the heart of luxury

THE
HEART
OF
LUXURY
THE HEART OF LUXURY
Six years after
opening its doors,
ION Orchard continues
to present innovative
retail experiences and
concepts that epitomise
its vision of shoppers’
evolving demands
flurry of activity is taking
place at ION Orchard this
season, with some of the
world’s biggest names in
luxury watches and jewellery opening
new boutiques or refreshing their
existing setups.
Tiffany & Co. will unveil a sprawling
new store with duplex street frontage,
bringing the vibrance of its signature
robin blue hue to ION Orchard’s
facade. Not to be outdone, Van Cleef
& Arpels will introduce its largest
boutique in Singapore that will also
feature a bridal bar. Meanwhile, Patek
Philippe will be extending its current
premises to 3,000sqft, making it the
brand’s largest flagship boutique in
Southeast Asia and the second largest
in Asia. Renovations kicked off in June
and will be unveiled by the end of
the year.
It’s all part of ION Orchard’s
second phase of revamp that aims
to reinforce its status as a leading
luxury hub. These new lineups follow
a recent spate of openings in the mall,
A
Words: Aaron de Silva
including Jaeger-LeCoultre’s second
Singapore boutique in February 2015
and Vacheron Constantin’s Southeast
Asian flagship in October 2014.
Of the new developments,
Chris Chong, CEO of Orchard Turn
Developments, elaborates, “With
these changes, shoppers at ION
Orchard can look forward to an
enhanced palette of the best-loved
and coveted brands in collectible
timepieces and fine jewellery, including
the bridal segment.”
The expanded selection of items
for connoisseurs of fine watches and
elegant jewellery, and the elevated
atmosphere in which to peruse and
procure them, seals ION Orchard’s
reputation as the jewel in Singapore’s
luxury retail crown.
ON THE COVER: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BLUE BOOK RING BY TIFFANY & CO.; RING BY CARTIER; RING BY CHAUMET;
SEVEN SEAS RING BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS; PARIS NOUVELLE VAGUE RING BY CARTIER; ARCHI DIOR RING BY DIOR; RING BY CHAUMET;
BLUE BOOK RING BY TIFFANY & CO.; SECRET RING BY HARRY WINSTON; SEVEN SEAS RING BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS; RING BY LARRY JEWELRY
CROWN
JEWEL
ION ORCHARD
FÊTING
MILESTONES
Lange & Söhne, IWC,
Patek Philippe and
Vacheron Constantin
have celebrated major
milestones in the past year. Having
survived two world wars and the
quartz revolution of the 1970s and
1980s, they remain safe in the
knowledge that they will emerge
stronger than ever before. We zoom in
on their celebrations and explore how
they got to where they are.
A.
A. LANGE & SÖHNE
A. Lange & Söhne founder F.A Lange
would be 200 years old if he were
alive today. This year also marks the
170th anniversary of the founding of
the A. Lange & Söhne manufacture
in Glashütte, Germany, as well as the
21st anniversary of its rebirth (it was
relaunched in 1994, after the reunification of Germany).
Along with other commemorative
models, A. Lange & Söhne chose to
fête the occasion with the launch of
the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater, an
extraordinarily complex chiming watch
with precisely jumping numerical
indications. The timepiece builds on
the success of 2009’s Zeitwerk, which
was the first mechanical wristwatch
to feature a jumping numeric time
display. Large digital displays have
been a brand signature since 1994,
when the iconic Lange 1 made its
debut as the first watch to incorporate
an outsized date inspired by the clock
in Dresden’s Semper Opera House.
By referencing this historic
monument, A. Lange & Söhne made
a clear statement of its intent: to
provide a viable German alternative
to Swiss watchmaking traditions.
A. Lange & Söhne
Zeitwerk Minute
Repeater
In the past quarter century, it has
certainly lived up to that ambition,
while simultaneously advancing
German—or, more precisely, Saxon—
watchmaking know-how. What sets
the brand apart is that it practises
double assembly, where each watch
is assembled, tested for functionality
and accuracy, taken apart, adjusted,
cleaned, and then reassembled and
tested a second time.
