Master Jeweller Roberto Coin Conjures An Enchanted Garden In The Heart of Dubai
Inspired by the ‘Il Ballo del Doge,’ Roberto Coin presented a magical evening at The Four Seasons to celebrate his captivating creations and Italian heritage
There are jewellery maisons many hundreds of years old, and then there are those that feel just as storied in a few decades. Master jeweller Roberto Coin grew up in Venice, Italy, and quickly built a successful career in the international hotelier industry. It may sound unlikely, but this is where Roberto cut his teeth for his career in fine jewellery—developing a deep understanding of luxury, attention to detail, and customer service; key pillars that remain important to him today. Roberto founded his eponymous brand in 1996, and its high jewellery creations entirely belie its 27 year-long lifespan—each piece feels rich with history and suggests the artisanal prowess of a much longer legacy.
It is this age-old beauty and splendour that Roberto sought to celebrate on his visit to Dubai this month. The Four Seasons Jumeirah played host to Roberto’s Venice in miniature, with opera singers, mimes, musicians and acrobats bringing his fantastical dream to life. With poetic whimsy, the jeweller conjured an enchanted garden and performance dinner inspired by the Venetian ‘Il Ballo del Doge’—a masquerade ball held each year in the 15th century Palazzo Pisini Moretta.
Welcoming the press, stylish tastemakers and loyal clients into his magical world, an extraordinary array of jewels was on show, featuring pieces from his signature collections along with new designs from the maison’s Prestige offering. Farah and Nadine Abdelaziz, Deema Alasadi, Tamara Jamal, Sarah Dundarawy, and Mahira Abdelaziz were just a few notable guests who admired the glittering vitrines, while many collectors and clients attended wearing their own Roberto Coin treasures.
Variety is one of the first words that come to mind when industry insiders think of Roberto Coin. While each piece displays the his signature design codes and artisanal fingerprints, the breadth and depth of his collections—which explore myriad different techniques and rare gemstones—is extraordinary. Roberto conjures up 600 new pieces a year, presents 78 annual showcases, and his jewels are now sold in 60 countries—only slightly shy of Santa’s workload at this time of year. Addressing his guests, Roberto explained how repetition isn’t part of his design vocabulary. “We like to dress you all differently because you are all different from one another. The big brands—the gods who I respect enormously—would like to dress you all equally. But you cannot all wear the same jewellery, as each of you grows from a daughter, to a mother, to a grandmother, and we must give the best variety we can.”
There are, however, consistent themes throughout Roberto’s collections. Romance permeates everything he crafts, notably the Venetian Princess collection, which was inspired by the carnival and the Venetian palaces’ floral decorations, while the Love in Venice collection was inspired by the tale of Romeo and Juliet. The city’s art and architecture also serve as his muse, and his more sculptural, modern pieces are regularly spotted on Hollywood’s red carpets.
Roberto cites that 90% of the maison’s jewellery is made in his own atelier, located in Vicenza, known as the ‘City of Gold,’ with the remaining 10% entrusted to external artisans. Along with artful silhouettes and ornate settings, Roberto has also innovated within the diamond cutting sphere, creating the ‘Cento’ diamond. Each Cento diamond flaunts 100 facts—almost double that of a standard round brilliant diamond—which allows the light to reflect, refract and disperse in an elegant floral pattern. Each of his creations also boasts a charming, secret signature—every piece is set with a delicate ruby on the inverse, a tribute to his passion for his clients and creations.
Exceptional craftsmanship is, however, just one string of the brand’s bow, as Roberto was also one of the first fine jewellers to prioritise sustainability. The brand was the invited to speak at the United Nations about sustainable supply chains and the regulation of the diamond industry, is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, and has been recognised by the CCC for corporate social responsibility.
Roberto says that this is because his passion runs much deeper than simply shaping metal and stones. “We love families. Me, my wife, my sons, we want to make this world a better place. We want to make connections,” he says. “We like to connect cultures with cultures, and people with people. Coincidentally, I’m also a jeweller,” he laughs. On his inspiration for the Enchanted Garden event, he had a clear vision. “I wanted to say thank you in a very special way to my generous clients in Dubai, offering them the chance not only to live a unique Venetian experience, but to give life together to a never-ending fairytale,” he adds. “I wanted to bring them Venice. Venice is the only city in the world where you can fall in love with your husband again. If you understand Venice, you understand life. If you can save Venice, then you can save the world.”
Imagery supplied
