Brand Signatures: The Importance of a Strong Jewellery Motif

Having a strong jewellery motif helps a brand tell its story, express its values and highlight its intricate craftsmanship. Here we explore some of our favourite jewellery motifs from luxury jewellery houses, from Van Cleef & Arpels’ perlée, to Chanel’s iconic Number 5.

Round in Circles

First used as a decor effect, perlée is now its own collection at Van Cleef & Arpels, which thought the golden beads bordering many of its most famous motifs also deserved their own spotlight. This year’s new creations are the most dazzling yet, with a highlight being the beautiful five-row bracelets in which the gold beads dance with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

Five’s a Charm

No other brand has taken ownership of a number quite so strongly as Chanel has with 5. More than just Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite number or the name of the house’s bestselling perfume, 5 has now become the muse and the inspiration behind a new fine-jewellery collection, where the contours of the number are traced in diamonds and beige gold.

Ribbons of Gold

The Quatre, with its four patterns sourced from Boucheron’s archives and rendered in three colours of gold, has probably become the most recognisable design of the jewellery house since its debut in 2004. New creations presented for the 20th anniversary of the Quatre this year see chokers, necklaces and even belts and hair jewels bringing a whole new dimension to the collection.

Kings and Titans

Two years in the making, the Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams collection is set to become a new brand signature with a striking motif that isn’t for the faint-hearted. Inspired by Poseidon’s trident, the jewellery in the collection incorporates sharp, spear-like spikes in its chunky chain design. The collection also marks the first time Tiffany has dabbled in titanium, the bold and blackened metal forming a bold contrast against yellow gold and reverse-set diamonds.

All Enchanted

The Enchanted Lotus collection brings the beauty and purity of the lotus flower to life with gold and natural diamonds, and is one of De Beers’ most recognisable motifs.

Signature Style

The Laurence Graff collection is Graff’s homage to its own legacy in cutting and polishing the world’s most beautiful stones, with an inimitable design that mimics the intricate facets of a diamond. Even without diamonds, the bands of gold are the perfect tribute to Graff’s heritage as a diamond purveyor, and are designed to be stackable. 

Read more: Petal to the metal – our favourite floral jewellery designs