THE PHAAN RING: A SKILFUL INTERPLAY OF LIGHT
Each creation at Cartier begins with a unique stone – in this instance, a phenomenal 8.2-carat cushion-shaped ruby from Thailand that crowns the arresting Phaan ring. Like a muse of an haute couture atelier, the gem fuelled the imagination of an expert team of designers, jewellers and gem-cutters at the maison’s workshops.
Revered for centuries as the most precious gem, the ruby is in a league of its own in the jewellery realm and at Cartier, where it plays the major role in the house’s many high jewellery creations. However, achieving the richest hue in this gem through the perfect cut, without compromising its weight and value, is a tremendous challenge.
Appearances are deceiving here. A closer look reveals not one, but two tiers that compose the ring’s unique architecture. An audacious undertaking like this can only be executed by a maison such as Cartier that boasts unsurpassed savoir faire.
The simplicity of this creation masks a laborious and intricate construction in stages, which sees a 4.01-carat cushion-shaped rose-cut diamond placed just beneath the ruby.
Since research focused largely on the most appropriate technique to set the diamond under the central ruby, thorough studies on the volumes had to be done. This called for multiple mock-ups employed by jewellers as well as designers to ensure the viability and stability of the arrangement of gemstones.
This story is from the January 2022 edition of Prestige Singapore.
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This story is from the January 2022 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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