4 days ago
Chanel Unveils ‘Reach for the Stars' High Jewellery Collection Honouring Iconic Symbols and Gabrielle Chanel's Legacy
Long before logos became shorthand for luxury, Gabrielle Chanel filled her world with emblems of deep meaning. Faux pearls – once dismissed as improper for elegant women – were worn in bold defiance of convention. The camellia, which she admired for its resilience and simplicity, became an immortal house code, appearing on the lacquered screens in her Rue Cambon apartment. These symbols continue to surface across the Chanel universe, from couture to accessories and beauty. Now, in the house's latest high jewellery offering, Reach for the Stars, it is the lion, comet and, introduced for the first time, wings that are reimagined as contemporary icons of the maison. These motifs are transformed into extraordinary pieces of jewellery that speak to Chanel's heritage and future.
The 109-piece collection (90 debuting this year) honours the brand's legacy while marking a final curtain call for its late fine jewellery director, Patrice Leguéreau. 'It is indeed a great tribute to him. Over the years, he constantly pushed the boundaries and elevated Chanel fine jewellery to new heights, playing masterfully with the house's codes and symbols,' says Dorothée Saintville, international product marketing director of watches and fine jewellery at Chanel.
First seen in Gabrielle Chanel's revolutionary 1932 Bijoux de Diamants line, the comet stood for freedom – representing women charting their own path. An ideology that feels just as relevant today. Mademoiselle Chanel created pieces without clasps, designed to flow effortlessly, reflecting her belief that jewellery should follow – not restrict – a woman's movement. We see the comet in a new light in Reach for the Stars, where it is conceived as a symbol of Chanel's take on glamour. In the Blazing Star set, it is elongated in fine gold and onyx, while the Dazzling Star choker features tw
o diamond pendants that instantly draw the eye to the neckline. 'These symbols, part of Gabrielle Chanel's universe, never cease to evolve through time. They stay the same but are always different. Thanks to new specific attributes, they incarnate the proper spirit of each collection,' adds Saintville.
