Chanel Unveils “Signes & Symboles”: A Tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s Universe
Chanel's Signes & Symboles High Jewellery collection turns Gabrielle Chanel's most personal symbols into 85 extraordinary pieces and wearing one feels like carrying a piece of her story with you.
“My jewelry represents an idea,” Gabrielle Chanel used to say. That philosophy anchors Chanel’s new High Jewellery collection, “Signes & Symboles,” which draws its inspiration from the personal iconography that shaped the designer’s life and creative vision. Rather than following classical jewellery conventions, the 85-piece collection translates Gabrielle’s most cherished motifs; the camellia, the star, the sun, and the lion, into gold, gemstones, and sculptural form.
These symbols trace back to formative moments in Chanel’s life: the comets and stars in the Aubazine sky as a child, a geometric camellia, her astrological sign of Leo, and the light of Mediterranean sun she loved.
The collection unfolds across four chapters. “Les Imprimés” reimagines the camellia, star, and sun as repeating patterns set in diamonds, anchored by the dramatic Imprimé Lion necklace, which pairs a 20.66-carat sapphire with a diamond-paved lion’s head. “Le Lion Emblématique” celebrates the feline emblem first introduced in 2012, rendered in onyx bas-relief, rubies, and diamonds across necklaces, rings, and a vividly colored brooch.”Les Bijoux Talismans” draws on Chanel’s belief in jewellery as protection, featuring amulets, sapphires, diamonds, and colored stones like onyx, carnelian, turquoise, and chrysoprase. Finally, “Les Symboles” presents standalone pieces built around Chanel’s favorite emblems. Highlights include the Symbole Étoile necklace, which combines tanzanite, garnet, carnelian, and a 26.21-carat imperial topaz, and can convert into a bracelet and earrings; the Symbole Camélia Rose ring, set with a 10.32-carat diamond bordered by pink sapphires; and the Symbole Saphir ring, centered on a 25.45-carat cabochon sapphire surrounded by sapphires and diamonds.
Throughout, the collection pairs Chanel’s “Precious Four” gems, sapphire, ruby, emerald, and diamond, with bold colors and semi-precious stones rarely seen in fine jewellery.
More than a display of rare stones, “Signes & Symboles” turns Gabrielle Chanel’s personal symbols into wearable form, keeping her story and legacy alive through jewellery.
Credits:
Images courtesy of Chanel
Words: Sufiya McNulty @ellasufiya
Chanel.com
