Think of gemstone jewellery and chances are you’ll visualise sparkly faceted stones set on metal prongs. But jewellery design hasn’t always been like this. Before the art of gem-setting was developed, jewellers decorated stones by engraving patterns directly onto them. In ancient times, images of gods and auspicious symbols were carved into gemstones of protective amulets worn by warriors, or on wedding jewellery to symbolise a holy union. Engraved gemstones were also seen on imperial seals in ancient Rome, where like the jewellery and amulets, were mostly mounted on metal.
However, as carved stones often end up being separated from their original mountings over time, tracing the provenance of antique pieces can be a tricky business. But it hasn’t stopped anyone from trying. For instance, this year, L’ École, School of Jewelry Arts in Paris, presented an exhibition titled Engraved Gems – Cameos, Intaglios and Rings from the Guy Ladrière Collection. It told the story of the art of gem engraving through an extensive assemblage of curated objects, ranging from ancient Greek artefacts to 19th-century jewellery.
Make The Cut
Gemstone carving is an ancient art known as glyptic. Back in the old days, artisans relied purely on handiwork without assistance from technology or even electricity; precision tools were scarce. Spartan equipment such as bow-driven handheld devices and wooden sticks with flints attached functioned as a primitive drill. These were the earliest instruments used for gemstone carving.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November/December 2022 من Vogue Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November/December 2022 من Vogue Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Mythic ROMANCE
Dior's Cruise 2025 collection transports us to the enchanting landscapes of Scotland, blending romantic narratives with modern allure.
AN ASYLUM
Co-founders Jaren Neo and Becky Ng speak to Vogue Singapore on the driving force behind their label, its in-house residency programme and their hopes for a more supportive creative ecosystem.
Metropolis of IMAGINATION
Moncler debuts The City of Genius in Shanghai, a bold celebration of creativity featuring an eclectic line-up of visionary co-creators.
STANDING Tall
The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 collection was an exploration of postmodern architecture and the future through sharp tailoring, romantic draping and ornamental detailing.
WATERWORKS
In an era of power showers, cold plunges and #Shower Tok, there's still merit to be found in slowing down for the age-old ritual of bathing.
Genetic MAKE-UP
Digital filters, but with real-life consequences. Vogue Singapore considers the implications behind a new generation of parents choosing to edit pictures of their children.
First CLASS
Education is the most powerful weapon, a noble pursuit that these three watches and jewellery brands have embarked on with different approaches.
A New FRONTIER
The nearly two-century-old watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre has crafted its first olfactive identity courtesy of perfumer Nicolas Bonneville.
House PROUD
Two symbolic homes come together in Louis Vuitton's latest haute horlogerie creation: a pocket watch that honours its historic trunk manufacture in Asnières and its cutting-edge watchmaking facility in Geneva.
Kindred SPIRITS
After years of living in the shadow of a traumatic family secret, Preeti and Sellam Nair have arrived at a new lease of life where hopes and dreams thrive alongside their mother-daughter bond.