Simply Abu Dhabi XX

1 2 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Each piece in the Soie Dior collection seems to isolate that split second moment of movement… the magic is that these pieces, made form some of the hardest materials on earth, seem to be fluid and in motion. A pleat captures a pink sapphire between two ripples in gold pavé. Two tails of ribbon seem to have dropped loose from a bowwith a pear-cut diamond suspended between the falling ends. The Gros Grain Saphir earrings seem to be frozen lengths of silk glistening in white gold with diamonds and sapphires. The most challenging item in the Soie collection is the Ganse ring, which sits on the finger like a dazzling bouquet. To complete this masterpiece 12 separate appointments with the workshop were needed to get the delicate setting to balance in just the right way. For the ribbon pieces, de Castellane says, “The challenge for the workshop was to translate something very soft into a hard, precious metal like gold. With all the stone sets, everything had to be in movement to look like it is something soft and light.” The white gold Noué Émeraude bracelet with diamonds and emeralds is another superlative piece that must have been intensely complex to construct. The notion of twisting, scrolling and unfurling defines the collection as a wonderfully inspired theme. Explaining a part of the process de Castellane says, “I give the jeweller words to help them to push their imagination even further than what they see on the sketch. That way, they know if they can push the volume, or if they need to take care to respect the lightness of the piece, or its extremely narrative quality.” The craftsmen are generally jewellers who are extremely passionate about their work and are following in the footsteps of their parents, grandparents and even great grandparents. “It is vital for me to work with them”, Victoire de Castellane concludes.