Dior’s Artistic Director of Joaillerie, Victoire de Castellane, has introduced the Diorama & Diorigami high jewellery collection, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature. Here’s a closer look at this remarkable collection.
In the cloister of Santa Maria Novella basilica in Florence, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and a symbol of the Florentine Renaissance, de Castellane revealed the first part of her new high jewellery collection named Diorama & Diorigami.
The collection was presented in a lush garden in Tuscany, filled with the fragrance of roses and orange blossoms. This setting was perfect for showcasing the ‘Diorama’ chapter, which celebrates the natural beauty that Christian Dior adored. For the first time, de Castellane reinterpreted the toile de Jouy, a classic Dior motif since 1947, with enchanting floral and animal designs. Owls, deer, and squirrels, hidden behind bushes, brought the forest to life, detailed with vibrant gemstones in Dior haute joaillerie’s signature style.
The presentation’s fantastical atmosphere was enhanced by Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior designs, featuring neo-sixties Capri pants, Bar bustiers, woven jacquards, moiré failles, and shimmering skirts. These elements created a dialogue between Paris and Florence, highlighting Dior’s exceptional craftsmanship.
Since 1999, de Castellane has used Dior’s iconic motifs in her jewellery designs, finding endless inspiration. This year, she continues this tradition with a collection that bridges the past and present, blending refinement and luxury.
The first chapter of the collection, ‘Diorama,’ highlights the toile de Jouy motif, a symbol of 18th-century French art de vivre and a key element in Dior’s success. Christian Dior’s original boutique, Colifichets, featured this fabric on its walls, counters, and canopy.
De Castellane’s reinterpretation of this motif features small frescoes with intricate hues and volumes, depicting a golden rabbit leaping into a bush of diamonds, owls amidst ruby-adorned branches, and swans in a pond surrounded by blue sapphires.
The enchanting setting also included a fox, squirrel, and deer, each adorned with chrysoprase. Yellow and rose gold foliage mingled with jewel-studded flowers, creating a theatre of nature. The collection’s second chapter, ‘Diorigami,’ is hinted at with a necklace, ring, and earrings depicting lush greenery.
These pieces showcase Dior’s atelier’s craftsmanship, using the ancient technique of glyptics to engrave and sculpt precious stones. Artisans carve each element, assembling them to create captivating landscapes, forming a modern Eden. Dior Joaillerie’s signature lacquer enhances the pieces, highlighting vibrant shades like deep emerald green and softer tsavorite garnet tones.
The Diorama & Diorigami collection includes 172 creations, celebrating the natural world and Dior’s creative legacy. Developed over two years, it features the largest number of precious gemstones ever used in a single Dior high jewellery collection.