Coco Chanel: Bijoux de Diamants

     Coco Chanel is a name long associated with fashion and perfume.  Her signature scent, Chanel No. 5, has become an iconic product.  A mini movie to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Chanel boutique in Deauville, France is in the works.  Karl Lagerfield will direct the new short starring Keira Knightley, the brand's current ambassador.

     But Chanel was also responsible for a jewelry revolution in 1932.  Up until that time, the designer had shown costume pieces with her clothing.  Depression-era diamond merchants were struggling and hoping to create excitement again in jewelry they turned to Chanel.  Commissioned by the International Guild of Diamond Merchants she designed her first fine jewelry collection.  At her exhibit in Paris, "Bijoux de Diamants,"  she debuted diamonds set in platinum.

     The collection took the world by storm.  She displayed the jewelry in a way that was unique and ahead of her time, using manneqins rather than jewelry trays.  The jewelry featured themes that were Coco's signatures:  the sun, comets, feathers, fringes, ribbons and knots.  One of the most stunning pieces was the "Comete" necklace:

  This fringe necklace was shown worn as a headband:

 Chanel brought flair and fashion to fine jewelry, helping to revive the diamond market.