One Necklace, 8 Ways

It’s not that convertible jewelry is a novel concept or anything, with “two looks in one” being the standard-bearer for versatility (think: stud earrings with detachable charms, pendants that double as brooches, and necklaces that can be worn long or doubled up). But the convertible necklace that Gumuchian unveiled at Centurion last week is on a completely different level. The 36-inch-long piece can be worn eightdifferent ways, making it as much a feat of engineering as it is an example of exceptional contemporary jewelry design.

The necklace intersperses polished gold links with oblong stations detailed with glistening diamonds and detaches at key points to achieve the different looks. It’s the latest addition to Carousel, a favorite collection among Gumuchian’s luxe-yet-wearable offerings that’s inspired by the ornate canopies and spinning platforms of Parisian carousels.

“We challenged ourselves to push the ‘convertible’ notion as far as we could to create a versatile piece that offered multiple looks in one design,” says head designer Patricia Gumuchian. “My favorite way to wear the necklace is as a lariat—it will sparkle like crazy against any solid-color dress. The incredible shine comes from the bigger-than-expected melee diamonds we used.”

Below, a snapshot of the various ways to wear the necklace (not shown: the sexy, turned-around “down-the-back” option—figure you can use your imagination).

Carousel convertible necklace in 18k yellow or white gold with 10.28 cts. t.w. diamonds, $56,000; Gumuchian