A Fashion Fairytale: Why Fanciful High Jewellery Is A Must On Your Wedding Day
Decadent diamonds and daring details fit for every elegant bride, Cartier’s pieces are the perfect match for a special day and beyond…
With sustainability making the leap from mere buzzword to very real, and very necessary, lifestyle ethos for us all, it is little wonder that wedding days and all the beautiful accoutrements that come along with them are also now being held to the same environmental expectations. And while not every element of your nuptials may possess the ability to be as eco-conscious as you might like, there’s certainly one part where you can ensure the most simple of sustainable practices are met: repeat-wearing, long after the honeymoon tan has faded.
Whoever said a crown was only for the head didn’t understand the sleight of wrist
Evanescence Bracelet, POA, Cartier High Jewellery
While your shoes and his tux may well slip easily into this remit, unfortunately your dress is a little trickier to gift with a creative afterlife – although Vivienne Westwood is currently spearheading this movement with her new bridal collection. In the majority of cases, however, it’s not your gown – alongside your vows – that will truly last forever. It’s your jewellery. The big lesson? Dame Shirley Bassey was right.
A show-stopping, triple- band engagement ring represents the past, present and future of your love – in addition to being a timeless piece tohand down through generations.
Karam Ring, POA, Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs3,715, Serrb
So with this diamonds-are-forever philosophy in mind, it may well be a judicious move – both sartorially and financially – to invest more of your wedding-day budget in exceptional jewels over a bridal gown, safe in the knowledge that, not only will you wear them more than just the once, but that they will also inevitably make the journey to family heirloom – possibly even to be worn by generations to come on their own wedding days. A gift not only for today – but for the future, too.
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Hexagone Watch, POA; Parjanya Ring, POA, both Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, POA, Amato Couture
Sentimentality aside, however, in these tumultuous times, high and fine jewellery is also a pretty reliable investment, with stones generally holding their value over the years – the rarer, the better.
Tanabata Earrings, POA, Cartier High Jewellery
“Precious jewellery and watches are the most portable form of wealth in the world,” watch and jewellery expert Rachel Garrahan explains, crystallising the idea of these pieces as a robust investment – and one that you can wear, as well. What could be better?
Tanabata Ring, POA; Parjanya Necklace, POA; Parjanya Earrings, POA, all Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs11,100, Rami Al Ali
Of course, it’s crucial to educate yourself before committing to purchase, as you would with any big investment. A certificate from an internationally recognised laboratory stating both the colour and the clarity is essential, although if you are buying a piece from a maison such as Cartier, it is implicit that you are in the best possible hands. Heritage houses also historically tend to create pieces which hold their value over time, partly due to an appeal that transcends the fickle nature of trends.
What better way to frame the face than with the unparalleled illumination that diamond drop earrings bestow?
Parjanya Earrings, POA, Cartier High Jewellery. Top, Dhs5,975, Brock Collection at Matches Fashion
Cartier’s commitment to second-to-none quality is also a guarantee of your investment being a smart long-term decision, with its dedication to maintaining the utmost standards of the famed four Cs of diamond determination – cut, carat, clarity and colour – par for the course.
Tanabata Necklace, POA, Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs3,780, Bazza Alzouman
The show-stopping pieces from Cartier that grace these pages are, of course, world-class in terms of all of the aforementioned; as impeccable as they come in both quality and craftsmanship. Every Cartier diamond is chosen for its white – or colourless – standing; the storied house only accepting stones that have little or no fluorescence at all.
Tanabata Necklace, POA; Tanabata Earrings, POA; Tanabata Ring, POA, all Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, POA, Georges Chakra
The savoir-faire of the creations can be credited to Cartier’s long-standing creative director, the incomparable Jacqueline Karachi, whose philosophy begins and ends with the spirit of the stones. “When it comes to the stones, they need to be beautiful and sensational, but in the end, we [as designers] need to have a connection with them… they have to speak to us in a way,” she told Harper’s Bazaar when we spoke to her last month.
Natural, swept-back hair and an immaculate, neutral manicure are the perfect canvas for mesmerising jewels to truly shine.
Tanabata Earrings, POA, Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs57,200, Georges Hobeika
The same can be said for any jewellery bought to wear, be it for your big day or not. Investment purposes aside, the pieces need to speak to you to become a beloved part of your story. That’s something no one can put a price on.
Tanabata Ring, POA, Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs57,200, Georges Hobeika
Lead image credits: Adiante Necklace, POA; Adiante Earrings, POA, both Cartier High Jewellery. Dress, Dhs54,455, Georges Hobeika
Photography: Toufic Araman & Mox Santos. Styling: Anna Castan. Model: Gabriela Godoi at Signature Element. Make-up: Manuel Losada. Hair: Denny Clements. Photography assistant: Veejay Buenaventura. Styling assistants: Nour Bou Ezz and Amanda Allison. With thanks to Fine Blooms
From the autumn/winter 2020 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride