It’s couture week in Paris, and among all the pretty things designers have to offer are expensive jewelry to match those equally expensive gowns.  Several notable fashion houses gave sneak peaks at treasures they will be showcasing at Biennale des Antiquaires September 14 to 23 at the Grand Palais in Paris.  Women with disposable income will be clamoring for to zhush up their gala gowns come charity ball season – let’s not forget awards season as well.

Christian Dior’s jewels paid homage to the fifties, Van Cleef & Arpels gave us good luck symbols and animals like a turquoise frog perched on a leaf on a pair of Art Deco drop earrings in onyx, tourmalines, garnets and diamonds. Speaking of diamonds, Piaget launched a rose jewelry collection with striking gem stone accents, like a pair of white gold drop earrings with diamonds, blue sapphires, and white chalcedony.

Laurenz Baumer took it back to nature with an interwoven white gold bracelet inspired by a Japanese garden.  It featured pink opal bulrushes, peridot lily pads and a pink sapphire and amethyst water lily.  Boucheron also drew inspiration from nature creating a snake necklace curled in the shape of a question mark.  My favorite was the Bouquet d’Ailes (Wing Bouquet) necklace, made with three types of gold, Colombian emeralds, carved morganites and tourmalines set in feather, butterfly and dragonfly wing motifs.

Ten jewelers will participate in the Biennale des Antiquaires this fall, including: Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel Joaillerie, Chaumet, Dior Joaillerie, Harry Winston, Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels and Wallace Chan.

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