Horology aside, A. Lange & Söhne
has also enriched the prospects of
Glashütte itself, which saw its fortunes
dwindle during the communist era.
Today, the brand continues its legacy
of helping the people of Glashütte, and
trains apprentices at the A. Lange &
Söhne Watchmaking School.
A. Lange & Söhne, #02-05A
Tel: 6509 1712
Words: Aaron de Silva
THE HEART OF LUXURY
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN
When IWC first produced Reference
325 for a pair of Portuguese
businessmen in 1939, little did it
realise how much of an icon it would
become 75 years later. In fact, it was
only in 1993, when IWC celebrated
its 140th anniversary, that Ref. 325
was developed into a full-fledged
collection: the Portuguese.
This year, the collection—now
known as the Portugieser—welcomes
three new members to the family,
including IWC’s first-ever annual
calendar watch. Some of the older
members received makeovers as well,
although IWC was careful to maintain
the features that have made the
collection so highly regarded, such as
the large, round case, narrow bezel,
well-balanced dials and feuille
(leaf-shaped) hands.
The Portugieser is proof that
simplicity and purity transcend time.
With sophisticated complications
and a no-frills design sensibility, these
iconic watches exude understated
elegance. But in staying true to its
historical roots and maintaining a
decisive rigour, IWC does not rest on
its laurels. Instead, it is unwavering
in its pursuit of perfection, often
becoming a pioneer in its efforts.
In 1955, it was one of the
first companies to introduce an
antimagnetic watch, the Ingenieur. In
1980, it was the first to unveil a watch
case in titanium, and six years later,
it was among the first to experiment
with high-tech ceramics. Today, the
new 52000, 42000 and 69000 series
calibres feature ceramic components
that have made their automatic
winding systems wear-free and
therefore more efficient.
Ultimately, it is achievements such
as these that enable IWC to stride
confidently into the future.
IWC Schaffhausen, #02-06
Tel: 6509 9640
IWC Portugieser
Annual Calendar and
Portugieser Perpetual
Calendar
ION ORCHARD
PATEK PHILIPPE
Patek Philippe marked its 175th
anniversary last October with
a showcase of four spectacular
anniversary editions, including the
Grandmaster Chime (Ref. 5175),
the most complicated wristwatch
produced by the manufacture. The
festivities, however, have spilled over
well into 2015. And why not? There is
much to celebrate.
Modern horology would not be the
same had founder Jean Adrien Philippe
not invented the keyless winding
and hand-setting system in 1844
(patented in 1845), or the slipping
spring in 1863—a device that protects
mainsprings from over-tensioning, and
which remains a critical element of
automatic watches even today.
In 2005, when Patek revealed
its silicon escape wheel, it set the
tone for the rest of the industry: if
a titan like Patek believed in silicon,
then surely the technology must be
worth pursuing. The cumulation of
such innovations has bestowed a
mythological status upon the brand.
It is this heritage, mixed with Patek’s
forward-thinking approach, that gives
the brand a depth and consistency that
resonate with collectors today.
Patek Philippe
Grandmaster
Chime Ref 5175
Being an independent, vertically
integrated manufacture has also been
a tremendous asset, allowing the
company to uphold its own rigorous
standards of quality as defined by
the Patek Philippe Seal, which the
company established in 2009 as
a replacement to the Geneva Seal.
Notably, CEO Thierry Stern, fourth
generation scion of the family-owned
business, takes a hands-on approach
in maintaining this standard. After
all, what could be a better assurance
of quality than a personal stamp of
approval from the company owner?
Patek Philippe, #02-03
Tel: 6509 9238
THE HEART OF LUXURY
VACHERON CONSTANTIN
As the oldest continuous watchmaker
in existence, Vacheron Constantin’s
sheer age—the Genevan manufacture
celebrates its 260th birthday
this year—makes one pause for
consideration. When Jean-Marc
Vacheron founded his atelier in 1755
(François Constantin joined the
venture in 1819), Britain had yet to
experience the Industrial Revolution,
Marie Antoinette had not yet lost her
head, and Mozart was not even born.
