Of all the characters in the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, the one getting the most rave reviews is that of Paloma, played by actor Ana de Armas, who banters, fights, and flirts while dramatically draped in Chopard diamonds.
De Armas, who plays a CIA agent working with Bond on his mission, wears three Haute Joaillerie models from Chopard’s Green Carpet collection. What thrilled Chopard copresident and artistic director Caroline Scheufele the most—beyond working on a highly anticipated Bond film—was that de Armas wears Chopard’s High Jewelry pieces in the most challenging action scenes in the movie, “and all this without dropping an earring,” she says.
“Ana actually had a hand in selecting the pieces she would wear and which would work best for the situation,” Scheufele says. “They are glamorous yet unfussy, and perfectly complement an action scene.”
The carat weight alone is worth noting: De Armas’ necklace is set with pear-shape diamonds totaling 43 cts. A bracelet composed of an 82 ct. t.w. cascade of pear-shape and brilliant-cut diamonds also adorns her wrist. Finally, earrings with 14 cts. t.w. pear-shape diamonds complete the look.
All these creations are part of Chopard’s Green Carpet collection, the first of the maison’s collections entirely made from sustainably mined materials in the form of ethical Fairmined certified gold and diamonds from suppliers endorsed by the Responsible Jewellery Council. As the maison has been committed to its Journey to Sustainable Luxury project since 2013, Scheufele says she was happy to showcase these creations, which are as much ethical as aesthetic.
“As a family-owned company, Chopard holds ethics as an important value,” Scheufele says. “In fact, as of 2018, the maison has committed to using only 100% ethical gold.
Chopard is an official partner of No Time to Die, the 25th James Bond film. De Armas has said in interviews that she hopes her character in this film will be referred to as a “Bond woman”—as opposed to what have historically been termed “Bond girls.” Scheufele agrees, saying Paloma was an ideal muse as a strong female character in this Bond movie.
“We are inspired by contemporary times, and a lot of our clients are courageous, independent women themselves,” Scheufele says. “I must say, I’ve never seen our jewels worn in an action movie like this, so having our creations featured on such a strong female action character is thrilling for me.”
No Time to Die was originally slated to run in theaters in April 2020, but its release was pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its weekend debut is said to have generated $56 million in North America over 4,407 screens, according to media reports. It was the biggest movie opening of the weekend and earned reasonable reviews, including a 84% “fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes.
Movies are a great muse as well, Scheufele says.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always been a great lover of the cinema, and Chopard is a great supporter of the world of filmmaking. Every year, we commit to our partnership with the Cannes Film Festival and sponsor the Trophée Chopard award to encourage and support young talent,” Scheufele says. “A placement like this brings a lot of visibility to the maison as it puts Chopard at the heart of the action. It is particularly moving for me to see our high jewelry pieces on the silver screen—an outstanding showcase!”
With its long history and impressive name, Chopard wants to be part of the action—and a Bond film is the ideal way to do this, Scheufele says.
“As an independent, family-run business, we have the freedom to be innovative and to think and act out of the box,” Scheufele says. “We are constantly moving forward, trying to dream up what’s next. In the case of No Time to Die, being able to feature pieces from our sustainable Green Carpet collection gives us a chance to showcase jewels that represent our forward thinking and commitment to responsible luxury in an exciting way.”
Scheufele also shares her vision of the Bond woman as determined and courageous through a reinterpretation of Chopard’s iconic Happy Hearts. This updated collection is unique in that Chopard filled the hearts with ethical rose gold, which is a leitmotif embedded in the James Bond DNA. Chopard called the Happy Hearts–Golden Hearts collection “ethical, light, supple, and easy to wear.”
Top: Actor Ana de Armas played a significant role in the latest James Bond movie and in selecting the Chopard jewelry she wore throughout the film. (All photos courtesy of Chopard)
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