A butterfly’s delicate beauty is difficult to improve upon. But Boucheron brings an intense brilliance to its latest rendering of the lovely insect. The one-of-a-kind Bouquet d’Ailes ring, created for the Parisian jeweler’s L’Artisan du Rêve high jewelry collection, was inspired by “the myriad of feathers, with butterfly and dragonfly wings, found in our archives,” says Boucheron president Pierre Bouissou. “With the creative team, we have worked to infuse these ideas with a fresh spirit, providing modern reinterpretations of the iconic designs developed by our founder, Frédéric Boucheron.” The ring harnesses the house’s legendary themes: nature, growth, renewal. Says Bouissou, “It’s a celebration of Boucheron, and a celebration of new life.”
Pretty Fly
This eye-popping piece features a 5.09 ct. Colombian emerald, 3.50 cts. t.w. diamonds, and 2.55 cts. t.w. purple and yellow sapphires. While it has yet to be snapped up, it was presented at September’s Biennale des Antiquaires in Paris (on sale for an undisclosed sum).
Keeping Up Appearances
Making the Bouquet d’Ailes jewelry set, which also features an equally intricate butterfly-and-feathers necklace, involved 25 people, including designers, gemologists, polishers, stone setters, and goldsmiths—“keeping in line with the codes established by Frédéric Boucheron,” says Bouissou.
Creature Feature
The ring was made à l’ancienne—without wax molds, carved directly out of a block of gold. Though the white gold skeleton frames each facet, parts of the wings were sculpted from gemstones, giving the jewel what Bouissou calls a “movement and a feather-light aspect.”
More From Mine to Store on JCKonline.com:
+ Lydia Courteille’s Crocodile Cuff
+ Wallace Chan’s Butterfly Brooch
+ Parmigiani’s Dragon and the Pearl of Wisdom