The Bling Queens

Hail the female creative powerhouses in the rarifified world of high jewellery

- IRENE NG

VICTOIRE DE CASTELLANE DIOR JOAILLERIE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF FINE JEWELLERY

Victoire de Castellane is revered in the industry. She has helmed Dior Joaillerie for over 20 years ever since its founding in 1998 and prior to that, she spent 14 years creating costume jewellery at Chanel. The myriad of signatures she has established for Dior mirrors her penchant for asymmetry, colour and lacquer, and she frequently references the Maison’s beloved hallmarks such as the Mitzah and Rose des Vents. A fearlessly extravagant aesthetic sets de Castellane apart — her rule-breaking contemporary creations effortlessly bridge the gap between playful avant-gardism and traditional sophistication. She introduced larger-than-life cocktail rings, secret compartments, skulls and three-dimensional floral motifs into Dior Joaillerie’s lexicon of luxury gems, expressed in an inimitable language of artistic beauty.

Even after decades, the Parisian designer has not lost an iota of her audacity and experimental spirit, now on full display through the new Dearest Dior. A duality straddling fragility and power, timelessness and modernity, the collection’s 77 exceptionally feminine creations riff on the Maison’s heartbeat: haute couture. Embellished with diamonds and rubies, pearls and tourmalines, and blue, pink or yellow sapphires, the ultraairy compositions are inspired by the finesse and lightness of lace. Designed to be worn intimately close to one’s skin, they magically evoke the intertwining of refined guipure through flawlessly intricate craftsmanship.

CAROLINE SCHEUFELE CHOPARD CO-PRESIDENT & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR