The loveliest jewellery pieces that double up as lucky charms

The loveliest jewellery pieces that double up as lucky charms

The use of lucky charms to ward off evil and harness good luck has been practised for thousands of years, and even scientific evidence has shown that a person’s confidence and happiness increases when carrying a lucky charm, talismanic jewellery or amulet.

Therefore, gems set in jewellery are often worn not just for aesthetic reasons but also as a symbol of wealth, commitment and culture as well as to improve one’s aura and inner being.

For most women, it is the inherent nature of jewellery that they find irresistible – like how it makes them feel beautiful and confident. Some also believe that everything may come and go, but jewellery is forever. If you’re looking for something that will never go out of style or favour, here are this season’s most coveted high jewellery drops that easily pull double duty as lucky charms, and will steal your breath away.

Van Cleef & Arpels

Gems have long been associated with good luck and when it comes to our favourite lucky charm, Van Cleef & Arpels’s Alhambra collection is right on the money. So is its Lucky Animals Collection, which sees five signs of the Chinese zodiac joining the sought-after set. The exclusive, made-to-order animal clips – the Snake, Monkey, Ox, Rooster and Mouse – are carefully crafted by the finest ornamental stones, outlined by beads of gold to enhance its beauty. Get your lucky charm here.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton’s emblematic Monogram flower gets a makeover by Francesca Amfitheatrof, the House’s artistic director for watches and jewellery and it is fun-tastic! B Blossom, Amfitheatrof’s debut collection, comprises bangles, light pendants and earrings that flaunt a beautiful melange of colours that we think are perfect for the current situation. Need a pick-me-up? Look no further than these cheerful, precious trinkets. Shop here.

Chanel

This N°5 necklace comprises over 700 diamonds that surround a D Flawless 55.55-carat diamond.

This N°5 signature bottle brooch in yellow gold, white gold, yellow sapphires and diamonds is a must-have.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the iconic N°5 fragrance, Chanel’s fine jewellery studio drops 123 extraordinary pieces that express the different facets of the perfume. Boasting the daring creativity, timeless sophistication and breathtaking construction of its High Jewellery; the stopper, bottle, number, flowers and sillage are interpreted carefully to reflect the allure and revolutionary perfume and jewellery. Every signature piece tells the story of the iconic scent and exudes the true splendour of Chanel. A highlight is its 55.55-carat diamond necklace, a showstopper dripping in more than 700 sparklers. Find out more here.

Chopard

In an exclusive collaboration with Sotheby’s auction house, Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s Co-President and artistic director, recently presented the latest masterpiece from the House’s Haute Joaillerie Precious Lace collection. Crafted from Fairmined-certified ethical white gold and titanium, the breathtaking beauty dazzles with calming blue Paraiba tourmaline to befit the treasures of an aristocrat. This rare gemstone is said to have the power to clear confusion and give clarity to the future. Discover this imperial grandeur at this Sotheby’s private sale page.

Tiffany & Co.

Anya Taylor-Joy, Eileen Gu and Tracee Ellis Ross are the newest global House ambassador for Tiffany & Co, debuting in the 2021 Tiffany T1 campaign, ‘Give Me the T’. The collection expanded in the last year and now includes new bracelets, earrings and pendants, together with new 18k white gold selections. When it comes to encapsulating the fine art of self-expression, the collection nails it to a tee; evident from how the three new faces layer the new designs with other T1 pieces – like the T1 choker with nearly 250 round brilliant and baguette diamonds totalling over 13 carats! Feast on the Ts here.

If you’re looking for everyday diamond jewellery then Zoya’s new collection, Samāvé is for you. Indian architectural motifs like a baoli are enhanced by geometric patterns to create a wide range of items. Inspired by the lives of women and waterbody in bucolic set-ups, the collection boasts lightweight bracelets, rings and necklaces.

One of the most iconic symbols of good luck, the horseshoe is interpreted via the Faith Horseshoe Necklace. Clean lines and the shape is a talisman and is interpreted through the Hong Kong jewellery designer Kajal Naina.

