Jewellery bags: Luxury accessories and precious elements collide!

September 13, 2018

By Jodie Smith

7 min read

I will let you in on a secret – after jewellery, handbags are my biggest obsession. Throughout my love affair with luxury bags, I have noticed fascinating examples of innovative designers adding extravagance to high-end handbags by introducing jewelled elements. The way which these jewels are incorporated can vary depending on the style of the company – and whether the creation is from a jewellery house, a luxury brand, or a collaboration between artists of different mediums.

Cartier

Cartier, who are mostly famed for their jewellery, created its first documented precious handbag in 1906. It featured a sculptured owl head over gold mesh, which looked gorgeous then. However, the modern fashionista will probably gravitate towards the ‘Cactus de Cartier’ – a box bag with a strap and gemstones which crown the clasp. Emeralds, carnelians and diamonds in the form of a cactus are alternately combined with either red, green or gold alligator leather.

'Cactus de Cartier' bags in alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

'Cactus de Cartier' bags in alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

 'Cactus de Cartier' bag in gold alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

'Cactus de Cartier' bag in gold alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

 'Cactus de Cartier' bag in green alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

'Cactus de Cartier' bag in green alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

 'Cactus de Cartier' bag in red alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

'Cactus de Cartier' bag in red alligator leather with emeralds, carnelians, diamonds and 18K yellow gold

Van Cleef & Arpels

The starting point for the first jewelled bag trend was the minaudière, which rose to popularity in the 1930s. The name minaudière refers to a small, hard sided evening bag which initially contained various compartments for necessary items. This style of such bag was named as a tribute to Estelle, the wife of Alfred Van Cleef, whose eccentric mannerisms – or ‘minaudières’ – delighted those she met. Eventually the word was patented by Van Cleef & Arpels, but later became a term used to describe this bag style from other brands, indicating that the bag is a gem-set objet d’art comprised of precious metal.

Van Cleef & Arpels minaudière with diamonds in 18K yellow gold, enamel and featuring a timepiece

Van Cleef & Arpels minaudière with diamonds in 18K yellow gold, enamel and featuring a timepiece

Vhernier

While celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ‘Calla’ collection this year, Vhernier introduced their new ‘Calla Anniversario’ pieces, including a selection of crocodile handbags. Each of them – whether in a trapezoid or an elongated baguette shape – is decorated with 10 elements of the Calla motif shaped to form the detachable and interchangeable handle. The handles have been crafted in precious materials such as cacholong, ebony, lapis and titanium – the latter of which has been illuminated by diamonds!

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in green crocodile leather with pear wood handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in green crocodile leather with pear wood handle

 Vhernier 'Calla' bag in black crocodile leather with diamond and titanium handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in black crocodile leather with diamond and titanium handle

 Vhernier 'Calla' bag in grey crocodile leather with diamond and titanium handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in grey crocodile leather with diamond and titanium handle

 Vhernier 'Calla' bag in dune crocodile leather with ebony and 18K rose gold handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in dune crocodile leather with ebony and 18K rose gold handle

 Vhernier 'Calla' bag in purple crocodile leather with lapis lazuli and 18K white gold handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in purple crocodile leather with lapis lazuli and 18K white gold handle

 Vhernier 'Calla' bag in green crocodile leather with cacholong and 18k white gold handle

Vhernier 'Calla' bag in green crocodile leather with cacholong and 18k white gold handle

Mellerio dits Meller

Collaborations are another way in which precious bags are manifested. For example, a direct meeting of creative minds occurred when Singaporean handbag designer Ethan Koh combined his signature ‘Alla’ carrier with a piece of jewellery he loved: the ‘Giardino’ brooch from the ‘Isola Madre’ high jewellery collection, designed by Laure-Isabelle Mellerio of Mellerio dits Meller. The brooch is attached to the fastening of the handbag and features tourmaline, tsavorite, pink sapphire, spessartite garnets, diamonds and green enamel – matching perfectly with the vivid green of the crocodile leather.

Mellerio dits Meller and Ethan Koh 'Alla' bag with the ‘Giardino’ brooch from ‘Isola Madre’ collection in tourmaline, tsavorite, pink sapphire, spessartite garnets, diamonds and green enamel

Mellerio dits Meller and Ethan Koh 'Alla' bag with the ‘Giardino’ brooch from ‘Isola Madre’ collection in tourmaline, tsavorite, pink sapphire, spessartite garnets, diamonds and green enamel

Gage and Porter

From luxury jewellers who have segued into handbags and jewellery collaborations, we move onto handbag designers who add jewellery components to their creations – Gage and Porter are one such bag brand. They produce their ‘Cyprus Quill’ ostrich skin clutch bags with a selection of different cabochon gemstones crowning the fastening. Gage and Porter’s current models are available in amethyst, onyx and pearls with pink sapphires and diamonds, complimenting the various colours of ostrich skin.

Gage and Porter bags with gemstones and ostrich leather

Gage and Porter bags with gemstones and ostrich leather

 Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with pink sapphire, diamond and acrylic clasp in 18K yellow gold

Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with pink sapphire, diamond and acrylic clasp in 18K yellow gold

 Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with onyx and diamond clasp in 18K yellow gold

Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with onyx and diamond clasp in 18K yellow gold

 Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with bone, diamond and ruby clasp in 18K yellow gold

Gage and Porter bag in ostrich leather with bone, diamond and ruby clasp in 18K yellow gold

Noof

Another bag designer who utilises precious elements in her pieces is Nouf Aleshaker. Her brand Noof is heavily influenced by jewellery: the facets of jewels are emulated in gold-plated brass hardware on many of her designs. However, the ‘Zain’ envelope handbag in a selection of colours of crocodile leather is available in a collector’s edition, which features a magnetic fold-over envelope front flap, embellished with a gemstone or mineral of your choice.

Noof 'Zain' bag in blue crocodile leather with amber stone and gold plated silver frame

Noof 'Zain' bag in blue crocodile leather with amber stone and gold plated silver frame

 Noof 'Zain' bag in blue crocodile leather with amber stone and gold plated silver frame

Noof 'Zain' bag in blue crocodile leather with amber stone and gold plated silver frame

 Noof 'Zain' bag in black crocodile leather with amethyst and gold plated silver frame

Noof 'Zain' bag in black crocodile leather with amethyst and gold plated silver frame

 Noof 'Zain' bag in red crocodile leather with amethyst and gold plated silver frame

Noof 'Zain' bag in red crocodile leather with amethyst and gold plated silver frame

L’Aquart

It could be argued that the absolute pinnacle of jewelled bags is the ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch from L’Aquart. The brand’s founder Luis Alberto Quispe creates works which are formed through his extraordinary lapidary skill and obsession with the art form. The development and creation of his series of ‘Kleodora’ bags took Luis Alberto nearly 3 years, and each piece required 500 working hours to produce. Unbelievably, there are 6 variations of the precious clutch – Tanzanian ruby, lapis lazuli, white quartz, amethyst, jade and tiger’s eye – each of which is framed by gold vermeil.

L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in amethyst and 18K yellow gold vermeil

L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in amethyst and 18K yellow gold vermeil

 L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in white quartz and 18K yellow gold vermeil

L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in white quartz and 18K yellow gold vermeil

 L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in amethyst and 18K yellow gold vermeil

L’Aquart ‘Kleodora Queen Bee’ clutch bag in amethyst and 18K yellow gold vermeil

For those who are looking for a bag which delivers serious glamour without a brand logo, bejewelled bags are a wonderful accessory that can be worn anywhere, at any time, and are sure to attract attention from bag lovers and jewellery admirers alike!

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