As a result of this, collectors tend
to put a lot of faith in Vacheron’s
watches, safe in the knowledge that
the company will still be around for the
foreseeable future. This remarkable
patrimony has also provided an
endless source of inspiration for
several generations of watchmakers,
and allows the brand to remain faithful
to its classical, timeless watchmaking
roots. Harmony, the seven-piece,
260th anniversary collection inspired
by a 1928 chronograph from the
brand’s archives, exemplifies this
spirit beautifully.
Horology owes a debt of
gratitude to the maison, ever since
it introduced the pantographe in
1839, the first mechanical tool that
enabled the accurate production of
watch components, which elevated
the quality and consistency of its
timepieces. Today, Geneva’s finest
horological traditions, such as
enamelling, engraving and engine-
turning, are safeguarded in Vacheron’s
Métiers d’Art collection.
Many of these artisanal techniques
would not be possible without the
experience accumulated over the
centuries, certainly not at the high
level practised by the maison. With
luxury consumers increasingly seeking
out artisanal, handcrafted timepieces,
Vacheron’s role as guardian of the arts
has never been more important.
Vacheron Constantin, #02-07
Tel: 6509 8800
Vacheron Constantin
Harmony Dual Time Small
Model and Dual Time
ION ORCHARD
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
ver the past 20 years, Buben&Zorweg has glamourised the image of
watch winders and safes, introducing sleek and handsome storage
spaces for your precious timekeepers. For avid collectors, it has
introduced the Private Museum, a customisable safe inserted within
a wall that has been calibrated to house not just your watches, but also your
artworks, antiquities and other collectibles. It is highly secured with fireproof and
bulletproof features, and comes with a patented biometric finger recognition
system. Now that’s what we call true luxury.
O
Buben&Zorweg, #04-06
Tel: 6509 3432
Words: Karishma Tulsidas
THE HEART OF LUXURY
ONES
TO WATCH
These 2015 novelties have
caught the attention of
horological connoisseurs
FRANCK MULLER
Cintrée Curvex
Born in the 1990s and just as modern
and relevant today, the Franck Muller
Cintrée Curvex is the watchmaker’s
signature collection, with a barrelshaped case that hugs the wrist
just right. The latest variation of the
Cintrée Curvex features mirror-finished
numerals and a railway minute track
on a guilloched dial.
Xue H. Teo, private banker
“I’ve always liked the Franck Muller
Cintrée Curvex case shape; it has a
distinct and appealing Art Deco flavour.
It’s recognisable and wears nicely on the
wrist. This retains the classic case form
and oversized numerals, but with a twist.
The mirrored numbers catch the light,
while the railway minute track gives it a
slightly more contemporary feel.”
Franck Muller, #01-07
Tel: 6509 3380
Words: Su Jia Xian
ION ORCHARD
HAUTLENCE
HL Ti 01
The HL Ti 01 is a reissue of the first
ever timepiece from Hautlence,
equipped with a hand-wound
movement featuring the unusual
combination of jumping hours and
retrograde minutes. Limited to just 28
pieces, the HL Ti 01 also has an openworked, honeycomb motif dial, yet
another detail taken from the original
Hautlence watches.
George Cramer, collector
and independent journalist
“Hautlence launched their first series of
HL watches in 2005; large, rectangular
watches with a mechanical wind
retrograde movement developed inhouse. That original HL is long sold
out. But as an homage to it, Hautlence
released one more HL model, but now
in a titanium case with honeycomb
dial, the HL Ti 01. To me, this watch is
the king of the HL collection, due to the
comfortable, lightweight titanium case
that sits perfectly on the wrist because
of its horizontally elongated but narrow
form. The HL Ti 01 is the benchmark of the
Hautlence line-up.”
