Birthday Edition: Katerina Perez’s Poker Face

April 25, 2021

5 min read

Photographer: Ksenia Usacheva @ksenia_visual_ / Stylist: Alexandra Pavlova @stylist.pavlova / Jewellery stylist and model: Katerina Perez

From the moment high jewels are made, there’s an expectation of how and where they should be worn. But doesn’t the joy of high jewellery come from discovering the unexpected and witnessing techniques of craftsmanship, unusual colour palettes and diverse silhouettes that elevate the status quo? To celebrate my birthday, I am throwing out the high jewellery rule book, for a short time at least, and playing my own game… the game of poker to be precise! From the grandeur of the Queen of Spades to the vicariousness of the Joker, here is my rule-breaking moment of self-expression inspired by a deck of cards and adorned with high jewellery.

Queen of Spades — Katerina wears a dress by Lita Weizman and a headpiece by Maison Krasnova, accessorised with the Mellerio Éclats de Lys necklace with a 5.25 carat emerald and 1,423 diamonds for a total carat weight of 55.13 carats, and the Lorenz Baumer Nébuleuse Black Magic ring from the Black Magic collection with 16.11 carats of spessartite garnet and multi-colour sapphires in white gold and black rhodium

Mellerio Éclats de Lys necklace with a 5.25 carat emerald and 1,423 diamonds for a total carat weight of 55.13 carats

Queen of Spades — Katerina wears a dress by Lita Weizman, a headpiece by Maison Krasnova, a necklace by Mellerio and a ring by Lorenz Baumer

This Lorenz Baumer Nébuleuse Black Magic ring from the Black Magic collection with a 16.11 carat spessartite garnet, blue, pink and purple sapphires in white gold with black rhodium is the ideal accompaniment to a Lita Weizman dress and a headpiece by Maison Krasnova

King of Hearts — Katerina wears a dress and coat by Promulias and a Rose des Vents cuff and necklace by Dior Joaillerie

King of Hearts — The Dior Joaillerie Rose des Vents multi-layered necklace in yellow gold, diamonds, emeralds, mother of pearl and malachite, with a dress and coat by Promulias

The Dior Joaillerie Rose des Vents cuff bracelet in yellow gold with diamonds, emeralds, mother-of-pearl and malachite, paired with a dress and coat by Promulias

Queen of Hearts — Katerina wears a dress by Moira Cristescu and a suite of jewels by Lydia Courteille, including the Paris tiara in 18k gold with 2.66 carats of rubies and 1,960 black diamonds, totalling 51.05 carats

Queen of Hearts — Lydia Courteille cuff in 18k gold with 729 rubies, black spinels and a 90-carat rubellite tourmaline; Catherine II ring in 18k gold with 359 rubies of 6.78 carats, four black spinels and a 37.20 carat red tourmaline carved with the image of Catherine the Great of Russia; Red Snake ring with 722 rubies of 7.25 carats and spinels, all from the Scarlett Empress Collection

Julian Pelliccia’s Samurai belt buckle represents the helmet and mask of the Samurai warrior, complete with 764 diamonds and a natural, unheated pear-shaped ruby from Mozambique in 18k white and rose gold

Jack of Spades — Katerina holds aloft a unique Samurai belt buckle by Julian Pelliccia crafted in 18k white and rose gold, while wearing the Butterfly Effect necklace, also by Julian Pelliccia, with a dress by Moira Cristescu, shirt by Linnard and hat by Maison Krasnova

Maison Veyret Grand Soir high jewellery cuff, signed by Anouck Veyret, in rose gold with diamonds and shaped in the ‘V’ shape of the house, alongside the Maison Veyret Tresse Pavée engagement ring in rose gold with 48 diamonds and a 0.50 carat diamond solitaire

Ace of Diamonds — Katerina wears a dress by Promulias, a mask by Maison Close and the Grand Soir cuff and Tresse Pavée diamond ring by Maison Veyret

Katerina wears a dress by Promulias, a mask by Maison Close and the Grand Soir cuff by Maison Veyret

The Joker — Katerina wears earrings and rings by Lorenz Baumer, a blouse by Etienne Jeanson and a blazer by Collini Milano, with the Araignée Extravagante Good Girl Bad Girl spider-inspired brooch crawling along the table

The Joker — The Lorenz Baumer Imperial a la Folie ring in yellow gold with a 24.76-carat pink tourmaline centre stone and 16.09 carats of multicolour sapphires, alongside the Scarabée d’automne Good Girl Bad Girl brooch with a 2.05-carat yellow diamond, plus citrine, white and brown diamonds, sapphires and lacquer in gold

Lorenz Baumer Araignée Extravagante Good Girl Bad Girl brooch with an abalone pearl of 38.84 carats, amethysts, diamonds, purple sapphires, Paraiba toumalines, aquamarines and peridots set in gold

WORDS

Katerina Perez With more than 12 years’ experience in the jewellery sector, Katerina Perez’s expert knowledge spans everything from retail sales and management to content creation, including brand building, jewellery writing and styling. Born and raised in St Petersburg, Katerina’s favourite hobby as a child was playing with the treasures in her grandmother's jewellery box, inspiring a lifelong love of jewellery from a very early age. She spent five years in St Petersburg University of Culture and Arts studying not journalism but business studies and languages, and her writing skills have developed as her passion for her favourite subject – jewellery – has grown. This is why her writing comes straight from the heart rather than the pages of a book. Daughter of an entrepreneur mother, Katerina exchanged her retail management job for jewellery writing in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.

MADE WITH:

Yellow diamond Tourmaline Spinel Spessartine Sapphire Ruby Peridot Pearl Paraiba Tourmaline Mother of Pearl Malachite Lacquer Diamonds Citrine Aquamarine

JEWELLERY TYPE:

Tiara Ring Necklace Earrings Cuff Brooch Bracelet

BRANDS:

Maison Veyret Lydia Courteille Lorenz Baumer Dior

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