The Sunlight Collection from high jewellery brand, HARAKH captures the talismanic powers of the sun to empower the wearer with strength and will power. “Sunlight reminds us of the incredible ability that our own will power has to solve mighty problems and emerge shining and victorious, filling our life with warmth,” shares Harakh Mehta the brand’s founder and designer.

This story first appeared on Prestige Malaysia

Hero image: Courtesy Chanel; Featured image: Courtesy Tiffany & Co.

Trend alert: Men’s statement jewellery

When the BBC Three series Normal People aired during lockdown one of its unlikely stars was a chain, the now infamous silver necklace worn by actor Paul Mescal. In one of the most talked-about tv adaptations of last year, Mescal’s neck jewellery inspired its own Instagram account, @connellschain, which to this day has over 167k followers.

The particular necklace in question strikes a heady balance between masculinity and vulnerability, and is part of a wider trend of men’s jewellery, which has seen sales boom during the pandemic. At Matchesfashion, sales doubled in the first six week of lockdown. This has led to a more design-led focus for 2022, with men’s statement jewellery a category that is expected to significantly grow in the coming seasons.

While working from home and spending the days on zoom calls, key jewellery items like earrings, necklaces and cuffs are all “above keyboard” fashion items that are seeing an uptick in demand.

How to wear it

Chunky jewellery and a mix of layered styles will work well for retailers with a younger customer base. Colourful chains and those with expressions were made popular in the women’s category but have now crossed over to a more fluid offering, as worn by singer Harry Styles and championed by brands such as Gucci.

Classic men’s jewellery include the signet ring and bracelets, but should not be aimed at the same customer who buys cufflinks. Contemporary styles pushing the gender norm are those that are gaining traction in the men’s accessories category.

Personalisation remains popular, whether monogramming or allowing for multiple styling options. Even semi precious stones like pearls, once reserved for women’s adornment, have been seen on earrings and necklaces worn by men (cue Harry Styles). When it comes to embellishment, it’s fair game for all.

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja on her relationship with fashion, life in London, and using her privilege to create meaningful change

I want to go down in posterity for the right reasons,” says Sonam Kapoor Ahuja. “When people think of me, they shouldn’t only think that I changed the way people look at fashion in India.” Reclining on a rust-red velvet sofa at her sumptuous home in London’s Notting Hill, the style icon and actor is in a philosophical mood on the day I meet her—and with good reason.

When I arrived over an hour ago, through the drizzle of an early summer’s day, she answered the door with a smile, fresh-faced and refreshingly low-key in leggings and a VegNonVeg T-shirt (from the sneaker store co-founded by her husband Anand Ahuja, along with the clothing label Bhaane). She apologised for the heart-shaped balloons that crowded her living room—a surprise from her parents on the eve of her 36th birthday—and proved to be the perfect host, fixing me a coffee and bowl of namak para as she told me about the year that was.

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Like so many expats, it’s been far too long since she’s seen her family. Although she is now fully vaccinated, she tells me she had COVID-19 in December (“I was asymptomatic, thank god”), weeks before she was due to go on set for her latest film, Blind, which she describes as “an incredible experience” and “one of the toughest shoots I’ve ever done.” It’s been trying times for most of us, but she hopes the worst is behind us. As we speak, London is on the cusp of a debated complete reopening, the days are getting longer, and tomorrow she will be taking her Life in the UK Test. “I’ve been studying for a week,” she says with a laugh. In short, there’s been a lot to process and more time than usual in which to do it.

Change of pace

Be it spotting a peacock while strolling through Holland Park, vintage shopping at Alfies Antique Market or grabbing ragda patties at Bombay Bustle, Kapoor Ahuja has found her way around London, making it her second home. On sunny days she loves walking around Hampstead Heath. “You walk through Maida Vale, go through the canal, go into the park and walk up the hill with your picnic basket full of sandwiches. You can see all of London. I’m still a tourist.” The Victoria & Albert Museum is another sanctum. “There’s a bookstore opposite where I love to sit. They have really nice coffee,” she adds.