5 high jewellery pieces taking inspiration from animals in nature: from Cartier’s dazzling crocodile and zebra bracelet and Van Cleef & Arpels’ butterfly clips, to Chopard’s glittering fish earrings

Feb 4 , 2023

Chopard and other high jewellery brands love to mimic the wonders of nature in their rings, brooches, bracelets and earrings. Photo: Chopard

Animals big and small have been a constant source of fascination for as long as we have been exercising our creativity. Unsurprisingly, then, high jewellery maisons too have turned to creatures of every kind for inspiration, trying to capture their essence in precious metals and gemstones. Here are some recent stand-outs from the most storied houses …

1. Chopard

Chopard Red Carpet Collection Maritime Exploration. Photo: Chopard

The Red Carpet Collection Maritime Exploration fish earrings feature glittering gemstone scales and a tail that showcases the lightness of titanium to reproduce the peaceful ebb and flow of the waves. Price upon request.

2. Cartier

Cartier Indomptables de Cartier bracelet. Photo: Cartier

The playful and creative Indomptables de Cartier 18k white gold bracelet is set with 1,302 brilliant-cut diamonds, totalling 14.77 carats, to fashion a crocodile coming face-to-face with a zebra. Price upon request.

3. Boucheron

Boucheron Le Toucan Ring. Photo: Boucheron

Le Toucan Ring dazzles with a 27.65-carat fancy-cut orange citrine, 296 round diamonds, 1,113 fancy-cut black spinels and onyx, all breathing a joyful and colourful naturalism into the showy bird. Price upon request.

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4. Mikimoto

Mikimoto Hummingbird Brooch. Photo: Mikimoto

Take flight with this tropically coloured brooch. Crafted in 18k white gold, aquamarines, sapphires, emeralds and other gemstones, this hummingbird creation launched in Japan last year. Price upon request.

5. Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels Pétale de Papillon Detachable Clips. Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels

Say hello to the warmer months with the Pétale de Papillon, which can “release” a petal of diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, by transforming them into a butterfly. Price upon request.

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High Jewellery

Cartier’s Indomptables de Cartier bracelet fashions a crocodile face-to-face with a zebra from 1,302 diamonds and Van Cleef & Arpels’ Pétale de Papillon can ‘release’ a butterfly
Boucheron’s Le Toucan ring dazzles with a citrine, 296 round diamonds and 1,113 black spinels, while Mikimoto’s hummingbird brooch is crafted in white gold, aquamarines, sapphires and emeralds