Boucheron's New Maharajah Range That's Fit For Royalty

Taking inspiration from one of Boucheron's most significant and opulent collections, the new Maharajah range is a modern take on jewellery that's fit for royalty

- Caroline Suganda

It was August 2, 1928 and Place Vendôme, the world's cradle of jewellery-making, was abuzz with news of the arrival of the Maharajah of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh. Along with 40 servants, the entire party had booked no fewer than 35 suites at the Ritz, right at the heart of Place Vendôme. The Maharajah was known for many things, and one of them was his unbridled appetite for jewellery. Everyone was waiting, knowing it was just a matter of time before he visited a jeweller of his choice.

On that summer day, escorted by Sikh guards, Bhupinder Singh finally crossed the Place Vendôme and pushed open the door of Boucheron. Along with him were iron safes filled with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls – in the thousands.

In the store, Louis, son of founder Frédéric Boucheron, welcomed the Maharajah. From this visit, Boucheron came up with what are known today as some of the brand's most historic designs – 149 of them - and translated them into emerald and diamond collars, multi-strand necklaces and belts covered in precious stones.

Today, the collection remains a historic part of Boucheron's heritage, birthed from an unforgettable encounter and forged into a legendary commission for the house. Claire Choisne, creative director of Boucheron, says of the collection, This commission by the Maharajah of Patiala seemed like a fairy tale, it is the stuff of dreams. In our archives, we have kept the 149 original designs from which I got my inspiration for this collection. I wanted to transpose these designs into the 21st century, and to reinvent them for today's Maharanis and Maharajahs – women and men who want to express their personality and their own style.