In brief
- An exclusive jewellery series captured by photographer Tobias Delcroix and styled by Céline Laviolette.
- The Joséphine collection by Chaumet is showcased through pieces in gold, diamonds, pearls and precious stones.
- The jewellery creations dialogue with a haute couture wardrobe signed by Ferragamo, Loewe, Givenchy and Brunello Cucinelli.
The art of jewellery finds its most beautiful setting in the contrasts of the night. On the occasion of its anniversary issue, this exclusive photographic series highlights the watchmaking and jewellery creations of Maison Chaumet. Under the precise lens of photographer Tobias Delcroix and through the eyes of stylist Céline Laviolette, the Joséphine collection reveals itself in a play of light and shadow of rare elegance. Model Elise Marie embodies this contemporary vision of adornment, sublimated by pieces in white gold, rose gold and diamonds.
In this nocturnal staging, darkness acts as a revealer of brilliance, pushing each facet of the precious stones to express its full luminous potential. Chiaroscuro, a classic painting technique reinterpreted here by contemporary fashion photography, highlights the purity of geometric lines and the fluidity of metals. The reflections of gold and the fire of diamonds pierce the shadow with dramatic force, transforming the jewellery set into a true sculpture of light. This aesthetic approach allows us to rediscover iconic creations in a new light, where the mystery of the shadow reinforces the innate majesty of the jewels.
This major shoot celebrates the alliance of the traditional expertise of Place Vendôme and a contemporary high-end wardrobe. The silhouettes, structured by designer pieces, resonate with the finesse of the jewellery. Each creation, from the transformable earring to the imperial solitaire, dialogues with movement and clothing to express an assertive and sophisticated femininity.
Place Vendôme, the historic epicentre of Parisian high jewellery, has for centuries been the witness of an unceasing quest for technical and aesthetic perfection. By marrying this exceptional heritage with the innovative lines of contemporary fashion, this visual series illustrates the capacity for renewal in jewellery design. The textures of high-end fabrics, whether dense woollens, fluid silks or architectural cuts, offer a textured backdrop that magnifies the polished brilliance of precious metals and the transparency of gems. This constant interaction between fabric and jewel redefines the codes of everyday luxury, demonstrating that high jewellery is not frozen in time, but lives to the rhythm of body movements and the evolution of style.
Technical specifications of the collection and creations
This artistic production relies on a rigorous selection of pieces from the historic workshops of Maison Chaumet, illustrating the diversity of its formal repertoire. From the delicacy of a diamond setting on rose gold to the complexity of a platinum structure, each creation presented bears witness to absolute technical mastery. Stylistic choices operate a constant back-and-forth between the historical rigour of royal shapes and the audacity of today’s volumes, creating a visual bridge between eras.
The Joséphine collection, icon of Place Vendôme
The Joséphine collection is characterised by its royal and contemporary lines:
- Jewellery house: Chaumet
- Main collection: Joséphine (Aigrette, Aigrette Impériale, Amour d’Aigrette, Valse Impériale lines)
- Precious materials: White gold, rose gold, platinum, diamonds, pearls, pink mother-of-pearl, emerald, sapphire
- Key pieces: Joséphine Amour d’Aigrette transformable creation (necklace and tiara), Triomphe de Chaumet rings, Joséphine Aigrette watches in steel and precious metals
- Associated wardrobe: Ferragamo, Loewe, Brunello Cucinelli, The Frankie Shop, Viktor & Rolf, Givenchy by Sarah Burton
The sculptural brilliance of white gold and diamonds
The opening set sets the foundation for this nocturnal and contrasted aesthetic. Worn over a Ferragamo coat, the Joséphine Aigrette earring in white gold and diamonds is paired with the Joséphine Aigrette Impériale earring. The centrepiece of this composition remains the transformable Joséphine Amour d’Aigrette creation in white gold and diamonds, which adopts the codes of the historic tiara to transpose it into a highly technical contemporary necklace.
The use of white gold in this inaugural composition creates a cold and pure resonance with the brilliance of the brilliant-cut diamonds. This harmony of monochrome tones evokes the lunar reflections on the architecture of Place Vendôme. The choice to wear these high jewellery pieces over a structured wool coat shows how much the boundaries between daytime clothing and exceptional adornment are blurring. The deliberate asymmetry of the earrings brings additional visual dynamism, while the transformable necklace demonstrates all the ingenuity of the house’s artisans, capable of articulating the metal so that it delicately hugs the curve of the neck or stands proudly as a tiara.
Play of textures and contemporary layering
The series continues by exploring the layering of textures. Over a Loewe jacket, the Joséphine Amour d’Aigrette necklace in white gold and diamonds is paired with a duo of Joséphine Aigrette rings, one crafted in rose gold and diamonds, the other in white gold and diamonds. This mix and match of precious metals highlights the versatility and modernity of the collection.
