SimplyAbuDhabi XLVI

1968. It all begins with a drawing. A drop shape that, alone, encapsulates all of Boucheron’s savoir-faire: Serpent Bohème . Then to the workshops, where gold is transformed by artisans using age-old skills passed down since the Maison’s inception in 1858. They sculpt and chisel the precious metal to reproduce every snake scale with exquisite finesse, while a pavé-set drop shape symbolizes the serpent’s head. Constantly reinvented, yet remaining unchanged , Serpent Bohème has endured through the decades and emerged a timeless icon. A sentimental collection, it is handed down through generations as a silent witness to cherished private memories. 1974. That’s when this gem from the Boucheron archives is created – a Serpent Bohème sautoir necklace with a flower pendant, made up of the emblematic drop repeated in a circular pattern, and embellished with cabochon-cut onyx and coral. Claire Choisne found this eye- catching piece enchanting, with its sunny, bold character, its striking chain links, and hefty pendant. So the Creative Director decided to bring it back to life, infusing a more contemporary feel through a play of new colours, new shapes, and new ways of wearing the design. 2025. Boucheron introduces Serpent Bohème Vintage. The original links of the 1974 necklace have been reworked and streamlined, while coloured stones give way to brilliant-cut diamonds in pear- shaped motifs. Their lines are tauter and more dynamic than the cabochons in the 1974 piece. Claire also wanted to introduce new high-impact, supersized pieces that transform to be worn in different ways – dramatic designs that accentuate the snakeskin-like texture of the gold, a defining feature of the collection. This exercise of revisiting gave rise to fifteen designs, spanning jewellery and High Jewellery. These three necklaces remain true to the original, with one monochrome High Jewellery version in fully diamond-paved white gold. The first two retain the same dimensions as the 1974 necklace, and are convertible into four other pieces to wear different ways: a shorter necklace, a brooch of the detachable central motif, and a pair of bracelets that also join together to form a choker. This versatility epitomizes the contemporary spirit of a collection that’s constantly reinventing itself. This bracelet is the hero piece of the Serpent Bohème Vintage collection, borrowing its floral motif from the original necklace and setting it on a cuff of brushed gold that heightens the vintage feel. Boucheron: Serpent Bohème Vintage 242 | Simply Abu Dhabi