Nostalgia & Natural Diamonds: Inside Chanel’s High Jewelry Collection

Chanel turns to natural diamonds to reference the Maison and history’s first high jewelry collection.

Photographed by: Emman Montalvan
Styled by: Rita Zebdi
Written by: Sam Broekema

Sometimes it’s best to go back to the beginning to discover the most exciting way forward. This proves exceptionally apt for Chanel’s newest high jewelry collection, named 1932 for the year the Maison launched the world’s first high jewelry collection.

Kitty wears Lune Talisman button earrings, Soleil 19 Août necklace without brooch, Soleil Contraste ring, and Lune Solaire earrings as brooches.

In “Bijoux de Diamants,” the visionary designer Gabrielle Chanel aimed to capture the magnificence of a comet shooting across the night sky. As it turned out, diamonds served as the best expression of her vision, and her ultimate collection’s 50-plus pieces explored the possibilities of applying haute couture savoir-faire to jewelry-making.

Ilana wears Soleil Mademoiselle necklace, Pluie de Cometes Asymmetrical earrings and ring transformed from the Comète Constellation necklace.

Of course, Mademoiselle Chanel possessed the most discerning eye and distilled each design to its most essential form, preserving the purity of the line. The designer remarked that, “If I have chosen diamonds, it is because they represent the greatest value in the smallest volume.”

Juanita wears Lune Solaire earrings and Comète Constellation necklace.

Zhong Mei wears Soleil Byzance earrings and Comète Volute bracelet.

The collection marked the house’s love affair (which continues to this day) with both natural diamonds and the stars in the sky.

Yoly Dee wears Comète Constellation Ring and Lune Talisman button earrings.

90 years after this impressive debut, Chanel introduces 70 pieces of high jewelry that explore the map of the heavens and the codes of the Maison— transformation and utility included.

Sydney wears Soleil 19 Août necklace and Soleil Contraste ring.

Featured among the diamond masterpieces are a necklace that transforms into a brooch or bracelet, proving that high jewellery can truly achieve it all.

Photographer: Emman Montalvan
Executive Producer: Lizzy Oppenheimer
Executive Producer: Lucy Fox
Stylist: Rita Zebdi
Hair: Lauren Palmer-Smith
Makeup: Karo Kangas
Manicure: Merrick Fisher
Casting Director: Irene Ojo-Felix
1st Photo Assistant: Patrick Molina
2nd Photo Assistant: Khalilah Pianta
Digital Tech: Martia Noble
Wardrobe Assistant: Alyx Cohen
Hair Assistant: Hailey Watkins
Makeup Assistant: Mila Kwan
Manicurist Assistant: Naoko Saita
Production Manager: Rachel Oliver
Production Assistant: Jake Wilson
Produced by: Petty Cash Production