Given their similarities, these two arts – de GRISOGONO jewellery-making and classical dance at the Paris Opera & Ballet – were clearly destined to meet. To celebrate that which unites them, de GRISOGONO has selected from amongst its own étoiles the creations most emblematic of its success to form a collection it has titled OPERA.

The path from the rough, unhewn stone to the finished gem sparkling at the heart of a ring or necklace is all about time, abnegation and passion. One does not become an étoile or a gem overnight. Like a ballet director who develops a precocious sixth sense of which talents are destined to become étoiles, Fawaz Gruosi follows his instinct, which guides him towards a stone, a composition. This instinctive aesthete and designer is engaged in a perpetual quest for beauty and excellence. Stones play a key role in his creative approach. He works on a love- at-first-sight basis and always returns from his travels with stones in his luggage. He loves their colours, their subtle nuances and their contrasts. He loves the variations and infinite creative possibilities they offer him.

Just as the étoile dancers of the Paris Opera & Ballet are officially named on-stage, the stones adorning de GRISOGONO creations become stars when they are mounted and worn – a process that takes time. Over the months, the stones metamorphose into living, vibrant pieces of jewellery. Within them, they bear the spirit of their creator, the soul of their craftsman and the body of their sculpted material. They will have required every ounce of the experience, patience and expertise of master jewellers to overcome the limits and obstacles encountered during their creation. The sometimes complex and long-running process always triumphs in the end, even if it may entail taking the work apart several times, removing the stones and remelting the metal. 

This a collection that plays with light effects, showcasing a “chiaroscuro” signature that has become a favourite with the Swiss jeweller. Highlighting the curves, reflections and intensity of the stones and materials, de GRISOGONO creations are authentic sculptures. The finely chased goldsmithing ‘opens up’ models in such a way that the light can shine through the stones. The jeweller is a choreographer working with perspective to give each stone its central solo role. The famous stage of the Palais Garnier opera house also reveals talents. Beneath the spotlight, it infuses bodies and movements with luminous intensity. So as to create an optical illusion and enable the audience to see all the ballerinas as if they were on the same level, its legendary stage is slightly sloping – an additional challenge for those gliding across its wooden floor for their first live performance.