Soneva Jani’s So Soneva Boutique to Host a Collection of Exquisite Jewellery by Marie-Hélène de Taillac


Maldives
Travel
PUBLISHED December 03, 2020

The So Soneva boutique at Soneva Jani is set to host a collection of exquisite jewellery by Marie-Hélène de Taillac (MHT). The collection of pieces is made of 22-karat gold and vibrantly coloured gemstones and will be at the resort for just 89 days from December 15, 2020.  

What sets MHT jewellery apart is the use of gorgeous stones in sumptuous colours, each piece is always about the colour, quality and cut of the stones themselves. What excites and inspires Marie-Hélène de Taillac, and what she is most passionate about, are the stones themselves. Her ultimate aim is to “free the stone” in order to better see the wonders created by nature. The jewellery itself is deceptively simple and that is what makes it so easy to wear. However, such purity is hard to achieve, it requires great technique. 

 

Each and every piece of jewellery is made entirely by hand, using traditional methods and is unique, no two pieces are identical and nothing is standardized. MHT uses the most current techniques, such as laser engraving, when a design calls for it. If some of the stones have inclusions it is a deliberate, aesthetic choice. De Taillac feels that inclusions in a stone can make them even more perfect – they add light and fire and give stones an individuality. When she launched her collection and brand she utilized the briolette cut, a stone cutting technique traditionally only used for diamonds, for all coloured gems.  

Her philosophy is that precious jewellery should fit seamlessly into the everyday lives of women and be easy to wear with current, contemporary fashions. The timeless quality of the jewellery and the coherence of the collections is worth noting, where not one piece feels dated. It is not about the client buying the most expensive piece. It is about magic. Marie-Hélène de Taillac considers it important that her clients leave with jewellery that really suits them and that they are really in love with.  

“Twenty-two karat gold has the colour of gold nuggets. It’s the gold of antiquity, the gold of the Greeks, the gold of the Pharaohs", says Marie-Hélène de Taillac. Unpolished 22-karat gold is the purest form of gold used in jewellery making. It is instantly recognizable for the particular warmth of its colour, which resembles antique gold. Over time, a jewel in 22-karat gold will acquire a natural, authentic patina. A patina and the signs of the life it has lived give jewellery a soul. Some pieces that require extra strength, such as clasps are done in 18- or 20-karat gold. However, 22-karat gold takes pride of place in her collections, because its colour complements coloured gems beautifully. 

Marie-Hélène de Taillac designed her first collection of jewellery in 1996, but her love affair with gems dates back to her childhood. Her father’s job in the oil business meant she travelled widely as a young girl, spending time in Lebanon and often visiting Syria. These exotic locations, coupled with the pedigree of an aristocratic French family that counts Porthos (one of the Three Musketeers) as an ancestor, led to a passion for the antique jewellery which influences her designs today. 

Her career has seen MHT boutiques in numerous locations around the world and select pieces become part of museum exhibits. In 1997, the debut collection was presented at Colette, Barneys New York and in 20 stores in Japan. In 2003 she had her first boutique in Tokyo, designed by Christian Biecher. MHT’s first boutique in Paris opened in 2004 and was designed by Tom Dixon. Then in 2005 Marc Newson designed her new Tokyo boutique. The Love from Jaipur exhibition took place at Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche in 2009, then in 2011 Marie-Hélène de Taillac designed a line of pearl jewellery for Tasaki. Her Cabochon ring and Scarf necklace are selected for the permanent collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2015, then in 2018 the Modernist cuff bracelet joins the collection. In 2019, she released Gold and Gems, her first monograph, at Rizzoli New York. 

For more information about Soneva, visit www.soneva.com 

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