SimplyAbuDhabi XLVI

Chardon: Thistle Thistles grow in arid soils, protected by their sharp prickles, and are considered to symbolize austerity. Boucheron reinterprets an 1878 thistle brooch from the archives in a necklace and brooch depicting this wild plant. Realism is pushed to its extreme on these pieces, both on their front and reverse sides. Using computer-aided design, the artisans successfully reproduced the outlines, the three-dimensional contours, and the details of the thistle, yet managed to ensure that this prickly-looking jewellery is still comfortable to wear. Similarly, on the back of each creation, flame-shaped openwork gives an organic effect while also reducing the weight of the piece and enhancing the brilliance of the stones. Such preci- sion craftsmanship can accommodate the variety of cuts of the diamonds selected for these creations. 248 | Simply Abu Dhabi