“I wanted to propose a design for women without imposing how they should wear our pieces,” says Choisne. Thus the new range of chains – available in white and yellow gold, some accented with diamonds – is a nod to the house’s mantra: “freedom to wear”.

“I wanted to create something contemporary, but with the craftsmanship of high jewellery-making,” says Choisne. Together with Boucheron’s craftsmen, Choisne realised her vision for a clasp quite unlike any other: one that fastens like an auxiliary jack, a port typically used for audio equipment.

The complexity and sheer novelty of the idea meant that the collection took well over two years to realise, almost as long as it usually takes to create an entire high jewellery line.

“Functionally and technically, it was very difficult to create. At first most people think it’s fastened with magnets. But in fact we created a clasp that’s very much how a jack is plugged in.”

When fastened, the clasp transforms into an elegant bauble. But the clasping mechanism is only one aspect of the overall design.

“We don’t have to think about connecting the ends, we can leave it unclasped, or wear it as a necklace, wrapped around the wrist or as a belt,” says Choisne, pointing out that the piece takes on a life of its own as soon as it gets into the hands of the wearer.

It only takes a little imagination to see how a Jack de Boucheron chain can wittily take on the appearance of everything from a hair tie to a skipping rope.

“It [the skipping rope], of course, is a bit of a joke between our colleagues, but it underlines the freedom to wear [the chain] as we please.”

It also blurs the lines between gender, says Choisne. “Even though it wasn’t simple to create, the design is graphic and simple,” she says. “It’s not really about gender or who can wear it. It’s simply a matter of style.”

The designer has already taken a high jewellery approach to giving this new collection a spin. A necklace/bracelet featuring a large number of diamonds was made as a one-off creation. However, Choisne hints that more high jewellery expressions of Jack de Boucheron are to come, suggesting that this new design from the house is set to become an evergreen collection that could become another of its icons.

Gem-clad or understated with the shine of gold, the creativity behind this playful design gives it that Parisian charm signature of Boucheron.

Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter