If Alice had a jewellery box in Wonderland, it would gleam with pieces from Diorexquis.
On the Diorexquis Forêt Nacrée necklace, butterflies flutter and rabbits are hopping around, while varnish-painted deer are exploring a mother-of-pearl mystical forest blooming with multicoloured flowers. The showstopping creation is one of 163 enchanting pieces by Victoire de Castellane, artistic director of Dior Joaillerie, and a lasting testament to the maison’s profound connection to nature, storytelling, and savoir-faire.
The Diorexquis Forêt Nacrée necklace
Earlier this year, Chapter 1 of Diorexquis was unveiled at the former home of Monsieur Dior at Château de La Colle Noire in the south of France. The late founder’s legacy and passion shine through the collection in the form of a triptych of themes: enchanting landscapes, delicate bouquets, and magical galas. Monsieur Dior once wrote, “Jewellery is only as good as its colour,” and this is epitomised in the form of a 25.85-carat Sri Lankan sapphire, a 10.59-carat Colombian emerald, a 7.03-carat Mozambique ruby, and a 33.88-carat rich yellow diamond, amongst other glittering gems.
The collection’s spark of creation began with de Castellane’s favourite, the fragile, fiery, and often neglected opals as they contain all the colours of nature. The creations span necklaces, rings, earrings, and brooches, including a remarkable necklace-cum-lipstick case fashioned from gold, titanium, opals, cultured pearls, lacquer, and a kaleidoscope of gemstones.
Each creation is designed to be an heirloom, with unprecedented designs of gem-set flora and fauna. Dior Joaillerie’s exceptional technical mastery is exhibited by the plique-à-jour method, transforming jewels into miniature stained-glass windows, through which sublime light streams thanks to the use of lacquer. Dior’s artisans also mirror the ethereal beauty of the sky and water using the lesser-known opale-doublet technique. This consists of mounting a layer of opal on another stone, such as onyx, opal, and mother-of-pearl, to enhance the stone’s colour and create mesmerising hues. This is seen in a dazzling diamond and coloured gemstone necklace that gently frames opale doublet inserts with a detachable central emerald.
The Enchantment Continues
In early November, Chapter 2 of Diorexquis will unfold with the debut of several new pieces, encompassing 30 innovative themes and 23 signature designs. The motif of a storybook-like landscape continues in several sets depicting swans gliding majestically on a pond and a doe peeking from behind a grove.
A Glimpse of Chapter 2
Recalling the Dior Couture high jewellery collection, Victoire de Castellane once again draws inspiration from the pleating technique used in Monsieur Dior’s iconic Bar suit. Delicate flowers unfold in geometric lines that subtly resemble origami in necklaces, rings, and earrings. The global launch of the collection will take place in the tropical paradise of Langkawi, with its clear waters, pristine beaches, and lush jungles.
Photos courtesy of Piotr Stoklosa