Cortina Watch, #03-02/03
Tel: 6509 9218
THE HEART OF LUXURY
JAEGER-LECOULTRE
Master Ultra Thin Moon
Slim and fuss-free, the Master Ultra
Thin Moon is an elegant timepiece
that displays the time, date and phase
of the moon. It’s powered by the
calibre 925, an ultra-thin automatic
movement measuring just 4.9mm
thick, that has been developed and
made by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Timothy Yong, investment banker
“I always find myself gravitating
towards the classics. The Master Ultra
Thin Moon definitely ranks as one
of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s recent instant
classics in my book. This 2015 update
features a beautiful black sunburst dial
with the same elegant dauphine hands
and applied indices as its white-dialed
predecessor. Never mind the perfect
balance of size and case; the clean,
minimalist face screams elegance in its
simplicity. Add a moonphase function
and a sapphire case back to that, and
like Taylor Swift says, you’ll never go
‘out of style’.”
Jaeger-LeCoultre, #02-08
Tel: 6509 1010
ION ORCHARD
MB&F
HMX
MB&F celebrates its 10th anniversary
in 2015, having evolved from a niche
start-up to one of the leaders in
independent watchmaking. Styled like a
driver’s watch with the time displayed
laterally, the HMX is its most accessible
timepiece to date, created in a limited
edition of 20 pieces in each colour (red,
blue, black and green) as a gesture of
gratitude to its most ardent fans.
Calvin Chan, aesthetic doctor
“One of the commemorative models of
MB&F’s milestone is its most affordable
horological machine to date—the HMX.
I’ve always been a fan of Maximilian
Büsser (the founder of MB&F). He makes
cool toys for the wrist without the geek
factor! Being a member of two Singapore
car clubs, I especially like the Ferrari red
model. It’s a driver’s watch—you can read
it with your hands on the wheel—which
I’m definitely looking to get maximum
mileage out of. It’s an affordable but
avant-garde luxury watch. What more
can you ask for?”
The Hour Glass, #03-06
Tel: 6509 9268
THE HEART OF LUXURY
OFFICINE PANERAI
Luminor Submersible
1950 Carbotech
The first ever Panerai made of a carbon
composite, the case of the Luminor
Submersible 1950 Carbotech has a
distinctive striped pattern, with every
watch being unique. It’s a result of
the manufacturing process for the
material: sheets of carbon fibre are
baked with a polymer to form a light,
hard and strong composite similar
to that used in Formula 1 cars and
airplane frames.
Su Jia Xian, watch editor
“The Luminor Submersible 1950
Carbotech has the immediately
recognisable look of a Panerai, with the
cushion-shaped case and crown locking
mechanism. But the Carbotech composite
used for the case and bezel distinguishes
it from any other Panerai, being the
first time ever the brand has used this
material. Though the material is light, the
watch still feels reassuringly dense. And
the wave-like bands of Carbotech add
some nuance to the aesthetic.”
Officine Panerai, #01-18
Tel: 6636 9313
ION ORCHARD
OMEGA
Seamaster Ploprof
1200m Co-Axial Master
Chronometer
A massive and distinctive deep-sea
diver’s watch, the Omega Ploprof—
short for plongeur professionelle or
professional diver—is now available in
lightweight titanium. Apart from an
updated movement and case materials,
everything else remains the same,
including the impressive 1,200m depth
rating and the locked, scratch-resistant
sapphire bezel that can only be rotated
while pressing the bezel release security
button on the top right corner.
Available in January 2016.
TC Khoo, medical professional
“The Omega Ploprof holds a special
place in my heart as the originals were
designed as no-holds-barred tool watches
in a bygone era. They were massive,
eccentrically hewn-out-of-solid-blockof-metal ugly and looked to be able to
survive a nuclear apocalyptic event. The
new 2015 reissue model has improved key
aspects of the 2009 version. The original
had such a wrist presence, but was
inexorably heavy. This is now addressed
with a new titanium case—40 per cent
lighter and yet more corrosion-resistant.
The movement, previously decent, was
somewhat pedestrian. Now it’s equipped
with the technically brilliant calibre 8912,
which features a silicon balance spring,
George Daniels Co-Axial escapement and
advanced antimagnetic alloys, resulting
in a whole that is greater than the sum of
its parts. And lastly, the final test: would I
buy one for myself? Yes, in a heartbeat!”
Omega, #01-11
Tel: 6509 9712
THE HEART OF LUXURY
ROLEX
Day-Date 40
Long considered Rolex’s most
prestigious timepiece, the Day-Date
40 is available in gold and platinum.
