#prestigediversions | JULY 2019 PRESTIGE 117
was brilliantly used by Louis Cartier in the
brand’s first mystery clocks, which gave the
illusion of hands magically floating in the air
to point out time.
The fabled origins of Cartier’s Panthère
was when Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Creative
Director from 1933, spotted a panther while
on an African safari with Louis. She
purportedly exclaimed: “Diamonds, onyx,
emeralds – a brooch!” and an icon was born.
In her design reign till 1970, her penchant for
the unclichéd saw topaz, citrine and turquoise,
amethysts and coloured sapphires paint the
landscape of the house’s creations.
Indeed, 2018’s Coloratura high jewellery
collection was awash with tints and hues of
different semiprecious and ornamental stones,
set alongside precious rocks. Referencing
Cartier’s striking designs in the Art Deco
years, the collection was rich with red coral
and garnets, onyx, turquoise, colourful
tourmalines and more along nature’s vast
colour spectrum.
Taking this a step further in putting
semiprecious stones front and centre, or at
least on the same level as precious stones,
Magnitude makes an audacious juxtaposition- especially for high jewellery that can come
with astronomical price tags. Will collectors
see the value of this bold proposition? It’s
unquestionable, to Karachi-Langane.
“Collectors look at a collection’s criteria
and are more concerned with the artistic
dimension, new aspects and surprising choices
of stones. These pieces are full of personality,
with a strong creative distinctiveness that
speaks to the heart. Emotion is an essential
and determining factor in our clients’ choices.
“Just look at our Tutti Frutti, panther or
multicoloured pieces. Their unconventional
aesthetics initially only appealed to a certain
clientele. Today, these pieces are an impressive
benchmark for the art of jewellery.”
“The Zemia bracelet is set with a surprising
opal matrix, which made us think of the planet
as seen from the sky. Rocky brown, blue lakes,
flashes of purple... each colour drives a rhythm
that resounds with the first echoes of the heart
of our planet,” says Karachi-Langane
Soreli secret watch in white
gold with a 83.34ct cabochon
rutilated quartz, and kite- and
brilliant-cut diamonds