Ethics and aesthetics
As the Cannes Film Festival turns 70 this year, another significant milestone is notched with a leading light in the world of high jewellery. For two decades, the Chopard watch and jewellery house has been adorning the attendees and dazzling the audiences of Cannes — a journey that began with a re-designed Palme d’Or penned by Chopard co-president Caroline Scheufele.
The Palme d’Or proved to be a source of inspiration for an extension of the Green Carpet Collection, first introduced in 2013 as part of the ‘The Journey to Sustainable Luxury’ with a diamond-set cuff bracelet and matching earrings. This year, a new precious gemstone takes centre stage, the emerald. It is present in a ring, a pair of earrings and a timepiece; all featuring the palm leaf motif presented in a circular manner carrying breathtaking emeralds.
The stones on these three pieces are mined exclusively from the Kagem mine in Zambia belonging to Gemfields — the world leader in extraction of coloured gemstones. The ring and earrings are set with marquise-cut emeralds in 18-carat white ethical Fairmined gold, while the quartz timepiece features also brilliant-cut emeralds and diamonds — the latter sourced from a Responsible Jewellery Council certified supplier.
Chopard’s roadmap has thus passed a fresh checkpoint, that of including coloured stones; an industry first, and expanding significantly its responsible practices which commence at the start of the production chain.