The latest generation features a
slightly smaller, 40mm case that
retains the aesthetics of the original.
What’s inside, however, is completely
new. Developed specifically for the
Day-Date 40, the calibre 3255 boasts
a 70-hour power reserve, 50 per cent
more than the previous watch, as well
as a more efficient escapement with
skeletonised parts.
Audric Haryadi, entrepreneur
“I like the version in platinum with an ice
blue dial. I don’t wear watches that are
bigger than 40mm; and the new DayDate has a new 40mm case without
changing the classic shape. The wide
bezel makes the watch seem smaller on
the wrist, making it even more appealing
for me. Although it’s not a large watch,
the platinum case and bracelet are
satisfyingly heavy on the wrist. Also,
the dial is spot on. The ice blue gives it
a fresh and young appeal without losing
the classic touch; it helps get rid of the
perception that the Day-Date is a watch
for older folks. The new movement is
also technically superior to the older
versions, with a three-day power reserve.
I feel there’s always a thin line between
an over-the-top watch that ends up
overwhelming the wearer, and one that
you wear without being boring; this
definitely falls in the latter category.”
Rolex, #01-02, Tel: 6509 9282
ION ORCHARD
TAG HEUER
Monaco Calibre 11
A remake of the watch worn by Steve
McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans,
the Monaco Calibre 11 is faithful to the
original—right down to its horizontal
hour markers and red-tipped hands—a
watch widely regarded as one of TAG
Heuer’s iconic designs. A perforated
black calfskin pebbled leather strap
ups the vintage appeal.
Paul Tan, forex trader
“I’ve always liked vintage sports
chronographs and the Monaco is certainly
one of the most iconic. And the fact that
it’s one of the most famous motor racing
chronographs adds to the appeal. The
square case, blue dial and horizontal
baton markers work very well together.
The watch has a cool 1970s vibe, which is
pretty uncommon since few watches from
that era age well. Another plus is the fact
that the 2015 edition is most faithful to
the original version Steve McQueen wore
in Le Mans, which many consider the
most desirable version of the Monaco.”
TAG Heuer, #01-16, Tel: 6884 9372
THE HEART OF LUXURY
CHARMING
BEAUTIES
Catching the fancy of
jewellery connoisseurs
in recent years are some
lesser-known coloured
gemstones, which prove
that their vibrant hues
and unique personalities
can be just as alluring
as the revered Big Four.
We pick the brains
of gem connoisseurs
and members of ION
Orchard’s The 100
Programme for tips
and advice on buying
coloured stones
CARTIER
Chalcedony
This gemstone is a microcrystalline
form of quartz and not scientifically
a specific mineral type. The colours
commonly used in jewellery-making
are white, blue, pink and purple, and
they may range from translucent to
opaque. Agate is a type of multilayered chalcedony, while Tiger’s
Eye is a chalcedony pseudomorph
(the original crystal, crocidolite, is
chemically replaced by chalcedony).
The main stone featured in this
Cartier Paris Nouvelle Vague pink
gold necklace (top) is a milky purple
untreated cabochon-cut chalcedony,
alongside pink chalcedony, lapis lazuli,
blue sapphires, turquoise, moonstone
and aquamarine.
Words: Yanni Tan
Morganite
Fast gaining popularity for its
dreamy pink to purple shades, the
morganite is a type of beryl. It was
renamed in 1911 (it was previously
known as pink beryl) by George
F. Kunz in honour of banker J.P.
Morgan, who was a gemstone
collector and jewellery patron. A
natural pink cushion-cut morganite,
encircled by freshwater pearls and
red spinels, is featured as the centre
stone of this Cartier Paris Nouvelle
Vague pink gold ring (bottom).
Black Jade
Thanks to its cultural importance
as a lucky stone to the Chinese,
jade has seen its value multiply
many folds in recent years. While
vivid green jade is traditionally most
coveted, black jade has gained
favour with jewellers for its intensity,
uniqueness and suitability for chic,
modern designs. In Cartier’s Paris
Nouvelle Vague collection, a piece
of voluptuous cabochon-cut black
jade (above) is melded with pink
gold and diamonds to make a
bold statement.
