When the Grand Palais first opened its doors in Paris, it embodied the latest architectural innovations and represented the glory of French Art. Ornately decorated, it housed waterfalls and lush, tropical vegetation, and presented the world with a landscape of dreams. Irène Studio has translated those dreams into the language of gorgeous fine jewellery. Perspective, light and space, the Scenography Fine Jewellery Collection gives us a precious world of jewelled monuments and has taken jewellery making into an absolutely new dimension.
· ACT I · SCENE 1. THE NAVE Waterfalls and green cascades glisten under the glass roof. Then time stops: the water droplets become diamonds and rock crystals, vegetation blooms into a cameo of emeralds and aquamarine stones, the steps of the promenade become stones in motion.
Marie Genon, the founder at Irène Studio, found her inspiration for the Scenography Collection in the timelessly classical architecture of Paris. Marie started her career as a scenographer in the fashion world but over the years explored the idea of representing scale versions of architectural landmarks through noble metals and precious gems. However, it was after her training as a goldsmith at the Haute École de Joaillerie in Paris that Marie was finally able to translate her ideas from paper to jewelled adornments.
The idea for Irène Studio’s Scenography Fine Jewellery Collection first came to Marie during Karl Lagerfeld’s Autumn-Winter prêt-à-porter fashion show of 2012. The Quartz décor of the show struck a chord and slowly but surely the concept of an entire collection of fine jewellery representing the architectural details of Parisian landmarks started to take shape. However, at the heart of this jewellery collection, as with all jewellery pieces crafted by Irène Studio, is Marie’s commitment as a jewellery designer, to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Each piece at Irène Studio’s atelier is made using GIA certified Antwerp diamonds which are also Kimberley Process compliant.
· ACT I · SCENE 2. THE GLASS ROOF Under a golden dome of rock crystal, carved one window at a time, a table setting paved with 125 diamonds (paving) symbolizes five waterfalls of gold, diamonds and white sapphires. Their different shapes, represented by 278 rocks of brilliant sizes, baguette, cabochon and marquise cut gemstones glisten along the body of the ring.
The Scenography Collection finds its inspiration in the Grand Palais, Paris. Introduced as an Act, at present the collection consists of three scenes, or settings - The Nave, a sleeve cuff, The Glass Roof, a ring and The Dome, a brooch. Each scene started its jewellery journey as a gouache rendering with precise architectural features, down to a hundredth of a millimetre. A marvel of jewellery design and conception, each piece shows a particular part of the Grand Palais with breathtaking detail. This collection also showcases the exceptional skill of the artisans at Irène Studio who crafted these outstanding pieces in precious metals and gems.
A waterfall of diamonds lit up by flourishes of emeralds and aquamarines; cabochons of rock crystal fashioned into a vaulted ceiling beneath which twinkles a jewelled garden of white diamond baguettes; a roof of diamonds and rock crystal, in a shape reminiscent of the Maltese Cross. The perspective changes with each piece, sometimes we are looking up, sometimes we are peering down, but the wonder and enchantment are unending. Light dances and shimmers off of these pieces, catching the sparkle of white diamonds, the luminosity of rock crystal and the vibrancy of coloured gemstones.
· ACT I · SCENE 3. THE DOME Mounted on white gold, the dome evokes that of the Grand Palais, its lines and curves carved in microns of gold. A central diamond of 1.5 carats surrounded by 4 tapered diamonds evokes the dazzle of an aquatic scene. Two green waterfalls trickle from the precious dome: 26 marquise and cabochon diamonds of rock crystal glisten with delicate subtlety like the morning dew.
This collection is truly a dreamscape transformed into the reality of fine jewellery. Inspired by architectural landmarks, The Scenography Fine Jewellery Collection eloquently tells the story of Paris in the language of the gems, sculptural design and exquisite craftsmanship.
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