Singapore Tatler Jewels & Time – August 2019

2019/20 JEWELS & TIME 45

Three years on and we are just as much in love with

this jewellery collection, from its delicate chain necklaces

to its chunky diamond rings—all of which come with

Chanel’s signature quilted pattern. A number of pieces

have been added as part of the maison’s attempts to fulfi l

our ever-increasing desire for more. Two-fi nger rings, open

bangles and ultra-contemporary ear cuffs with twinkling pavé

stones demonstrate that quilted motifs, to this day, are

still at the heart of many Chanel designs.

The pattern can be traced back to February 1955, when

Coco herself launched the iconic 2.55 quilted handbag,

naming the style after the date of its creation. She fi rst

became fascinated by quilting in the early 1900s after visiting

a friend, French socialite Étienne Balsan, a horse owner

and breeder, at his stables. Balsan’s saddle cloths and horse

blankets inspired her to use the motif as a textural contrast

for linings, collars and cuffs.

Of course, when it comes to a spokesperson for

Coco Crush, a brand of Chanel’s repute could have easily

stuck to forgettable faces that sit pretty in tweed and pearls,

but that wouldn’t be very Coco, would it? The designer was,

and continues to be, celebrated for breaking the rules. She

rebelled against preconceived notions of women’s dress codes

and created styles that we still wear today.

STYLE ICON
Actress Keira
Knightley wears
a Coco Crush
ring in white and
yellow gold set
with diamonds

MODERN

VERSATILITY

From top: Coco Crush

earrings in beige gold;

Coco Crush bracelets in

yellow, beige and white

gold set with diamonds

As such, it seems only

appropriate that English

actress Keira Knightley

was chosen as the face of

Coco Crush in 2016, after

having already fronted the

house’s Coco Mademoiselle

fragrance and Rouge Coco

lipstick collection. Known

for her unmistakeable

elegance as well as her

strong personality, Knightley

represents the very woman

Chanel hopes to serve: one

who is modern and classic at

the same time.

After all, it’s Chanel’s

signature motifs—the

camellia, jersey stripes

and comets along with

quilting—that form and

build a key part of the

brand’s identity. Quilting

fi rst debuted on the Chanel

catwalk last century, but

it still features in our

wardrobes and, thanks to

Coco Crush, it’s still worn on

our ears, necks and wrists.