Chaumet is inspired by the fluidity of a breaking wave in the new high jewellery collection, ‘Déferlante’, which rethinks eight signature pieces, from a transformable jewellery design to a tiara and a secret timepiece. Water has long been a source of inspiration for the Maison, the energy of its movements particularly popular during the Belle Époque when its fluid form became a common motif in high jewellery. In these new pieces, which are an extension to the ‘Torsade de Chaumet’ high jewellery collection, the undulating silhouette of a wave is drawn in white gold and diamonds. On the tiara, the lightness of the gems’ mountings brings an easy elegance to brilliant-cut and step-cut diamonds.

‘Chaumet’s high jewellery codes are embedded with the notions of light, movement and nature. The water in the form of a wave showcases all three,’ says Chaumet CEO Jean-Marc Mansvelt. ‘Water is deeply rooted in Chaumet’s history. This idea is always repeated in our stories of fine jewellery to reinterpret themes that run through our history. Water has been [interpreted] in different forms through the years, the drop of water, frozen water, stalactites, the movement of water. And this time, we [approach] the theme by bringing in the idea of ​​movement, like “Torsade”: the wave, the energy, the force, the life.’

The variety of diamond cuts – brilliant, princess, emerald and baguette – and the juxtaposition of geometric forms brings the immobile to vivid life. Says Mensvelt: ‘These pieces have energy, this force of the wave. A real paradox. Hence all this work on the diamond cuts – the presence in the background of the knife edge to give depth, the play of balances and imbalances, the play of solids and voids to reinforce the impression of suspension.’