Bejewelled Treasures Why diamonds, jade and precious stones are the ultimate modern day treasures
From the early myths surrounding precious gemstones to their first discovery in India, China and Brazil, and the painstaking creation of timeless modern-day treasures, Lane Crawford takes you on a journey to immerse yourself in the wonder of the earth’s most beautiful gifts.
Green with Envy
Known as the stone of heaven, jadeite is steeped in mystery and majesty and has been celebrated in all its beauty in sculpture and jewellery since the Neolithic period. In Chinese culture, jade was seen as a link between heaven and earth and embodied Confucian virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, purity and modesty.
While instantly recognised in its vivid green hue, jade comes in various shades - from lavender and white to red and yellow - and given its range of luminous colours and versatility, it is becoming increasingly popular with both Eastern and Western jewellery designers.
Acclaimed jadeite jeweller Samuel Kung juxtaposes polished raw shapes with a traditional Chinese aesthetic and delicate diamond settings in pieces that are as timeless as the material itself. Neither standardised nor formulaic, jadeite's most important qualities are colour, transparency and texture, with the most perfect iterations glossy, glassy, almost luminous, as if lit from within.
As the Chinese saying goes, "Gold is valuable, but jade is priceless."
Diamonds Are Forever
Throughout history the mesmerizing mystique of diamonds has enthralled kings and queens, moguls and movie stars, evolving into the ultimate possession. Emerging from the Golconda region of India, between the Godavari and Krishna Rivers in Hyderabad, this legendary diamond carpeted valley is mentioned in stories going back some three thousand years, from Marco Polo’s accounts of the wonders of the world to the voyages of Sinbad. In the passage of time, legends, myths and beliefs have intertwined to create the inimitable mystique of the diamond as precious beyond measure.
Objects of desire, symbols of power and status, the diamond has innate dualities; on one hand it is one of the rarest substances on earth, but equally, is formed from carbon, one of the most common elements on the planet; the diamond is at once ethereal and earthy, full of clarity and yet filled with mystery.
Today, in addition to the classic 4C’s of diamond classification (cut, carat, colour, clarity) Lazare Diamonds, focus on ‘Consistency,’ a dedication to the fine art of gem cutting that means every stone is cut to achieve its own personal perfection, with maximum brilliance from every angle.
Perfectly Precious
Strictly speaking, any gemstone outside of the “Big Four” (diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds) has always been considered semi-precious, and the term was originally invented by the industry to describe gems that were more abundant. However, important gemstones are now perceived as the ultimate in rarity, and therefore the ultimate in portable assets with high investment potential.
Contemporary jewellery designers are now utilising a rich colour palette that comes from gem mines across the globe. Italian jeweller Roberto Coin uses an incredible bouquet of coloured stones - from honey coloured gold quartz to shimmering blue topaz - in his architectural designs that mix and celebrate the brilliance and mesmerising hues of nature.
While on the other side of the world, the rich heritage of India can be seen in the cornucopia of colour used by Aishwarya, who select only the most dynamic and bold stones for their inimitable designs.
Discover the beauty of these bejewelled treasures at our exclusive trunk show in store at Lane Crawford Canton Road from October 9 - 25, 2017 and at ifc mall from October 28 - November 13, 2017.
