Transformable jewellery will never lose its allure. These spectacular pieces by the world's beloved jewellers can shapeshift from necklaces into brooches, a secondary necklace or a pair of earrings, each arresting piece bearing intrigue and delight like a conjuror's magic box.
The versatility of a piece of jewellery that can change with one's whims and fancies harks back to the glamour and romance of mid-century year-end sojourns to the Mediterranean, with celebrities and royalty mingling in an endless summer of evening galas, teas and soirees on their yachts. The jewellery pieces were perfect companions on these long trips - soutiers and necklaces for evening galas, brooches and earrings for daytime engagements.
With extended travel back in vogue and women looking to jewellery to complement their multifaceted lifestyles, transformable pieces continue to amaze and beguile, creations that were very much ahead of their time.
Of course, the idea of modular jewellery is not a novel one. Parures or sets were discovered to date as far back as 18th-century France, the savoir faire evolving with each exquisite piece. By the 20th century, jewellers had developed new techniques that dreamt up pieces like Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic Zip necklace that could transform into a bracelet - a creation said to be based on an idea mooted by the Duchess of Windsor.
This story is from the November 2023 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.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2023 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.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.