TOTAL CANNAGE
The artistic director behind Dior Joaillerie, Victoire de Castellane, pays tribute to the Maison’s heritage with the latest My Dior collection, which references the iconic cannage pattern that once adorned the Napoleon III chairs in the haute couture salons at 30 Avenue Montaigne where Monsieur Dior presented his fashion show in 1947. Seen on selected pieces of rings, earrings and bracelets in yellow, white and rose gold with diamonds, the design feature intertwining gold threads in a mesh-like structure evoking the delicate cannage motif.
SOUND CHECK
Chanel’s Première watch is a timeless treasure and it continues to make waves—metaphorically and literally. The latest iteration of the watch model, recently seen on Blackpink’s Jennie, takes shape as a long sautoir necklace featuring the octagonal watch, inspired by the stopper of the No.5 perfume bottle, with noise-cancelling wired headphones. Dubbed the Première Sound, the jewellery watch is equipped with a microphone and a remote control to adjust the volume, control audio and video playback and receive calls while staying true to the sophisticated aesthetic of the original timepiece.
IN RAINBOWS
Inspired by founder Fred Samuel’s memories of his homeland of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eponymous Maison reveals the new “Ideal Light” high jewellery collection that is a tribute to his love for light and his passion for coloured stones. Australian opals, spinels, emeralds and sapphires come together in four precious suites of statement-worthy creations that are flamboyant yet gender–neutral. Says Valérie Samuel, vice-president and artistic director of FRED, “More than a travel diary, this collection is an invitation to escape. It celebrates my grandfather’s creative energy, born out of the light and vibrant colours that marked his childhood in Argentina and that have always made me dream. Let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the tango and the excitement of a carnival, explore its lively neighbourhoods, escape to a luxuriant garden or, to the faraway ocean views of Mar del Plata.”
BLING CULTURE
YEWN, a Hong Kong brand by creative director and artist Dickson Yewn, unveils its Literati collection to mark the brand’s 25-year legacy in merging the aesthetics of traditional Chinese art with modern design sensibilities. The collection draws from Chinese scholar–officials and their works, translated through Yewn’s signature square rings and bangles crafted from porcelain, white jade, rutilated rock crystal and wood. Explains Yewn, “I’ve reached a level where I don’t have to use Chinese symbols like pagodas, pandas and auspicious characters to make it look like a Chinese piece. It’s implied.”
TIMELESS CODES
Family is at the heart of Louis Vuitton. Its newest exceptional timepiece—Escale à Asnières—is a stunning love letter to the Maison’s heritage trunkmaking workshop, and its watchmaking studio, La Fabrique du Temps. On the surface, the unique 50mm pocket watch—a first for Louis Vuitton that took two years to complete—in pink gold bears a captivating dial, meticulously carved and painted by masters at La Fabrique du Temps. But the pièce de résistance is the Calibre LFT AU14.01, a manual winding movement with an on-demand minute repeater and automata mechanism of seven animations that breathes life into the coachman, the horse the carriage and the LV trunks, resulting in a whimsical and marvellous tableau that is truly one-of-a-kind in the art of high watchmaking.
RUBBER DUB DUB
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore gives the rubber treatment to two new Selfwinding novelties in 37mm and 43mm in pink gold and stainless steel respectively. The collection is true to the experimentative spirit of marque. The smaller timepiece sports a gold bezel coated with grey rubber matching the mosaic strap and the guilloché Grande Tapisserie dial in rhodium and ivory tones, which are polished for a glowing effect. The second Selfwinding model continues the two- tone aesthetic with a blue rubber-coated bezel and a smoky blue Méga Tapisserie dial.