Boucheron: Explore the French Capital in the New ‘Paris Vu Du 26’ High Jewellery Collection

August 12, 2019

By Katerina Perez

6 min read

Paris, a city that makes you fall in love with it at first sight, has now been embodied in a new high jewellery collection by Boucheron. ‘Paris Vu de 26’ is striking for the versatility of the jewellery materials and styles it contains, as well as the complexity of its designs and some exciting innovations. Is it any wonder that the maison’s collection became one of the most talked about at Paris Haute Couture Week?

At the end of 2018, the restoration work on the historic Boucheron building on Place Vendôme was completed after 18 months. New shop floors, VIP rooms and even a suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower – which can be booked through the Ritz Hotel – were opened in the redeveloped boutique building. The launch of an exclusive collection dedicated to the longstanding relationship between the brand and Paris became the link between the two creative mediums: jewellery and architecture.

Boucheron 'Cheval de L'Opera' bangle in frosted quarts and diamonds set in yellow gold

Boucheron 'Cheval de L'Opera' bangle in frosted quarts and diamonds set in yellow gold

 Boucheron 'Cheval de L'Opera' ring in frosted quarts and diamonds set in yellow gold

Boucheron 'Cheval de L'Opera' ring in frosted quarts and diamonds set in yellow gold

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with Ceylon sapphire 12.39cts and diamonds

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with Ceylon sapphire 12.39cts and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with a Colombian emerald 3.67cts and diamonds

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with a Colombian emerald 3.67cts and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with yellow beryl 13.76 cts set in citrine

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' ring with yellow beryl 13.76 cts set in citrine

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' earrings with onyx and malachite

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' earrings with onyx and malachite

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' earrings with 2.27 and 2.14 cts emeralds, diamonds and onyx

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' earrings with 2.27 and 2.14 cts emeralds, diamonds and onyx

53 necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings became jewellery renditions of the silhouettes of the famous buildings – as seen from a bird’s eye view – and the décor motifs that adorn them, Parisian streets lined with masonry, or the recognisable codes of the Boucheron maison. The creations have been divided into three lines: the first, ‘Paris’, is connected with the city itself; the second, ‘Place Vendôme’ is an ode to the view from the windows of the Boucheron building; and the third, ’26V’, includes abstract geometric compositions, as well as motifs of significance to the maison.

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' inspiration drawing

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' inspiration drawing

Boucheron Creative Director Claire Choisne has taken the column on Place Vendôme and transformed it into playful tassels made of pearls, emeralds or rock crystal – a material that is found in several ‘Paris Vu du 26’ necklaces. This piece of Parisian architecture has also been immortalised in a rock crystal engraving surrounded by diamonds.

Boucheron 'Armoiries' transformable necklace set with 32.22 cts imperial topaz and diamonds

Boucheron 'Armoiries' transformable necklace set with 32.22 cts imperial topaz and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Armoiries' earrings in yellow gold with diamonds

Boucheron 'Armoiries' earrings in yellow gold with diamonds

 Boucheron 'Colonne' necklace embellished with carved rock crystal and diamonds

Boucheron 'Colonne' necklace embellished with carved rock crystal and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' necklace embellished with 8.56 cts emerald cut heliodor, citrines, pearls and diamonds

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' necklace embellished with 8.56 cts emerald cut heliodor, citrines, pearls and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Arcade' necklace embellished with pearls and diamonds

Boucheron 'Arcade' necklace embellished with pearls and diamonds

The bay leaf that adorns the base of the Vendôme column is represented in the ‘Feuilles de Laurier’ necklace made with pearls, diamonds and mother of pearl. The maison’s secret jewellery techniques allowed it to cut thin plates that curled like real leaves from the mother of pearl. You may recognise the signature question mark necklace design invented by Frederick Boucheron himself, created so that women could put necklaces on without someone else’s help. There is also another neck adornment of the same shape: the ‘Feuilles d’Acanthus’, which imitates the voluminous leaves of acanthus – often found on columns in Paris. Every millimetre of the jewel is covered with diamonds, as are the ring and earrings in this set.

Boucheron 'Feuilles d'Acanthe' question mark necklace paved with diamonds

Boucheron 'Feuilles d'Acanthe' question mark necklace paved with diamonds

Jewelled animals have long been associated with the French Maison, and several new inhabitants of the natural world have entered the third part of the collection. Here, you will see Wladimir the cat who once lived in the Boucheron mansion and, in 1981, even appeared in the Maison’s ad campaign. This cute cat will always be with you as a cocktail ring studded with either colourless or black diamonds.

Boucheron 'Nuri' ear cuff with multicoloured sappphires, aquamarine and yellow beryl set in titanium

Boucheron 'Nuri' ear cuff with multicoloured sappphires, aquamarine and yellow beryl set in titanium

 Boucheron 'Wladimir' ring with black and colourless diamonds

Boucheron 'Wladimir' ring with black and colourless diamonds

 Boucheron 'Wladimir' ring with colourless diamonds and emeralds

Boucheron 'Wladimir' ring with colourless diamonds and emeralds

The ‘Nuri’ parrot – which has already become the protagonist of an everyday jewellery collection – has been turned into a colourful titanium cuff earring decorated with multicoloured sapphires, diamonds, aquamarine and heliodor. This is perhaps the brightest jewel from ‘Paris Vu Du 26’ line: all the other pieces use only two or three colour combinations.

Boucheron '26V' necklace and ring with cacholong, onyx, rock crystal and diamonds

Boucheron '26V' necklace and ring with cacholong, onyx, rock crystal and diamonds

Of all monochrome jewels, I was most impressed by the wide ‘Perspective’ bracelet featuring a 20.45 carat Ceylon sapphire and ’26V’ set, comprising of a necklace and a ring. The onyx and diamonds ‘Perspective’ cuff resembled a bird’s eye view of Parisian architecture, and the two ’26V’ monochrome pieces represent a staircase inside the Boucheron mansion. The immersion effect – which you experience when you are standing at the top of the stairs and look down – is reflected in the marquetry of onyx and cacholong; this method of working with stones has become the newest innovation at the maison. On the necklace, a complex geometric pattern is covered with a dome of rock crystal in which a round 5.32 carat diamond is buried, and the same for the 4.08 carat diamond in the ring. If desired, the pendant can be removed and the necklace worn in a simplified way with one tassel.

Boucheron 'Perspective' bracelet with Ceylon sapphire, onyx and diamonds

Boucheron 'Perspective' bracelet with Ceylon sapphire, onyx and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Perspective' ring with 8.02 cts Colombian emerald, black lacquer and diamonds

Boucheron 'Perspective' ring with 8.02 cts Colombian emerald, black lacquer and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Verriere' necklace with emerald beads and diamonds set in gold and titanium

Boucheron 'Verriere' necklace with emerald beads and diamonds set in gold and titanium

 Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' chocker with onyx, rock crystal and diamonds

Boucheron 'Paris Vu Du 26' chocker with onyx, rock crystal and diamonds

 Boucheron 'Arcades' ring with 0.77 cts diamond and mother-of-pearl set in white gold

Boucheron 'Arcades' ring with 0.77 cts diamond and mother-of-pearl set in white gold

 Bucheron 'Grosgrain' necklace with malachite, onyx and diamonds

Bucheron 'Grosgrain' necklace with malachite, onyx and diamonds

Rare coloured stones, large diamonds, gem carvings, sophisticated jewellery techniques, labour-intensive designs, unexpected transformations, fashion trends, minimalism and maximalism – it seems that all aspects of jewellery as an art form were mixed in the ‘Paris Vu du 26’ collection, making it both comprehensive and utterly fascinating.

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