Claire Choisne’s latest Carte Blanche for Boucheron is an ode to the life-giving element – water. ‘Or Bleu’ is more than a high jewellery collection; it’s an immersive exploration of water, a vital and precious resource. Inspired by Iceland’s tempestuous waters, Choisne has captured the element’s raw power and ethereal beauty in a breathtaking array of jewels.
From the forceful rush of a waterfall transformed into a diamond-laden necklace to the gentle sway of waves reimagined as shoulder-grazing adornments, Choisne’s vision is both audacious and poetic. The collection is a masterclass in translating nature’s fluid forms into solid, precious objects. Rock crystal bracelets, sculpted by the imagination to evoke the heart of a glacier, exemplify the collection’s ability to capture the essence of water.
Boucheron’s ‘Or Bleu’ is a testament to the Maison’s unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries. With 26 extraordinary pieces, the collection invites wearers to experience the magic of water as never before.
ICEBREG
On a black sand beach lay blocks of ice, glittering like diamonds under the sun’s reflected rays. Iceland’s ‘Diamond Beach’ is the place that inspired a necklace and a pair of earrings that reproduce the plays of light and transparency of these ephemeral sculptures.
Sandblasting the rock crystal gives it the same frosted effect as icebergs stranded on the beach. Boucheron’s craftsmen loaded these pieces with trompe-l’œil illusions. Instead of securing the diamonds with the usual white gold prongs, they sculpted the crystal to hold the gemstones directly embedded within it. Similarly, the multitude of articulations that link the elements together are indiscernible to the naked eye, because this piece seems to levitate around the neck. Some of the droplets hold a precious secret: sparkling pavé diamonds are set under the rock crystal, their brilliance enhanced by its magnifying effect.
VAGUE – WAVE
The sea rages. Both a brooch and a hair jewellery, this “wave” pays tribute to the power of water. It also echoes a 1910 tiara from the Boucheron archives, which was inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The fruit of traditional High Jewellery expertise, this piece captures all the organic poetry of the original design. Each detail is shaped by hand using lost-wax casting, which involves sculpting the desired volume in wax. A mold is then made to obtain the negative wax impression, into which the gold is poured to follow the shape of the wave. Finally, 851 round diamonds are set, for a total of 20 carts.
CASCADE – WATERFALL
When Claire Choisne stood before this waterfall, she saw a necklace coursing down the body.
Measuring 148 centimeters, this white gold and diamond piece is the longest ever made in Boucheron’s workshops. “Cascade” offers even more surprises by transformng into a shorter necklace, from which a pair of earrings can be detached. To stay true to the inspiration, the Boucheron workshops have crafted an extremely delicate piece. A real challenge of precision and patience with these unusual dimensions. 1816 diamonds of different sizes were set on the Cascade. The meticulous mesh work gives the piece its extreme suppleness and adds to its striking realism.
Necklace set with pavé diamonds, in white gold. Necklace made in the tradition of Boucheron multi-wear – 3,000 hours of work
CIEL DE GLACE – ICY SKY
Sculpted by the elemental forces of wind and time, Iceland’s ice caves inspired the “Ciel de Glace” cuff bracelet. This piece pays tribute to the beauty of these natural settings – their colors, their textures, their windswept patterns.
The white gold base of this cuff is pavé-set with diamonds and a gradient of sapphires spanning five shades of blue. This icy sky was made from a single flawless block of rock crystal – totally devoid of any inclusions – and carved with the undulating textures of Iceland’s renowned ice caves. An invisible clasp preserves the immaculate beauty of this piece.
Bracelet set with rock crystal, paved with diamonds and blue sapphires, in white gold. 535 hours of craftsmanship.
