Every two years, Paris plays host to one of the most prestigious and important fairs in the world for collectors and connoisseurs of antiques and modern paintings, the Biennale des Antiquaires.
The 27th Biennale, scheduled to take place at the Grand Palais from September 11th to 21st, will be a smaller affair than the previous one in 2012 with the number of exhibitors decreasing from 150 to 81. However, the number of haute joaillerie exhibitors has increased to fourteen, adding newcomers Alexandre Reza, U.K. jeweler David Morris, Graff Diamonds, and Italian jeweler Giampiero Bodino. These first time exhibitors join the ranks of jewelry designers and brands both old and still fairly new to the fair; Wallace Chan is returning for a second time and joins veterans Boucheron, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Chaumet, Christian Dior, Piaget, Siegelson and Van Cleef & Arpels. One jewelry brand we won’t be seeing this year, who has participated in past Biennales, is Harry Winston.
Van Cleef & Arpels Château Enchanté clip
Though the fair is several months away, there’s no harm in whetting our appetite with a taste of the magnificence we can expect to ogle over come September. Van Cleef has designed a winsome Château Enchanté clip, depicting a fantasy castle created with diamonds and multi-colored sapphires which sits atop an oval-cut Brazilian emerald of 39.85 carats. Among the many spectacular pieces in his collection, Siegelson will offer an Art Deco diamond, enamel, and gem-set bracelet by Boucheron, circa 1925. Meanwhile, Chanel is planning to bring a captivating Sunset necklace made of white and pink gold set with diamonds, Padparadscha sapphires, and pink sapphires.
Rare stones from Cartier
Another notable highlight, Cartier will present an array of rare diamonds and precious stones, including a 26.50-carat Colombian emerald and a 29.06-carat sapphire from Kashmir, along with a pigeon’s blood ruby weighing 10.17 carats and a splendid 30.21-carat diamond.
Originally announced on Blouin ARTINFO