Gem Palace
In addition to being one of the most glamorous affairs on the Paris social calendar, the Biennale des Antiquaires, which runs through September 21, brings together some of the most exquisite fine jewelry under the roof of the opulent Grand Palais. The 2014 edition saw a recreation of the gardens of Versailles, courtesy of interior designer Jacques Grange, as visitors like Juliette Binoche, Sofia Coppola, Peter Marino and Rick Owens took in the wares of Dior Haute Joaillerie, Cartier, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Wallace Chan, Chanel Fine Jewelry and Giampiero Bodino. See the highlight gems here.
1
Van Cleef & Arpels Amour Amour Ring Van Cleef & Arpels retold Peau d’Âne, a 17th-century French fairytale about a princess in disguise that was later made into a film in 1970 by Jacques Demy starring Catherine Deneuve. The green of the rounded 28.06-carat Zambian emerald in this ring symbolizes the princess’s dreams of love, and the tourmalines are represent the magnificent blue dress the princess wears throughout the story.
2
Wallace Chan Gabriella Rose Necklace Weighing in at a total of 164.39 carats, not counting the diamond and ruby accents, the Wallace Chan necklace boasts the largest flawless purple sapphire in the world.
3
Elizabeth Taylor’s Emerald Bulgari Necklace Repurchased from the Elizabeth Taylor estate, this stunning 1962 platinum, diamond and emerald necklace was a wedding gift from her husband Richard Burton in 1964. The pendant is actually a brooch that Burton gave to Taylor to mark their engagement in 1962.
4
Alexandre Reza Trembleur Earrings Rubies and diamonds are set to look like dangling branches of flowers in this pair of earrings.
5
Cartier Reine Makéda Necklace At the center of this platinum “draperie” necklace is a 15.29-carat Mozambique ruby strung with cabochon-cut and faceted ruby beads, pear-shaped rose-cut diamonds, calibrated diamonds and brilliant-cut diamonds.
6
Giampiero Bodino Barocco Necklace In this necklace, African Paraiba tourmalines—326.21 carats worth, to be exact—are surrounded by white gold and diamonds.
7
Extremely Piaget Secret Cuff Watch At first glance this piece appears to be a beautiful diamond and sapphire cuff, but hidden beneath the 19-carat engraved blue sapphire is a timepiece.
8
Boucheron Indian Palace Ring Inspired by the colored pools found on the grounds of ancient Indian palaces, this opal ring sparkles like the surface of water.
9
Chaumet Dancing Water Earrings Swirls of pear-shaped diamonds are meant to look as if they’re dancing water.
10
Chanel Summer in New York Necklace Meant to evoke the heat of the Big Apple in the summer, this necklace features 114 fancy-cut multicolored sapphires weighing in at 24 carats and 2,480 brilliant-cut diamonds.
11
Cher Dior Exquise Diamant Ring A rainbow of diamonds, spessartite garnets, yellow sapphires, sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines, pink sapphires, demantoid garnets rubies, purple sapphires and emeralds surround a large pear-shaped diamond set against 18-carat yellow gold.
