Gucci has long been famous for its aristocratic and chic fashion luxuries, from handbags to sunglasses, this titan of the trade has become a household name synonymous with expensive tastes and refined accessories. Many today though are expressing their curious interest in a relatively new venture from the company- fine jewelry from the artistic mind of designer Alessandro Michele. Aptly titled "Hortus Deliciarum", Michele has created a series of 200 unique jewelry pieces that center around the verdant natural wonder of a garden teeming with life.



A romantic take on the concept of eternal love inspired him to incorporate a pristine selection of coloured gemstones for many of his pieces. Themes that centralise on the emotion exuded by both flora and fauna, manifest themselves well in this exuberant collection of wearable artworks. Gemstones such as tourmaline, diamonds and topaz scintillate and glitter against the bold metals and convoluting designs, depicting his subjects in an ambience of tantalising mystic and true novelty.



Gucci's pioneer fine jewelry boutique will be at the famed Place Vendôme, a locality known for its series of high end luxury galleries and shops, with brands like Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier showing prominent collections of their own in the area.

Every now and again, we find ourselves mesmerized by miniature masterpiece laden with the treasures of nature. Let's take a glimpse into the busy workshops that create some of the world's most timeless artworks.

Historical jewelry pieces have always been a forte of the well known design houses. Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, De Grisogono, and other heritage-run maisons have been producing high jewelry for decades, spanning the cumulative tastes of many different markets, while always finding time to create that special aesthetic wonder we've all come to appreciate.

The particular aspects of each house's visual style vary greatly with personal beliefs and preferences. De Grisogono's vibrant use of colored stones (such as Colombian emeralds) plays off beautifully against the seamless, asymmetrical elements of their design sequences.

Nothing starts out grandiose and alive. We've all been born out of love and passion. The world of fine jewelry is no different.

From the tiniest idea, the simplest sketch, to the actual wax sculpting by time-honored artisans, the creation process for high jewelry is a tedious yet rewarding endeavor. Audiences from around the globe partake in the festive unveiling of new collections. Museum curators gather at exhibits to learn as much as they can about artists and their indescribable regalia pieces.



Gemstones play a very intimate part of most revered jewelry suites. From the brilliance and dazzling allure of diamonds to the fiery passionate reds of rubies, the rarity and exclusive indulgence of precious gems cannot simply be ignored within the realm of fine luxury.

It takes years to master the art of gemstone-setting, the precision and care needed for a beautiful result matches only the ageless dedication possessed by the greatest smiths in history. Their jewelry benches are the birthplace of majesty and opulence. Every intricate swirl of platinum, gold and silver, began as ore to be smelted and re-formed. Metal matched with mettle, artisans breathed life into the minerals from deep below the earth's crust.



For anyone wanting to delve deeper into the artful finality created by the jewelry maisons, you're not alone. Gemology and jewelry go hand-in-hand, the journey of learning is never over, and the world's taste for wonder never ceases.

There are many jewelry-making institutes to choose from, including Van Cleef and Arpel's L'ecole School of Jewelry and Arts. If you'd like to learn on your own, you can follow in the steps of pioneers and gain an apprenticeship with your local jeweler.



But, if you'd like to learn more about the other half of the masterpiece; the gems that no one else can replicate perfectly- then you won't have to look far. Our laboratory will be offering gemological classes and workshops beginning mid-2018 to connoisseurs, jewelry aficionados and future-gemologists from the Philippines. We look forward to having you with us.

All images belong to their corresponding brand companies, Van Cleef & Arpels, De Grisogono and Graff Jewelers. We are neither affiliated with, nor endorse any one company, however the purpose of this editorial post, was to simply appreciate the art of fine jewelry craftsmanship.

Another large diamond that had recently been sold at auction, was the 163-Carat D-Flawless "De Grisogono". The gemstone was set at the heart of an asymmetrical necklace adorned by suites of emeralds and other diamonds.



The design by De Grisogono founder Fawaz Gruosi, prioritizes the full visibility of the gemstones' magnificence, and therefore strives to hide all metal from its facade. This almost invisible way of craftsmanship truly brings out the vivid brilliance of both the record-breaking stone, and its accent gems.



Documentations have shown that this one-of-a-kind masterpiece required a schedule of over 1,700 hours to complete. Fourteen craftsmen contributed to the piece's creation, and this is evident in the complexity of its structure and beguiling appearance.

The De Grisogono diamond and its host necklace, sold for 33.7 million US dollars in Geneva under the efforts of Christie's auction house and its partners.

While this number may strike some as being incredibly extravagant for a single piece of jewelry, it was actually viewed as disappointing for many veterans in the diamond auction industry.



Both diamonds and emeralds are favorites here within the jewelry circles of Metro Manila, however specimens even a fifth of the De Grisogono's carat weight are an incredibly rare sight inside Philippine jewelry boutiques. Practicality and trend both play a part in the country's demand for diamonds. Normally, one to five carat sizes are the prime picks for most high society Filipinos, due to their high-movability translating to a better investment value.



Above are pictures of both the diamond and its original rough form. Large diamond rough is very rare, so diamond cutters need to use an array of advanced instrumentation to scan and plot the best angles for cutting out the gem. The more weight preserved, the higher the returns will be for specimens such as this one. (Photography Credits to Christie's Auctions, and De Grisogono)