Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

1 5 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I A n emblem of the Maison, the Serpent Bohème collection is a hallmark of the Boucheron spirit. It all began in 1888 when, on the eve of one of his many trips around the world, Frédéric Boucheron gave his wife Gabrielle a necklace shaped like a serpent, as a token of love, protection and happiness. Since then, the serpent never left the Boucheron creations. In 1968, the first Serpent Bohème collection was introduced and became one of the Maison Boucheron's iconic collections. Today, heedless of the passing of time, the Boucheron icon sees itself reinvented in unexpected ways. It is a Boucheron creation par excellence, timeless and alluring. The Spirit of the Collection The Serpent Bohème collection embodies the bohemian spirit. Free thinking, an unconventional refinement, and the artistic ideal of a quest for a world that is simpler and more beautiful – these are the qualities that are reflected in this exquisite collection. The Serpent Bohème spirit embodies a freedom of style and an appreciation for passing things on from one era to another, whereby pieces of jewellery tell stories and acquire a new look with each generation. The Serpent Bohème collection also has the virtue of possessing the grace of those family jewels that both mother and daughter want to wear, and that appeal to women of all ages, from 16 to 100. To change everything without changing anything, to transform yourself continually and never get lost: isn't that the soul of the serpent? Today's bohemian spirit may have changed, but the Boucheron Woman is more feminine and more assertive than ever. She does not melt into a mould but is constantly reinventing her own style. She likes to coordinate, mix, put together, stack up, and rewrite her own story. The mix and match aspect of these new pieces has been designed for just such a woman, so she can give free rein to her inspiration and show off her vision of Serpent Bohème. If the Serpent Bohème collection crosses through the ages with such ease, it is because it remains faithful to a true unity of Boucheron codes and motifs. The Drop Motif This very early Boucheron motif symbolises the head of a serpent. Subtle and feminine, set with pavé diamonds and crowned with gold beads, the new honeycomb effect allows the light to shine through, enhancing the sparkle of the stones. This design, which is unique to Serpent Bohème, reveals the full scope of the jewellers' art. The extreme precision of their work justifies the special title of Hands of Light. The gold, whose beads are the hallmark of the Master Jeweller, transcends the brilliance of the diamond like an aura. There are several sizes of drop across this range of jewels, and they all share the same high quality of stones specific to the Maison Boucheron, the same sparkle and the same purity. The Twisted Chain Whether used in a necklace or a bracelet, the twisted chain motif is an old favorite of the Maison. All spirals and volutes, it fits perfectly with the Serpent Bohème motif for which it is made finer than ever. It is classic in its design, contemporary in its diameter, Boucheron in its elegance. The Sculpted Gold For over 155 years, Boucheron has been putting its expertise at the service of the materials. Renowned as a great sculptor of gold, the Maison has always promoted the working of this metal, which is enhanced by the artisans’ hands of lights. To bring the material to life, the chasers push the metal into shape using hammers and chisels. This action brings the serpent to life, giving it scales and a grained texture to the skin, which can be seen even in the charm of the pendant and the bracelet. Inspired by the daring spirit of the bohemian woman, the new Serpent Bohème pieces stand out against the skin with their oversize dimensions, and make an incredible impact. The twisted chain of the long necklace is now thicker, and the drop is longer. But since the bohemian woman loves choices, she can wear her talisman with the chain or without, as a pendant or as a brooch. In summer or winter. In the daytime or for the evening. The bangle bracelet adorning her wrist is also full of volume and texture and plays with extremes: in full diamond pavé, or oversized, it makes an impression. The Boucheron woman also expressed a desire for the cocktail ring to be in full diamond pavé, so it now comes in a sumptuous evening (soir) version to suit her. The New Jewellery and Bridal Novelties There is also a new dainty take on the Serpent Bohème collection. The new jewellery creations rework the very feminine codes of the twisted chain and the drop. The long necklaces now come in a new size. Lovers can now pledge their troth to each other in Serpent Bohème, thanks to wedding rings and solitaires that come in white gold, yellow gold and, for the first time, in pink gold. The secret of Boucheron’s longevity lies in the Maison’s amazing capacity to pass on its savoir-faire from one generation to the next, while constantly challenging itself in terms of design, innovation, and the working of the most precious materials – gold and diamonds in particular. Each collection draws from that memory. Each jewel nourishes it with new experiences.