Boucheron - Like a Queen - HIGH JEWELLERY DREAM

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When Princess Elizabeth turned eighteen in 1944, she received a Boucheron aquamarine and diamond double-clip brooch. She would continue to wear these sentimental designs throughout her reign.

The late Queen Elizabeth II wearing Boucheron’s diamond and aquamarine double clip brooch during her address to the nation marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day at Windsor Castle on Friday, May 8 2020.

Boucheron Archive - 1937 Duke of Kent aquamarine and diamond double clip brooch — Boucheron Archive – 1937 Duke of Kent aquamarine and diamond double clip brooch

In 2020, Claire Choisne, Creative Director of Boucheron, decided to take inspiration from this unique piece to create a High Jewelry collection.

Three years ago, when I delved into the Boucheron archives, I just couldn’t get my mind off this Art Deco double clip brooch,” explains Claire Choisne. “The precision and geometry of the Art Deco design tempered by the softness and light blue hue of the aquamarines have always fascinated me. I was touched by the sentimental value of this two-piece clip worn by Queen Elizabeth during important moments of her reign.
Claire Choisne, Creative Director, Boucheron

The aquamarine and diamond double clip joined the British Royal Family on July 31, 1937, through Prince George, Duke of Kent, who purchased it from the Boucheron boutique in London.

Seven years later, the family gave it to Princess Elizabeth for her eighteenth birthday. Throughout her reign, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, wore it on a number of occasions, most notably including her Diamond Jubilee on June 5, 2012; on May 8, 2020, for the 75th anniversary of the speech by George VI announcing the end of World War II; and on the 70th anniversary of her coronation on February 6, 2022.

Today, the ‘Like a Queen’ collection features eighteen contemporary designs in seven colour patterns, reinterpreting the famous Art Deco design. “Like a Queen” draws inspiration from an icon whose style transcended decades.

Being able to wear a piece in a number of ways, as well as the use of color, were central to our work on this collection, so that both men and women may wear these pieces. We wanted these eighteen variations to reflect the ease with which the original was worn, since the two clips may be attached in various ways, on their own or together. We also wanted this collection to convey the elegance distinctive of this Art Deco piece.
Claire Choisne, Creative Director, Boucheron

HYPNOTIC BLUE

Bracelet paved with aquamarines and diamonds, with blue lacquer, in white gold.

Although the design of this cuff is almost identical to the 1937 brooches, the addition of blue lacquer gives it a contemporary look.

This hypnotic, deep blue is also found on a 6-carat Ceylon sapphire ring designed to cover an entire finger.

Boucheron Like a Queen – Hypnotic Blue Ring – *set with a Ceylon cushion cut sapphire of 6.00 ct,*
*paved with diamonds, in white gold.*

FROSTY WHITE

In the tradition of wearing High Jewellery in several ways, this necklace made of diamonds, rock crystal and white gold features six different looks.

The piece is adorned with the two signature Art Deco designs which may be detached and worn as a single or double brooch.

The draped lower portion of the necklace, composed of four radiant strands, is also independent. Therefore, it may metamorphose into a jacket adornment or cape clasp.

Slide the cursor to see how Boucheron Like a Queen diamond necklace transforms into a cape adornment.

Boucheron Like a Queen - Frosty White Necklace — Slide the cursor to see how Boucheron Like a Queen diamond necklace transforms into a cape adornment.

GREEN GARDEN

Platinum ring paved with emeralds and diamonds – the piece becomes a solitaire which highlights a cushion-cut Zambian emerald of 6.25 carats.

The double Art Deco design inspires a platinum ring set with a cushion-cut Zambian emerald of 6.25 carats when considered horizontally. Enhanced by a fine line of green lacquer, this piece may be worn in two ways: with or without its diamond surrounding.

This ring comes with a matching pair of earrings that feature two removable emeralds, so the design can be worn alone on the ear as desired.

Boucheron Like a Queen — Green Garden Ear Pendants. Earring pendants set with 2 Zambian pear-cut emeralds for a total carat weight of 8.03 ct, paved with emeralds and diamonds, with green lacquer, on platinum—earrings pendants in the multi-wear tradition.

ROLLING RED

Necklace set with 17 oval rubies from Mozambique for a total carat weight of 18.82 ct, paved with diamonds, in white gold. Necklace in the tradition of the multiwear.

Boucheron’s style can be seen in this ruby and diamond necklace, featuring a central ornament that may be detached and transformed into a brooch.

It comes with a pair of earrings and a ring. In this reinterpretation, the royal jewel motif is elongated and takes on a new dimension, revealing a modern approach.

LEMON SLICE

Necklace paved with diamonds, in white gold, with leather straps.

In a compact, monochrome version with white diamonds on white gold, the 1937 model metamorphoses into a sophisticated piece that may be worn as a barrette or brooch.

Thanks to leather ribbons, the diamond design may be clipped in numerous ways to be worn as a choker or bracelet. The contrast among materials is a way to update the High Jewelry genre, propelling it into the 21st century.

Boucheron Like a Queen Lemon Slice Choker

MOON WHITE

Necklace with Akoya cultured pearls, paved with diamonds, in white gold. Necklace in the tradition of the multiwear.

Combining daintiness and strength, this transformable jewellery set juxtaposes the soft iridescence of Akoya pearls with the intense sparkle of diamonds.

The three-strand necklace features a detachable Art Deco clasp paved with diamonds. This may become a hair ornament or a pair of brooches that brings inimitable elegance to a tuxedo lapel or turtleneck.

Following the same principle, Claire Choisne created a pair of earrings, each featuring a lower section adorned with an Akoya pearl that may be removed to wear the principal portion of the piece on a different part of the ear.

MEGA PINK

Brooch paved with tourmalines and diamonds, in white gold.

These two brooches can be pinned together or worn separately. The intense pink of its tourmalines characterizes Mega Pink. This duo is as feminine as it is masculine.

Fancy hearing the story of the Like a Queen collection from Claire Choisne? Then click here to listen to the podcast in which Vincent Meylan recounts the fascinating story of this pair of brooches, bought by the Duke of Kent at the Boucheron boutique in London on July 31, 1937. This is where the story starts!