Monte-Carlo, Monaco – A haven for high rollers, supercars, and dazzling jewelry, Monte-Carlo served as the backdrop for the launch of Chanel’s Haute Joaillerie Sport collection. This new collection pays homage to Mademoiselle Chanel’s sporty-chic style, drawing inspiration from various sports such as tennis, racing, and championship rings.
The prestigious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo hosted the event’s guests, while a black-tie dinner at the Casino De Monte-Carlo, featuring a ballet performance by graduates from the Princess Grace Academy at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, added to the evening’s glamour and exclusivity.
The journey began with a viewing of the collection in a chic gallery adjacent to the Hôtel de Paris. Designed as a stylish sporting arena, complete with a mini Chanel stadium and white umpire chairs, the venue showcased the collection’s 80 high jewelry pieces—necklaces, rings, earrings, and brooches—displayed like trophies in glass-free cases, allowing attendees to admire their craftsmanship up close.
The Collection
Patrice Leguéreau, the director of the Chanel Jewelry Creation Studio, conceived the Haute Joaillerie Sport collection. His designs reflect Coco Chanel’s historic ties to sports, incorporating her innovative use of jersey fabric and her sporty lifestyle, including horseback riding, polo, and golf. Leguéreau’s pieces are designed to move and transform with the wearer’s body, staying true to Chanel’s emphasis on comfort and elegance.
“For creating the ‘Sport’ High Jewellery collection, I was inspired by Chanel’s sporty style, which is such an integral part of the House’s history: the elegance of the line and the freedom of movement,” Leguéreau stated. The collection features dynamic pieces that combine aesthetics, artistry, innovative materials, new technology, and exceptional gemstones, pushing the boundaries of high jewelry.
One innovation is the tube chain, dubbed a “sport cord,” specially developed by Chanel. This flexible and supple chain ensures that the pieces sit well when worn, avoiding the stiffness sometimes associated with high jewelry.
Haute Joaillerie Sport is divided into six chapters: Sweater, Graphic Line, Chanel Print, Quilted Icons, Sporty 5, and Gold Slider. Each chapter cleverly incorporates the House’s codes within the sports theme. For instance, the Gold Slider collection allows a necklace to transform from a choker to a sautoir with the press of a decorative button. The Chanel Print cuff features dazzling openwork with the letters spelling “Chanel” subtly incorporated into the design, and the use of newer materials like carbon, black lacquer, and red aluminum adds to the collection’s versatility and modernity.
The Gemstones and Colors
Chanel’s Haute Joaillerie Sport collection features vibrant gemstones alongside brilliant, high-quality diamonds. A standout in the collection is a set of five Kashmir sapphires, prized for their rarity and velvety blue color. These sapphires are featured in some of the collection’s most expensive pieces.
One of the collection’s highlights is the Graphic Line Necklace, showcased in outdoor ads around Monaco and worn by Keira Knightley, a friend of the brand, at the launch event. This stunning piece, crafted from white gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphire, rubies, and onyx, features a breathtaking 10.15-carat cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire as its centerpiece.
In conclusion, the Chanel Haute Joaillerie Sport collection, launched in the luxurious setting of Monte-Carlo, brilliantly captures the elegance, dynamism, and sporty-chic style synonymous with the House of Chanel.
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