The famously chic Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson, collaborated with houses including Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier to amass perhaps the most important private jewelry collection in history. “Her style was fantasy and originality—powerful, brightly colored, feminine, and romantic,” says Singapore-based designer Simone Ng, who created this extraordinary emerald-beaded necklace, dubbed Kingfisher Paradise, in homage to Simpson. Ng sees this piece on someone similarly stylish, “who truly appreciates magnificent design, art, gemstones, and exquisite craftsmanship and would love to stand out at a special occasion in the most beautiful way.” 

 

Green Piece

This verdant work was fabricated in 18k white and rose gold and incorporates enamel, 266.74 cts. t.w. Zambian emerald beads, four unheated Burmese sapphires (0.4 ct. t.w.), 100 blue sapphires (1.02 cts. t.w.), two green Burmese jades (0.6 ct. t.w.), and 534 white diamonds (6.95 cts. t.w.).  

 

Vision Test

Ng says the necklace “turned out exactly the way I had envisioned it.” She especially likes that it can convert from formal to informal “with the simple choice of outfits.” The piece is for sale through Simone Jewels for about $47,000. 

 

Around the World

The necklace was crafted in ateliers in Italy, Hong Kong, and Singapore through the efforts of 20-plus artisans, Ng says. “We needed various specialties—gemstone and diamond suppliers that brought to us the highest-quality stones, bead stringers to string the emeralds neatly together, craftsmen that crafted the lively center piece, stone-setters that set each stone securely in place, and enamel artists that filled in the areas with watercolor enamel.”