TATLER JEWELERY

Cartier's Alexa Abitbol on achieving balance in high jewellery, an Hermès bag reimagined as a jewel, and pieces shaped by the beauty of the sea You feel you should look away—seeing an Hermès Kelly bag being taken apart feels almost criminal.

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EDITOR'S PICK

You feel you should look away-seeing an Hermès Kelly bag being taken apart feels almost criminal. And yet the moment Pierre Hardy reassembles its iconic elements in white gold and diamonds, the horror dissolves into something closer to awe. The Kellymorphose collection deconstructs the legendary bag's anatomy-the side straps, the turnlock, the padlock-and rebuilds it as fine jewellery.

The Kelly Gavroche Necklace alone, worn like a draped scarf at the throat, carries 1,771 diamonds totalling 74.32 carats. Then comes the baguetteset choker, the double rings spanning two fingers and the rose gold gourmette bracelets-each piece retaining the Kelly's architectural precision, now rethought entirely in precious metal and stones.

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