Double Duty: Jewellery-fragrance pairings for the ages
Bijoux and beauty duos that elevate the senses.
If it ain’t broke, don't fix it — just get creative with it. Just like Chanel repurposing its iconic tweed for the Coco Crush jewellery, Apple putting its half-eaten apple logo on smartwatches and Tiffany & Co. splashing its signature Tiffany Blue shade all over its fashion and home accessories, brand extension, when done right, can open up a whole new world of possibilities.
And in a time-old tradition, fragrance has always gone hand-in-hand with jewellery and here, we present to you the classic combos that never fail to enchant.
CARTIER'S LA PANTHÈRE
Much has been said about the Panthère. Its first sighting on a watch in 1914, its design evolution from the abstract to the figurative, its rebirth in three-dimensional form at the hands of tastemaker Jeanne Toussaint—everything has been well documented. Its influence has spread across a multitude of Cartier jewellery, timepieces and, beginning in 2014, fragrances.
Formulated by Cartier’s perfumer Mathilde Laurent, the La Panthère fragrance pays tribute to the emblematic animal of the brand most notably through its faceted flacon. Carved from the inside with a head sculpted at a right angle, a square jaw and a bevelled eye, the bottle reflects the panther, its sensual femininity and its hypnotic signature in the most discernible manner.
Laurent follows the creation of the striking vessel with a fierce concoction that combines a flower and a sensation. Believing that every woman is born with a feline streak and that every flower has animal notes hidden within, she expresses femininity through the sensual yet delicate gardenia and adds a wild touch to the scent with a soft, velvety musk.
CHANEL'S CHANEL N°5
Is there a scent more iconic than the Chanel N°5? Marilyn Monroe once went on record saying that she only had a few drops of the famed perfume for a nightdress; Andy Warhol appropriated its magazine ad for a screen print; and hit shows such as Gossip Girl gave the minimalist square bottle a significant amount of airtime in more than a handful of episodes.
The N°5 perfume’s ultra-rich track of rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang, housed in a clear hip flask-like container with a distinctive flat stopper, has become a defining accessory for women of sophistication and grace since its debut in 1921. The collaboration between Gabrielle Chanel and perfumer Ernest Beaux birthed “a woman’s perfume with a woman’s scent.”
Celebrating the 100th year of the perfume’s success last year, Chanel Fine Jewellery Creation Studio put together a symbolic high jewellery collection baptised Collection N°5. Director Patrice Leguéreau reimagined aspects of the perfume, from the bottle to the sillage, into 123 extraordinary pieces including the spectacular 55.55 necklace featuring a 55.55-carat custom-cut diamond.
KORLOFF'S KORLOVE
A quintessential French woman is both romantic and self- assertive—a glimpse at Korloff’s Korlove creations will tell you just that. Anchored by an audacious and sharp design character—the three-dimensional and diamond-studded heart pattern is set upright or upside down—the collection marries romanticism and urban rock elements to a stunning effect.
Its fragrance counterpart echoes the same sentiment. Created by prestigious perfumers, the Korlove scent is made up of the most refined essences and captures the spirit of burning love with some sweet and sunny notes, a floral profile and a hint of musk and vanilla. Together, they compose an addictive and dangerous elixir of unconditional love.
Always on a quest to craft a comprehensive Korloff experience, the jeweller goes the extra mile and relays the Korlove DNA onto the perfume bottle. The blend of classicism and bold attitude as well as the shout-out to the iconic 88-carat Korloff Noir diamond leads to a romantic and glamorous style. The Korlove collection is available exclusively at Habib.
BOUCHERON'S QUATRE
The Quatre collection has been a mainstay at Boucheron since its introduction in 2004. Revered for its sculptural look and harmonious juxtaposition of materials, textures and colours, the jewellery line pays homage to the brand’s century-old roots in ways that have never been done before—it references the four hallmarks of the Parisian jeweller in a single ring.
Said design codes include the Grosgrain or the pleated gold that recalls the jeweller’s upbringing amidst fine fabrics; the Double Godron which is a symbol of the bond that united Frédéric Boucheron and his wife Gabrielle; Clou de Paris which is the sculpted surface reminiscent of the cobblestones at Place Vendôme; and the staple line of diamonds enhanced by a mirror setting.
All of those elements are similarly embedded into the range of Quatre fragrances for both men and women. The Quatre Pour Femme, for instance, brilliantly blends modernity with timeless elegance. It is presented in a jewel-like bottle and boasts a sparkling and fruity floral scent with notes of bitter orange essence, sambac jasmine absolute and cedarwood, among others.
