One of the greatest things about creative types is that they tend to collaborate with other creative types, and in 2015 we have been treated to some spectacular gems that could only have been made through a meeting of minds.
One of the most historic fine jewellery collaborations of the past year was the teaming up of Tiffany & Co. with Dover Street Market for the Out of Retirement collection in November. This was the first time the Maison had ever entered into such a partnership with another business. The whimsical jewels revived from the Tiffany archives for this very special flash sale led to near-sell outs in the first few days at Dover Street Market’s stores in London, New York and Tokyo.
A month later, Bergdorf Goodman celebrated the opening of its new Jewelry Salon in New York by unveiling a collaboration with ethical gemstone miner Gemfields. The project led to more than 50 pieces of ruby and emerald jewellery being designed exclusively for the store by a who’s who list of contemporary jewellery designers, which included David Webb, Kimberly McDonald, Nikos Koulis, Stephen Webster and Sydney Evan.
The web was also abuzz with fine jewellery collaborations, the most sparkling of which was German jewellery house Cada’s project with luxury fashion e-tailer STYLEBOP to create one-of-a-kind jewels designed by artists including Aaron Curry, Andy Hope and Jonathan Messe. This collaboration, entitled Cada Goes Art, was the brainchild of the couples behind the two companies – STYLEBOP’s Mario and Thorsten Eimuth, and Cada’s Herbert and Annette Kopp. Together, they wanted to explore their mutual love of contemporary art, jewellery and fashion.
From within the jewellery world, new pairings led to exciting designs such as Jordan Askill’s yellow gold and diamond jewellery inspired by the Monarch and Karner butterflies for Georg Jensen, and Sarah Ho’s exclusive line of coloured gemstone cocktail rings for London retailer William & Son, which proved so successful that it will be extended into 2016.
There were also quite a few ethical jewellery collaborations in 2015. Theo Fennell teamed up with ethical diamond brand Forevermark for a collection of daring diamond jewellery sold at Harrods.
Tessa Packard created a ready-to-wear collection in Fairtrade gold for new Dutch jeweller House of Eléonore, and Welsh jewellery designer Sarah Jordan lent her signature curves to Fairtrade gold and Canadian diamond brand Arctic Circle for the Northern Lights collection.
A quirky collaboration between Pippa Small and Rupert Wace, the renowned antiquities collector and dealer, on the Ancient Amulets collection, featuring real Egyptian and Roman artefacts. But perhaps the winner of the hottest and quirkiest collaboration of 2015 has to be Jessica de Lotz, who teamed up with Frame Chain, a trendy East London eyewear accessories brand, to create a solid silver chain fitted with her signature medallions, which can be used to keep your spectacles close at all times.
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The Out of Retirement collection by Tiffany & Co. went on sale at Dover Street Market stores in London, New York and Tokyo in November, with many pieces selling out within days.
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David Webb necklace created exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman with Gemfields emeralds and rubies.
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Nikos Koulis necklace set with Gemfields emeralds, created exclusively for Bergdorf Goodman.
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Jordan Askill Butterfly diamond ring in yellow gold
Georg Jensen
£ 975
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Bee brooch created by Theo Fennell with Forevermark diamonds.
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by Sarah Ho citrine cocktail ring
William & Son
£ 4,800
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Welsh jewellery designer Sarah Jordan created these Northern Lights earrings for Arctic Circle, which deals exclusively in Fairtrade gold jewellery set with Canadian diamonds.
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Rupert Wace Cross and Heart Ancient Amulets pendant
Pippa Small
£ 400
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Jessica de Lotz has created a precious chain for glasses decorated with her signature silver medallions for Frame Chain.
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A pair of Fairtrade gold, diamond and green garnet earrings created by Tessa Packard for new Dutch brand House of Eléonore.
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Artist Aaron Curry was just one of the artists to design one-of-a-kind jewels such as this ring for luxury fashion e-tailer STYLEBOP.
