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South China Morning Post

Style Edit: Chanel N°5 celebrates more than a century of elegance, from the 1921 perfume through 1932's Bijoux de Diamants high jewellery, to 2021's Collection N°5 inspired by the iconic fragrance

Just over a century ago, the world's most iconic fragrance was born. The year was 1921, and Chanel N°5 was 'a woman's perfume, with the scent of a woman', according to Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel . It was also the first perfume the legendary French couturier released. Five was her lucky number. Born in 1921, Chanel N°5 was designed to be 'a woman's perfume, with the scent of a woman', according to Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. Photo: Handout Just over a decade later, Coco Chanel launched her first and only high jewellery collection. The year was 1932, and Bijoux de Diamants was born out of the designer's desire to, as she put it, 'cover women in constellations'. Chanel's choice of gemstone could be considered radical in the midst of the Great Depression. 'If I have chosen diamonds, it is because they represent the greatest value in the smallest volume,' she explained, highlighting the emphasis she placed on considerations of practicality as well as aesthetics. Advertisement A 1937 advertisement for Chanel N°5, starring Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel herself. Photo: Handout In 2021, Chanel debuted Collection N°5, the first high jewellery collection inspired by a perfume. The highlight of the collection is the 55.55 necklace, showcasing a 55.55-carat diamond, its custom octagonal cut mirroring that of a N°5 bottle stopper. With its magnificent 55.55-carat diamond, the 55.55 necklace is the highlight of Chanel's 2021 Collection N°5, the first high jewellery collection inspired by a perfume. Photo: Handout Today, the necklace is part of Chanel's legendary Patrimoine archive – a collection of historical and contemporary watches and fine jewellery pieces housed at 18 Place Vendôme in Paris Bijoux de Diamants, the first and only high jewellery collection Coco Chanel launched during her lifetime, on display at the Chanel watches and fine jewellery Patrimoine, at 18 Place Vendôme in Paris. Photo: Handout Traditions continue to be preserved as well in the perfume bottles themselves. Each N°5 bottle is sealed with a baudruche: a delicate natural film secured with two strands of black pearl cotton thread and a wax stamp bearing the Chanel double-C logo . Besides being beautiful, the seal protects the fragrance by ensuring the bottle is watertight.