Among fashion’s most iconic pairings, few resonate as elegantly as Chanel and tweed. A fabric known for its durability, tweed became a key element of Chanel’s design ethos after Gabrielle Chanel’s serendipitous encounter with it in Scotland a century ago. It evolved into a symbol of luxury and female empowerment within Chanel’s lexicon through her visionary embrace.
This transformative voyage reaches its zenith in the Tweed de Chanel high jewellery collections. Introduced in 2020, Tweed de Chanel Episode 1 masterfully captured the fabric’s unique texture, translating it into mesmerising mosaics of precious gemstones. In 2023, Chanel returned to tweed’s graphic potency with a new collection.
Tweed de Chanel Episode 2 elevates the artistry of high jewellery craftsmanship to new heights. Divided into five distinct chapters, each highlights a unique colour palette and celebrates an iconic emblem: the ethereal white ribbon, the delicate pink camellia, the comet streaking through the night sky, the golden sun in a resplendent yellow hue, and the majestic lion with bold crimson flashes.
The Chanel Watches and Fine Jewellery boutique at Ngee Ann City debuts over 50 carefully curated pieces from both episodes in an exclusive showcase from April 10 to May 6. This gives jewellery connoisseurs the opportunity to experience Chanel’s unparalleled craftsmanship and design.
CHAPTER 1: TWEED RUBAN
Flexibility is key in this chapter as threads of diamond-encrusted gold and pearls intertwine seamlessly to create a soft, pliable monochromatic tweed. This feeling of weightlessness is exemplified in the Tweed Pastel bracelet, whose intersecting rows of diamonds and pearls form a precious weave with loosely looped ends.
Each stone undergoes careful measurement and calibration to achieve the desired airy effect before being placed in its designated setting and given a final polish to ensure ultimate brilliance.
CHAPTER 2: TWEED CAMELLIA
This chapter evokes the image of tweed embroidered with camellia flowers, as shown in the magnificent Tweed Pétale suite. Gold fixtures, gently curved and diamond-set, intermingle with mixed-cut diamonds, sapphires, and small camellia blossoms accented with diamond pistils. Positioned at varying angles, they create an organic feeling that mimics the natural fibres found in tweed. Each component undergoes multiple rounds of polishing to ensure that every line, curve, and corner exudes radiance.
CHAPTER 3: TWEED ÉTOILE
The Tweed Étoile chapter boasts a medley of diamond shapes and sapphire stars sparkling against a rich backdrop of blue sapphires, lapis lazuli beads, and custom-cut buff top onyx. The Tweed Astral ring is a standout piece, showcasing a magnificent 23.84-ct oval-cut sapphire. The exquisite masterpiece is framed in sapphires and onyx, evoking the allure of a starlit night sky, while the stars bring a touch of enchantment.
Chapter 4: Tweed Soleil
The Tweed Soleil chapter pays homage to the sun, drawing inspiration from Byzantine and Venetian aesthetics that have left an indelible mark on Chanel’s creations. The Tweed Cambon ring features an oval diamond nestled within a fan of diamond-set rectangular gold inserts at one end, and a crown of mixed-cut yellow and white diamonds at the other. Crafted to resemble the sun’s rays, each gold insert is uniquely shaped and sized.
Chapter 5: Tweed Lion
In honour of Gabrielle Chanel’s zodiac sign, Leo, the Tweed Lion chapter unveils the collection’s crown jewel, the Tweed Royal necklace. Adorned with diamonds, ruby clusters, and 37 unheated Mozambique rubies weighing a total of 41.42 cts, which were collected over a year and a half, this masterpiece exhibits unparalleled craftsmanship.
With over 2,400 hours spent on its creation, the necklace’s focal stone, a 10.17-carat Pear-shaped DFL Type IIa diamond, is detachable and can be used as a ring. You can also separate the diamond-set lion motif and wear it as a brooch. Creating such versatility required meticulous articulation of each component, beginning with a resin maquette to visualise the necklace’s full form. This step allows jewellers to fine-tune articulations before final assembly and positioning. Then the entire piece is dismantled and polished to ensure flawless execution.
