Style Edit: Cartier Le Chœur des Pierres high jewellery, feted by Zoe Saldaña and Shu Qi

Cartier is going back to the essence of gemstones with its latest high jewellery collection. Le Chœur des Pierres was unveiled at a Saint-Tropez chateau on the glittering French Riviera in May in an ode to the gems that inspire the design and creation of magnificent jewellery through their shape, colour, history and symbolism. The 17th century estate was turned into a sparkling showcase of stones, artistry and heritage, the event drawing an international guest list that included Shu Qi, Zoe Saldaña and Tilda Swinton, who experienced the collection in the presence of prominent modern artworks by Damien Hirst, Yves Klein and Anselm Kiefer. More than a presentation, it felt like a celebration of Cartier’s ability to make high jewellery feel both deeply rooted in tradition while also being unmistakably contemporary. The name of the collection – literally “the chorus of stones” – plays on two different readings in French. While “chœur” refers to a chorus of voices, its pronunciation sounds like the word “cœur”, the French word for “heart”. That duality is at the core of the collection, which puts the gemstones at the heart of each design and lets every design serve the stone rather than overpower it. Cartier describes the collection as an orchestra, with coloured diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds playing in concert while gemologists, designers, jewellers, setters and polishers work together behind the scenes. That philosophy is visible across the first chapter of the collection, which comprises more than 125 unique pieces and required more than 85,000 hours of work. A vibrant palette defines this release, with the maison showcasing a radiant spectrum of rare coloured diamonds, emeralds, rubies and vivid blue sapphires. Each gemstone has a distinct personality, according to the maison, which guides the creation of each piece. From a panther-motif necklace to abstract, geometric bracelets, the pieces are designed to highlight the natural beauty and character of the gems themselves. One of the most colourful pieces in the collection is the Tutti Kanya necklace, with a huge 30.33-carat engraved emerald from Zambia. The gem is surrounded by flowers, leaves and berries, all picked out in rubies, sapphires and emeralds, creating a tapestry of visual textures and tones. The necklace recalls the maison’s signature Tutti Frutti motif, introduced in the 1920s and an iconic Cartier style for its use of many multicoloured gems. The Tellura necklace, crafted with 30 uniquely shaped diamonds, manages to stand out even within a collection defined by vibrant hues. This piece perfectly illustrates Cartier’s approach to high jewellery: modern and free-spirited rather than daunting or restrictive. Cartier’s symbolic, signature menagerie returns in full force as well. Saldaña wore the Haryma necklace, adorned with a tiger, at the event, the magnificent jewelled creature depicted stalking silently down a staircase of five imperial topazes weighing in at 28.04 carats. “I like that this piece … is not heavy or intense but really delicate and it still has a strong presence, which is great,” said Saldaña. Since her first appearance in 1914, the panther has been Cartier’s signature muse. She is present once again in this collection with the Panthère Kentia necklace, where a 50.13-carat cabochon-cut Ceylon sapphire takes centre stage. The inclusion of the panther, with striking eyes of emerald and custom-cut onyx stones, neatly balances fluid curves and structured, graphic lines. With this collection, Cartier adds another innovative chapter to its unparalleled legacy in high jewellery, where the stone is not just the starting point, but rather the entire story. Le Chœur des Pierres is proof of the maison’s enduring commitment to making jewellery as eloquent in its storytelling as it is magnificent in its visual spectacle.

Style Edit: Cartier Le Chœur des Pierres high jewellery, feted by Zoe Saldaña and Shu Qi

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pieces including the Tutti Kanya, Tellura, Haryma and Panthère Kentia were shown at a Saint-Tropez chateau alongside art by Damien Hirst, Yves Klein and Anselm Kiefer

Pieces including the Tutti Kanya, Tellura, Haryma and Panthère Kentia were shown at a Saint-Tropez chateau alongside art by Damien Hirst, Yves Klein and Anselm Kiefer