Cartier, #01-20 & #02-10
Tel: 6235 0295
ION ORCHARD
CHAUMET
Padparadscha Sapphire
A very special and rare variety
of the corundum gem, the name
Padparadscha is derived from the
Singhalese word for the aquatic
lotus blossom, which has an unusual
salmon colour. Sri Lanka is the main
and finest source of the Padparadscha
sapphire. While Madagascar and
Tanzania also produce the gem,
some gemmologists insist that only
those from Sri Lanka qualify for the
coveted name.
Nevertheless, a Padparadscha
sapphire is required to display a
delicate colour that is a mesmerising
salmon, or mixture of pink and
orange. This Chaumet Liens white
gold and diamond ring (below) boasts
a dreamy cushion-cut Padparadscha
sapphire as the centre stone.
Tanny Kea
Chrysoprase
This gemstone is actually a green
variety of chalcedony, and is recently
finding favour with high jewellers. The
green hue is due to small quantities
of nickel, and its tones range from
light mint green to vivid apple green.
It could also look very similar to
green jade. This set of white gold
bracelet and earrings (above) from
Chaumet’s Lumières d’Eau collection
flaunts a sculpted vivid green version
of chrysoprase, along with diamonds
and emeralds.
Chaumet, #02-05 (opening soon)
“I am always drawn to
the colour blue when it
comes to gemstones. It
reminds me of the sky and
the ocean… In essence,
freedom. My all-time
favourite is a colourchange blue sapphire
that I bought a few years
ago. It portrays different
characteristics under
different kinds of lights
and environments.
As for my purchasing
motivation, I just must
own unique pieces that
catch my eye—you could
call it a love-at-first-sight
situation. If the coloured
gemstone happens to be
collectible and valuable,
that would be a bonus. In
terms of choosing a jewel,
I always follow my heart.
I will not buy something
just for the investment
value that I will not wear
and enjoy. My preferences
are for loose stones
as they will become
‘uniquely yours’ once
they are set within your
own designs.”
THE HEART OF LUXURY
DIOR JOAILLERIE
Amethyst
The purple variety of the mineral
quartz, the amethyst is the most
famous and valuable gem variety
from the quartz family. Due to the
abundance of the gem, eye-clean
or flaw-free stones are the standard
used in jewellery making. While
the most highly regarded colour is
a strong reddish purple or purple
with no colour zoning, mines from
across the world produce stones of
various colour variations, which may
range from light purple to a saturated
raspberry to purplish-blue. Other
gemstones derived from quartz
include the citrine, smoky quartz and
rose quartz; while the ametrine is
actually a natural mix of amethyst and
golden citrine.
Featured on these Diorama
Précieuse yellow gold earrings
(right) and ring (top) are captivating
cushion-cut amethysts, whose purple
hues contrast enchantingly with the
bright green emeralds.
Lapis Lazuli
Keenly used by watchmakers for
decorating timepiece dials, and also
an ornamental gemstone loved since
antiquity, gem-quality lapis lazuli is a
deep blue, highly saturated opaque
gemstone. The gemstone may also
display other less desirable colours,
from a deep violet blue and royal blue,
to light blue and turquoise blue, to
even a greenish blue. Lapis lazuli
is composed chiefly of the mineral
lazurite along with specks or swirls of
white calcite, sparkling gold pyrite and
other minerals. And in its most prized
form, it is evenly and deeply coloured
without visible calcite.
Dior’s Rose des Vents yellow gold
and diamond bracelet (above) flaunts
an exceptional piece of midnight
blue lapis lazuli evenly speckled with
sparkling pyrite, evoking a mysterious,
starry night sky.
Dior, #02-13
Tel: 1800 4159 990
ION ORCHARD
Emy Huang
“Coloured gemstones are
as beautiful as diamonds
and precious stones.
Each gemstone is unique
with a special colour,
birthplace and story.
What I love about these
coloured stones is they
enhance and complement
my wardrobe and
accessories. I like the
designs of my colouredgemstone pieces to be
fun, timeless and elegant.
