Personally, I believe there is nothing better than visiting a brand at one of its own boutiques. It becomes a far more intimate event, allowing me to step inside the world it has conjured through not only its jewellery but also its choice of furnishings, colour palettes, decorations, and light fixtures… they are all part of a theatrical experience unfolding in real-time. There was certainly an air of excitement when I visited the new Sicis boutique in Paris earlier this month. I was invited by the brand to discover its new home in my home city and to see a selection of its latest high jewels, including the sensational Saturno set, which I will share more about below.
"The updated space offers a more fluid and immersive experience, allowing visitors to explore the full breadth of Sicis' creative universe," Gioia Placuzzi, Creative Director, Sicis.
The first thing I noted upon walking into the new boutique is its calming quality. Unlike the cream and gold colour combination that is so often used to define luxury, Sicis has chosen a more nuanced colour palette, including grey, stone, moss green, brown, teal, gold and pewter. It would be difficult to articulate why, but there is a definite sumptuous Italian flair running throughout. Perhaps it is the contrasting textures, like deep brown leather, marble, dark wooden panelling and glossy cabinetry, or the abundance of floral arrangements paired with the most eye-catching black and white marble chequerboard flooring.
The staircase is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling viscose wallpaper that creates the impression of a mural of tropical leaves. I am told this is from one of the brand’s latest lifestyle collections called Faux Mosaique, which is why it so perfectly captures the brand's mosaicking heritage (in case you didn’t know, jewellery is one of several avenues for Sicis and the Italian brand was formatively famed for artistic mosaic tiles and furniture). As you might expect, evidence of this micromosaic expertise is present throughout the new Paris boutique, including a vibrant frieze with colourful flowers, fruits, and birds that I spent a good while marvelling at. In homage to Paris, Sicis also has a wall mosaic version of the famous painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1801) by Jacques-Louis David hanging in its store. It's such an evocative image and one that looks even more commanding within its golden frame against such a dark wooden backdrop.
At the grand opening of the store, models were adorned with beautiful creations to highlight the signature aesthetic of Sicis. One piece I simply had to photograph was the La Vie En Rose ring, which made my list of the top jewels of 2023, incorporating articulated red micromosaic petals and a 1.43-carat trilliant-cut diamond at its centre. The fact that its name is an ode to the 1940s song of the same name by legendary French singer Édith Piaf is the icing on the cake!
Now, let’s get back to the especially valuable set that I promised to tell you about called Saturno. As you can see from my Instagram Reel, the Saturno set has a cosmic vibe, drawing inspiration from the planet Saturn and its great orbiting rings of rock and gas. It is comprised of a necklace, earrings and a ring, all crafted in 18k gold with extra-large, golden South Sea pearls, diamonds and intricate micromosaics in shades of deep blue, royal blue, yellow and white. In the necklace alone there are 29 pearls that vary in size between 15-17 mm. Believe me when I tell you that it was not an easy task to put together so many perfect golden pearls that match by colour and size. "What's more, this necklace hosts a detachable brooch that can be worn with it or on its own," Gioia explains.
Some of the pieces sparked my curiosity at the Sicis Paris grand opening because they don't contain micromosaics. The brand has worked so diligently and tirelessly to preserve the decorative art of mosaic-making and condensing it into such small forms for fine and high jewellery. However, that doesn't mean it can't flex its creative muscles in other ways. Among four new collections that the brand is launching, two – Hibiscus and Nude – do not contain micromosaics and are mainly composed of diamonds. The former is all about white diamonds in white gold, while the latter is crafted with white diamonds in rose gold for an added splash of romance. Gioia informed me that there are also new additions to the Giardino collection, including a full set of floral earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, and a ring, all set with colourful precious stones and micromosaics. For fans of the brand, there is such a sensational assortment to choose from, both now and in the New Year.
On the lower level of the Parisian store, where the jewellery displays are located, I journeyed through Sicis' core collections like Nymphalia, Ribbon, Trinity, and Anemone. They all have the colourful richness, femininity, and touch of flamboyancy that I have come to love about this Italian master jeweller. It would be easy to spend an afternoon thumbing through the pages of a book in one of its comfy armchairs or sitting for a coffee in its elegant bar area. Next time you are in the city, make sure to visit this gem of a boutique and get lost in the decadence.
