Paradise Found

Alessandro Michele’s Midas touch in growing the Gucci universe now sees the Italian fashion house’s foray into high jewellery. Grace Tay heads to Paris to discovers the brand’s first collection and new Place Vendôme boutique

- Grace Tay

Gardens feature large in the vast landscape that is Alessandro Michele’s imagination. This is seen in his new take on the Flora print each season; we got other whiffs of creative expression in his fragrances, Gucci Bloom two years ago and the premium The Alchemist’s Garden range this year. He also cultivated Gucci Garden, a concept store unveiled last year that offers experiential retail, a museum and dining at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura.

Now, Gucci’s creative director has turned to fabled places – Eden, Arcadia and Xanadu – for the genesis of the house’s first high jewellery collection, Hortus Deliciarum, which means Garden of Delights in Latin.

The collection takes its name from a 12th-century illustrated encyclopaedia of philosophy, theology, poems, music and science compiled by a nun. This tome’s content spanned the biblical creation story – which famously starts in the Garden of Eden – to the end of the world and Judgement Day.

Gucci’s version, however, is a gem lover’s Shangri-La of rainbows, exotic creatures and mythical beings. Precious and semi-precious stones of all hues evoke a garden in full florescence.

The collection of over 200 pieces was unveiled in Paris in early July at Hôtel de la Salle, a 17th-century hôtel particulier with ornate Louis XIV-style interiors. With crystal chandeliers, gold-leaf boiserie, and painted ceilings and wall panels, the four salons needed just an artful assortment of carpets in different patterns and hues to be “Guccified”.

Veritable cabinets of curiosities, each salon had its own platoon of glassless display cases that framed the new Gucci jewels set on plush velvet display stands – a romantic menagerie of exotic, sparkling creations, alive with fire and light, waiting to be discovered up close from all angles.