De Beers has launched its latest high jewellery collection, Metamorphosis, at Paris Couture Week. This new pre collection, named Prelude, is an homage to the transformative power of nature and natural diamonds.

Previous De Beers high jewellery collections have taken us on a bejewelled tour of the world, from Canada to the African Plains, and even explored the microscopic chemical makeup of a diamond itself. Now, Metamorphosis, the latest high jewellery collection by De Beers, is inspired by change itself.

Described as an homage to ‘the transformative power of natural diamonds’, this latest launch, entitled ‘Prelude’, is the first sparkling chapter in a larger high jewellery collection, due to launch later this summer.

Comprised of nine new earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets, the Prelude set uses a variety of exquisite diamond-setting techniques, including fil cocteau (‘knife edge’), perlage (‘gold beading’) and serti neige (‘snow setting’) to evoke all four seasons. A flurry of white, brown and fancy-coloured diamonds (both rough and polished) are juxtaposed with white, yellow and rose gold, creating a feeling of lightness and movement.

In one spectacular ring, for example, a central white diamond is surrounded by yellows, interspersed with more whites, then framed with twists of yellow gold ‘ropes’, as well as an outer ring of rose gold set with alternating white and brown diamonds. The contrast of textures and coloured metals is utterly mesmeric, evoking almost a whirlpool-like effect which draws the eye in.

There are physical changes aplenty, too. Four of the nine pieces in the set are actually transformable and designed to be worn in a number of ways. One dramatic ear cuff is comprised of four swinging diamond strands, each composed of different diamond settings and ending with a colourful titanium ‘chrysalis’ bead, as a nod to one of Nature’s most mysterious and powerful transformations. Each bead can be detached and worn on a separate charm bracelet, and the strands removed to form a ring jacket for a 3-carat diamond.

“In Metamorphosis by De Beers, we have transformed the spontaneous beauty of nature into our most complex and innovative designs yet,” said Céline Assign, CEO of De Beers Jewellers. “Each design in our Prelude set showcases a masterclass of artisanal savoir-faire…combining antique-inspired settings with contemporary techniques. It’s a very modern approach to classical High Jewellery, reflecting De Beers’ DNA of excellence through experimentation and constant innovation.” If this is merely a glimpse of what’s to come, the next evolution of Metamorphosis is set to be utterly spectacular.