national gemstone has become a fixture on the red carpet, worn by A-listers including Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes and Halle Berry. Known for its luminosity and changing play of colour, this alluring stone (according to Greek legend, Cleopatra wore opals to seduce Mark Antony) has gained a new fan base thanks to contemporary designers such as Irene Neuwirth. Inspired by the ocean, this So-Cal–based gem talent enjoys working with unusual stones like boulder opals, mined from large subterranean ironstone boulders. Classic prong settings and pavé diamond frames highlight these one-of-a-kind iridescent pieces.
Shown: Dior fine jewellery earrings with diamonds, opals, amethysts, emeralds, demantoid garnets, sapphires and turquoise. Irene Neuwirth boulder opal necklace
7 | HERITAGE
Looking back has never felt so forward. Birks’s just-launched Muse collection draws inspiration from the company’s 133-year-old heritage. The scrollwork motif featured on many of the 18-karat white gold and rose gold pieces mirrors the decorative ceiling of the first Birks boutique, which opened on St. James Street in Montreal in 1879. Over at Louis Vuitton, the historic streets of Paris are, quite literally, sparkling. Lorenz Baumer, artistic director of fine jewellery, created four distinct sets of designs representing notable landmarks in the City of Light—home to this storied maison since 1854. Highlights of this haute collection of heart- (and traffic-) stopping gems, called Escale à Paris, include a choker and bracelet set that map out les rues in white and yellow diamonds. Fittingly, a large sparkler cut in the shape of LV’s flower motif marks the dazzling new high jewellery boutique at Place Vendôme.
Shown: Birks muse rings (top) in 18-karat white and rose gold. Louis Vuitton white and yellow diamond bracelet (bottom)
 with emeralds, morganites, tourmalines and sapphires. Tiffany & Co. rose bracelet (bottom left) with tsavorites, spesserites and yellow and white diamonds
2 | ECO-ELEGANCE
Some fine-jewellery designers are pulling their inspiration right from the ground. Monique Péan’s latest collection, Sut’ana, mixes intense colour and geometric shapes with conflict-free diamonds, recycled 18-karat gold and fossilized woolly mammoth and walrus ivory (between 10,000 and 150,000 years old). These stunning eco-conscious creations also feature fair-trade precious stones. Raw gemstones are having a rock-star moment too. New York–based jewellery designer Kara Ross, whose VIP clientele includes Michelle Obama, creates one-of-a-kind pieces using gemstones, such as emeralds and tourmalines, in their natural form. Her raw aquamarine necklace, with 18-karat gold and inset white diamonds, is hang-on-your-wall-worthy.
Shown: Kara Ross necklace with raw aquamarines and white diamonds
3 | ASTROLOGY
Looking for someone to give you the moon and the stars? Luxury jewellery houses like Chanel and Van Cleef & Arpels have created a host of heavenly pieces fit for Earth angels. The former’s new collection, 1932, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of Bijoux de Diamants, Coco Chanel’s premier haute joaillerie collection, features 80 unique pieces, including the Céleste brooch (brilliant-cut diamonds orbit an out-of-this-world cultured pearl) and a sapphire cocktail ring dotted with white diamond stars. Van Cleef & Arpels recently launched La Bonne Étoile, a collection of precious talismans like astrological signs and shooting stars. For designer Temple St. Clair, the sky’s the limit—her moonstone lunar pendant adds a little amore to her namesake collection of jewels.
Shown: Van Cleef & Arpels clip with diamonds and 18K white gold
4 | BROOCHES
From fall’s runways (Bottega Veneta, Oscar de la Renta) to royals (Kate Middleton wore a diamond maple leaf during her visit to Canada in summer 2011), brooches are back on the style scene. Canadian jewellery designer Myles Mindham, who has specialized in bespoke creations for over 20 years, knows a thing or two about sticks and stones. His couture-quality collection of posh pins includes a pearl and diamond snail, an 18-karat gold bird’s nest that houses a round brilliant-cut diamond, an emerald and diamond frog, and a Japanese maple leaf in 18-karat gold sprinkled with pink and purple sapphires. French luxury house Cartier is known worldwide for its big-cat collections, which include breathtaking panther pins covered in white diamonds, emeralds and onyx. But a trip to the jungle isn’t the only way to broach this subject: the maison’s diamond-encrusted lovebirds, chalcedony rabbits and cornelian turtles are equally enchanting.
Shown: Cartier panther brooch (left) with white diamonds, sapphire cabochons, onyx and emerald. Myles Mindham japanese maple leaf brooch (right)
4 | COLOURED STONES
Pink sapphires, blue topaz, tsavorites and red tourmalines—when it comes to statement-making jewels, colour is king. Victoire de Castellane, creative director of Dior Joaillerie, unveiled the house’s new Technicolour collection during Paris Haute Couture week in July. Inspired by the costume jewellery Monsieur Dior designed for his couture collections in the 1950s, de Castellane’s jaw-dropping pieces include amethysts, yellow sapphires, red spinels and demantoid garnets (rare garnets with diamond-like lustre). This year, Toronto-based jeweller John De Jong launched JDJ Studio, the new home for his signature collections, which include Gemstone—a pretty assortment of rainbow-bright rings and things. David Yurman also has us wrapped around his little finger with his pavé gemstone-set pinky rings, debuting this fall. Eye candy, indeed.
Shown: David Yurman pavé gemstone rings with demantoid garnets, purple sapphires and cognac diamonds
6 | OPALS
Diamonds are forever but opals are oh so now. Australia’s national gemstone has become a fixture on the red carpet, worn by A-listers including Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes and Halle Berry. Known for its luminosity and changing play of colour, this alluring stone (according to Greek legend, Cleopatra wore opals to seduce Mark Antony) has gained a new fan base thanks to contemporary designers such as Irene Neuwirth. Inspired by the ocean, this So-Cal–based gem talent enjoys working with unusual stones like boulder opals, mined from large subterranean ironstone boulders. Classic prong settings and pavé diamond frames highlight these one-of-a-kind iridescent pieces.
Shown: Dior fine jewellery earrings with diamonds, opals, amethysts, emeralds, demantoid garnets, sapphires and turquoise. Irene Neuwirth boulder opal necklace
7 | HERITAGE
Looking back has never felt so forward. Birks’s just-launched Muse collection draws inspiration from the company’s 133-year-old heritage. The scrollwork motif featured on many of the 18-karat white gold and rose gold pieces mirrors the decorative ceiling of the first Birks boutique, which opened on St. James Street in Montreal in 1879. Over at Louis Vuitton, the historic streets of Paris are, quite literally, sparkling. Lorenz Baumer, artistic director of fine jewellery, created four distinct sets of designs representing notable landmarks in the City of Light—home to this storied maison since 1854. Highlights of this haute collection of heart- (and traffic-) stopping gems, called Escale à Paris, include a choker and bracelet set that map out les rues in white and yellow diamonds. Fittingly, a large sparkler cut in the shape of LV’s flower motif marks the dazzling new high jewellery boutique at Place Vendôme.
Shown: Birks muse rings (top) in 18-karat white and rose gold. Louis Vuitton white and yellow diamond bracelet (bottom)
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