She’s taken the life’s work of Christian Dior and reimagined it into some of the most fantastical pieces haute jewellery has ever seen. Previously drawing inspiration from Monsieur Dior’s love of flowers, his fondness of lace, his childhood home of Granville, and even the emblematic caning featured in chairs used in his couture shows, Victoire de Castellane, the vivacious and talented designer behind Dior’s magnificent fine jewellery, is celebrating her 20th anniversary at the house with a 99-piece collection – her largest yet – to toast her long-anticipated milestone.
Featuring a unique story of stones and colours titled Gem Dior, the collection was presented at a glittering event at Palazzo Labia, Venice, alongside 19 balletic creations by artistic director Maria Grazia Chiuri designed specifically for the occasion; the tulle, chiffon and sunray-pleated taffeta pieces the perfect contemporary reinterpretations for the new graphic jewellery. Focused upon unprecedented harmonies, subtle plays of polychromy and colour gradations, rather than previous collections inspired by a specific theme, from diamonds and rubies to the remarkable precious stones of which Victoire is so fond – spinels, tanzanites, rubellites and more – the architectural and abstract jewels saw a juxtaposition of gemstones designed to sit randomly on the skin. A testament to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s genius as well as the mastery of the high jewellery workshops at Dior, a dynamic new chapter at the house has truly begun.
View pieces from the collection:
