ASSORTED REGALIA

CREATIVE DIRECTION: MARNE SCHWARTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY: VLADIMIR MARTI
FASHION STYLIST: LAURA JANE BROWN
HAIR & MAKEUP: IVA OSYPYSHYNA
PRODUCER: STEFF HAWKER
LIGHTING ASSISTANT: MARK ANTHONY DIRECTO NAVARRO
FASHION ASSISTANT: CHARLOTTE MARSH-WILLIAMS
HAIR & MAKEUP ASSISTANT: ARINA ZUBAKHINA
MODEL: JIAYI NI / ART FACTORY
WORDS: PEMA BAKSHI   

From golden laurel wreaths of the Roman Empire to the sceptre of Charlemagne, accessories have long held a role in distinguishing royalty. Throughout time, these symbols of sovereignty have captivated the masses, ignited wars and borne witness to a spectrum of human triumph and barbarity.

Today, crown jewels have their allure, but just as power has evolved, so too have the ornaments that come with it.

Take Tiffany & Co.’s Elsa Peretti Bone cuff, which is defined by its sensuous contours that continue to be as groundbreaking as they were upon their advent in the ’70s. Fluid and feminine with a strong sense of identity, its brilliant white finish subverts the gold standard, and reigns supreme. Or the [Sur]Naturel necklace and earrings that piece together rose gold, grey mother-of-pearl, coral and diamonds in a spectacular amalgam. And who need kiss a royal signet, with Piaget’s Celebration or Mirage design in opulent white gold and diamonds? Untainted by the marks of the past, these new season jewels call upon the bold and ornate craftsmanship once befitting royalty alone, but are each imbued with a modern sense of freedom.

Royal jewels may boast undeniable brilliance, but you can find shine anywhere these days. What truly made these once-coveted pieces was in the rarity of their materials, the expert techniques that went into their creation, and the history behind them. As the democratisation of jewellery has taken shape over the years, and royal vaults deplete, we find these qualities in new and unexpected forms. With storied designs inspired by so much more than surface beauty, materials plucked from around the world and transformed in once-unimaginable ways, and craftsmanship that persists to reach new tiers of perfection, these pieces put independence in our hands. And, of course, we can’t forget what really makes regalia what it is: the bold figures who dare to wear them.

“ASSORTED REGALIA” IS PUBLISHED IN THE 16TH EDITION OF GRAZIA INTERNATIONAL. ORDER YOUR COPY HERE.