The art of layering jewellery reflects a strong trend in contemporary jewellery, which breaks free from rigid traditional sets to favour personal expression. By combining warm rose gold with the purity of white gold, the set gains relief and depth. The Loewe jacket, through its material and modern cut, serves as a textured backdrop for this bold juxtaposition. The aigrette motifs interlock and respond to each other on the hand, creating a graphic rhythm that catches the light from different angles. This uninhibited approach shows that great style lies in the freedom to combine metals with contrasting tones, shaking up the old codes of jewellery propriety.
The Joséphine Aigrette watch redefines jewellery watchmaking
The expression of time becomes precious through a selection of unique timepieces. The Joséphine Aigrette watch in steel, white gold and diamonds is also available in rose gold, as well as in a version featuring a highly poetic dial in pink mother-of-pearl and diamonds. These horological pieces adopt the characteristic V-shape of the aigrette, hugging the wrist with remarkable fluidity.
The integration of the iconic aigrette design into the world of watchmaking bears witness to a remarkable search for stylistic unity. The pear- or V-shaped dial challenges the conventions of classic round or rectangular cases. The pink mother-of-pearl, with its changing and iridescent nuances, gives the watch an organic and soft dimension, contrasting with the geometric rigour of the metal structures. These watches do not just tell the time, they stand out as precious cuff bracelets, where the strap hugs the natural lines of the anatomy with extreme flexibility. Steel, meanwhile, brings a touch of urban modernity, making the piece particularly suited to the demands of a dynamic daily life.
Paired with a Brunello Cucinelli jacket, the Joséphine Aigrette rings in rose gold and diamonds harmonise with a white gold version adorned with pearls and diamonds. This alliance of the classic pearl and the geometric lines of the collection brings a touch of softness to the rigorous graphics of the series.
The cultured pearl, a symbol of timeless sophistication, finds a new resonance here in contact with the sharp lines of the aigrette. The aesthetic dialogue established between the satiny roundness of the pearl and the bright sparkle of the brilliant-cut diamond structures the hand spectacularly. The Brunello Cucinelli jacket, renowned for its impeccable tailoring and noble materials, reinforces this impression of effortless elegance. The contrast of materials, between the softness of the pearl and the visual sharpness of the V-design, perfectly illustrates the duality of the modern woman, both delicate and determined.
The audacity of coloured stones and pieces
The integration of coloured gems marks a chromatic turning point in the course of the photographic series. While the first images gave pride of place to the monochrome purity of diamonds and white gold, the progressive introduction of deep colours enriches the visual narrative. Sapphires and emeralds bring an almost mystical intensity, catching the low rays of light to reveal abysses of blue and green nuances. These choices of precious stones recall the house’s historic vocation to adorn the great figures of history with jewels of character, while adapting them to a contemporary aesthetic sensitivity where colour is expressed with strength and clarity.
The pinnacle of high jewellery by Chaumet
The pinnacle of the house’s jewellery art is revealed through high jewellery pieces of character. Over a top signed by The Frankie Shop, an accumulation of rings reveals the workshop’s expertise: the Triomphe de Chaumet rings in platinum and diamonds are paired with a version in platinum, sapphire and diamonds. A Joséphine Aigrette solitaire in rose gold and diamonds completes this architectural ensemble.
The juxtaposition of the rigour of platinum and the hypnotic brilliance of the sapphire creates a focal point of great visual intensity. Platinum, a metal of exceptional strength and purity, allows for the creation of extremely fine, almost invisible mounts, letting the stones fully express their brilliance. The association with a minimalist garment from The Frankie Shop creates a bold stylistic shift: high jewellery leaves the formal protocol of ball gowns to invite itself onto clean and contemporary cuts. The accumulation of rings on the same finger or on adjacent fingers designs a precious armour, symbol of a contemporary and assumed feminine confidence.
Pendants also join this luminous ballet, layered over a Viktor & Rolf shirt. Here we find the Joséphine Aigrette Impériale pendant in white gold and diamonds, accompanied by two Joséphine Aigrette pendants in rose gold and white gold. Finally, the appearance of the Joséphine Valse Impériale ring in platinum, emerald and diamonds, worn with a Givenchy shirt by Sarah Burton, crowns this series with an imperial and vibrant note of colour.
This bold layering of pendants over a Viktor & Rolf collar demonstrates the inventiveness of the artistic direction. The culmination of this stylistic exploration remains the Joséphine Valse Impériale ring and its central emerald. This piece of high-flying jewellery stands out as the highlight of this series, worn with the rigour of a Givenchy creation designed by Sarah Burton.
