Precious Artistry: HIGH JEWELLERY REPORT 2022

The best high jewellery collections of the year revisited nature and heritage with a bold spirit and a fresh set of eyes.

- Celine Yap

Given how every new high jewellery collection usually comes after at least two years of hard work and patience, the 2022 season reflects much of what had preoccupied jewellers during the pandemic years. Citywide lockdowns and social distancing left a sense of isolation thick in the air, the yearn for travel and human touch all but unsated. It is these precious sights, sensations and experiences - once taken for granted that formed the inspirational springboard for the jewellers of Place Vendôme and beyond.

Seeking to bridge the distance between us and places around the world, or between us and nature in its multifarious forms, top jewellery maisons turned their vision towards our beautiful planet. A most familiar arena, indeed, and one frequently mined for interesting new ideas. But rather than replicating what is observed around us, the designers aimed - and succeeded - at stirring up all the right emotions using creative mix of unconventional materials or techniques, and time-honoured craftsmanship.

Exquisite gemstones of all cuts, sizes and colours emerge from the great jewellery houses in multitudes, sometimes designed with unconventional pairings to elicit moments of surprise, sometimes set with signature techniques to demonstrate a unique savoir faire. In addition, maisons also took the opportunity to search within themselves in establishing their true identity as a jeweller, exploring some of their favourite themes in order to present novel ideas on familiar motifs.

Cartier Beautés du Monde