Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXV

F or this spring, Victoire de Castellane, Dior’s timepieces and jewellery creative director, devoted an entire high jewellery collection to the opal. “The opal is a very poetic stone,” notes Victoire de Castellane. “It’s like an invitation to enter a fairytale, to experience magic. When I look at an opal, I feel like I’m seeing the earth from afar, the oceans, the archipelagos and the reflections of stars on ocean waves... I see it as nature’s gemstone par excellence, a stone that’s so intertwined with femininity its connection becomes organic.” The Dior et d'Opals high jewellery collection is an homage to this mysterious gem that has always fascinated jewellers but has never been used so much due to the opal being a very fragile and tricky stone to set. It used to be the case that if a jeweller broke a stone he or she would have to reimburse the client, and so the opal was considered unlucky. The latest 27-piece collection is divided into three parts. The first is composed of nine jewels that are a revisited continuation of the Cher Dior collection; the second comprises ten pieces (six rings and four feather earrings) as part of the Dior a Versailles collection theme; and the final eight pieces are the unique secret watches. In the first two parts of the collection, rings, necklaces, bracelets and five glamorous and new styles of the La D de Dior watches that include the opal in the dial and a diamond-set bezel represent a beautiful and creative way to use this intriguing gemstone. But the masterpieces of the collection are definitely the eight (Monsieur Dior's lucky number) exquisite one-of-a-kind secret watches, designed to be worn like Haute Joallerie bracelets. The secret watch features an incredible cabochon-cut opal, matched with rubies, emeralds and spinels, which spins 360 degrees to both hide and reveal the secret watch that shines with its full pavé diamond dial. It’s a magical and whimsical pot pourri of colours and emotions… a vivid work of art. 1 2 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I