It is also important that
the design of the jewellery
protects the gemstone
as coloured stones are
softer and typically less
durable than diamonds. I
do believe that some rare
coloured gemstones like
Paraiba tourmalines have
an investment value if you
buy them at a right price,
but I generally do not buy
stones for investment
purposes. They are too
beautiful to part with.
My advice would be to
buy them for their beauty
or buy them because
you love the colour, and
always buy the best.
It is also good to learn as
much as possible
on your favourite
coloured stones.”
HARRY WINSTON
Pink Sapphire
Did you know that the ruby and blue
sapphire are technically the same
mineral? They are both corundum,
which is a very durable and stable
gemstone. Although the pigeonblood red of rubies and cornflower
blue of blue sapphires are the
most recognisable and lusted-after
varieties, corundum also comes in a
kaleidoscope of stunning colours, such
as purple, pink, orange, yellow, green
and colourless versions. Extremely
popular with ladies are pink sapphires,
whose hues may range from a light
softness to an intense richness.
Using a technique called the
closed and grain setting, blushing soft
cabochon-cut pink sapphires, sparkling
diamonds and shimmering pearls are
expertly set into a floral motif on the
curved mother-of-pearl lid of Harry
Winston’s latest masterpiece, The
Jeweler’s Secret (above). Inspired by
the powder compact, this high jewellery
watch creation in white gold opens to
reveal a mirror on one side and tells the
time on the other.
Harry Winston, #02-19
Tel: 6883 9509
THE HEART OF LUXURY
Jamie Chua
LARRY JEWELRY
Orange Sapphire
Another corundum variety, orange
sapphires are bright and eyecatching, and often used together
with yellow gemstones to create a
colour gradation. Set atop this Larry
Jewelry Neo Collection’s Oriental
Dream Goldfish bangle (right, top)
is a rare and exquisite cabochon-cut
orange sapphire surrounded by fancy
yellow diamonds, vividly depicting
the head and body of the fish. An
intricate design featuring brilliant
diamonds set in white and yellow gold
resembles the creature’s tail coursing
through rippling water.
Turquoise
Familiar to many, turquoise is an
opaque ornamental stone adored
since ancient times. Boasting a
vibrant blue shade containing sparkly
pyrite flakes or black oxide veins, it
is very distinctive and also the only
gemstone in the world to take the
name of its colour. Turquoise has been
increasingly used creatively in high
jewellery as a contrast to precious
main stones to enliven the design.
The magic of turquoise is
showcased here in Larry Jewelry
Neo Collection’s Pure Grace white
gold pendant-brooch (top left),
where tear-drop shaped turquoise
cabochons are set amid gleaming
South Sea pearls and brilliant
diamonds. The stone is also carved
into voluptuous petals enclosing
brilliant diamonds and blue sapphires
for the Psychedelic Art Deco
white gold brooch-ring-pendant
(right, above).
Larry Jewelry, #03-04
Tel: 6235 5848
“Among coloured
gemstones, I favour
aquamarines, coloured
sapphires and rubellites.
I’m drawn to gemstones
that are very vibrant.
There are some colours
that you can’t find in
the Big Four, such as
the brightness of pink
sapphires and vivid purple
of tanzanites. There
are purple sapphires
but they don’t possess
tanzanite’s strong purple.
Many coloured stones
can be very attractive
and well-priced, but the
good quality ones don’t
come cheap. To make
an informed purchase,
always go to a jeweller
you’re comfortable
with. Also, buy for
your personality and
lifestyle—I prefer earrings
and bracelets over rings
as I wash my hands a
lot and it is troublesome
to keep taking the rings
off and putting them
back on.”
ION ORCHARD
MIKIMOTO
Tanzanite
This captivating gemstone was
discovered only in 1967 and found
solely in the Arusha region of the
East African state of Tanzania. The
tanzanite is a gem variety of the
mineral zoisite, and displays hues that
range from ultramarine to violet, with
the most valuable colour being an
intense blue with a fine hint of purple.
While Mikimoto is worldrenowned as a purveyor of fine pearls,
its high jewellery collections often
combine and contrast magnificent
pearls with diamonds and coloured
stones. The brand’s latest collection
features this headpiece (left, below)
with rows of delicately strung Akoya
pearls, elegantly adorned with
tanzanites, conch natural pearls,
sapphires and diamonds. Other
stunners include the Hyacinthia
earrings (left) made of baroque South
Sea pearls, tanzanites and diamonds,
as well as a shoulder brooch
(below) embellished with diamonds,
tanzanites and blue sapphires.
Mikimoto, #02-04
Tel: 6634 0181
THE HEART OF LUXURY
TIFFANY & CO.
Aquamarine
Aquamarine is a type of beryl that
exhibits blue to blue-green hues, with
deeper tones commanding higher
prices while lighter ones are the most
common. While the emerald, also
a kind of beryl, almost always has
inclusions, aquamarines are often
flawless. However, milky, translucent
aquamarines are recently starting to
show up in high jewellery. Pictured
here is a Tiffany & Co. Blue Book
collection yellow gold ring (right)
with an 8.83-carat aquamarine
and other coloured gems.
Opal
A fabled gemstone to the Chinese
who believe that it brings prosperity,
the opal is one of the darlings of
high jewellery today. It is the most
colourful of gemstones and has the
ability to flash rainbow colours and
iridescence. It can be transparent
or translucent, with the latter being
more prized. Out of all the hues, the
black opal with its dark body tone
and flashing rainbow colours is the
most valuable. Featured here from
Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book collection is
a platinum bracelet (top) set with
a 17.12-carat black opal and mixedcut diamonds.
Tourmaline
Occurring in an amazing spectrum
of colours including the popular
pink, green, blue, red and brown, the
tourmaline is not a single mineral
but a family of closely related ones.
The elbaite mineral is responsible
for most gem-quality tourmalines,
and incandescent neon-blue cuprian
elbaite tourmalines are the most
prized. This pair of Tiffany & Co.
Blue Book collection white gold
earrings (right) features emerald-cut
green tourmalines with diamonds,
sapphires, blue cuprian elbaite
tourmalines and tsavorites.
Tiffany & Co., #01-21 & #02-11
(opening soon)
ION ORCHARD
Chiang Yu-Lan
“I have recently fallen
in love with coloured
gemstones as they remind
me of the hues of the
rainbow, and convey such
happiness and liveliness.
They were not very costly
in the past, but nowadays,
they are getting more
expensive, especially
those of a large size
with good colour. I adore
intensely coloured pink
sapphires and rubellites.
They are eye-catching
and go well with bold,
outstanding designs—
compared to diamonds,
which are suitable for
more elegant designs. I
also feel that such brightly
coloured gems give the
wearer a youthful spirit.”
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Orange Garnet
Most think of garnet as a red gem, but
the term actually describes a group of
several closely related minerals. They
come in a variety of colours, and span
red rhodolite; orange to orange-red
spessartite; green tsavorite; rare green
demantoid; and yellow topazolite.
Showcased extensively by high
jewellers recently is the fiery orange
spessartite, and a rare tangerineorange mandarin garnet.
Its flaming beauty is expressed in
this Van Cleef & Arpels Peau d’Âne
Cadeau d’Orient (above left) white
and pink gold ring with a main
oval-cut orange garnet and other
stones. The Fée des Mers clip
(above right) from the Seven Seas
collection also flaunts the stone along
with sparkling diamonds, blue and
yellow sapphires, spessartites, and a
23.64-carat chalcedony.
Spinel
Still an underrated gemstone but
not for long, the spinel is absolutely
mesmerising, and comes in many
different colours. The red spinel
has been mistaken for rubies since
ancient times, as both look alike
and are found in the same regions.
It is only with modern technological
advancements in gemmology that
certain famous old rubies, such as
the Black Prince’s Ruby, were found
to be spinels. A range of shades from
pink to grey has been used by luxury
maisons, with an excellent example
being this Van Cleef & Arpels Peau
d’Âne Fleur Nocturne white gold
ring (above) with a cushion-cut
purple spinel flanked by diamonds
and emeralds.
Van Cleef & Arpels, #01-26
(opening soon)
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6238 8228
Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
ionorchard.com