STYLISH EMERALD, CULTURED PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, 'DIORISSIMO', CHRISTIAN DIOR

Realistically designed as a spray of lilies of the valley, decorated at the front with cultured pearl and diamond set flowers, the leaves pavé-set with circular-cut emeralds weighing 85.00 carats in total, the reverse highlighted with a small diamond set bee, mounted in 18 carat gold,

Christian Dior was the brilliant creator of the "New Look" in 1947. His revolutionary creations at that time provoked great controversy but fashionable ladies adored this style. They took to his designs of hourglass lines and long rustling skirts as Dior reinvented post-war fashions throughout the 1950’s. The House of Dior has always attracted some of the greatest talents in the history of fashion; Yves St Laurent, Marc Bohan and John Galliano to name but a few. In May 1999, Christian Dior Haute Joaillerie first opened its doors in Paris on the avenue Montaigne to be followed shortly by another on the Place Vendôme and boutiques in New York and Los Angeles. The creative force behind this new direction is Victoire de Castellane. Taking her cue from Christian Dior himself, Madame de Castellane is determined to infuse the same revolutionary spirit into the world of haute joaillerie. Victoire de Castellane is a spontaneous woman who revels in beauty and life and adores extravagance in jewels. All her jewellery is designed with that personality and philosophy in mind. Much enthralled by romanticism and poetry, Victoire de Castellane creates striking and original jewels, drawing on her love of colour and exoticism, mixing precious and fine stones in a kaleidoscope of bejewelled fantasy. As an ode to nature that Monsieur Dior so adored, this necklace,"Diorissimo", is fashioned after sprays of lilies of the valley. It is not only inspired by the name of one of Dior’s most renowned and universally adored fragrances but the lily of the valley was the favourite flower of Christian Dior and also one of the symbols of the House of Dior. This creation is a homage to both Dior and to the beautiful flowers which herald the Spring.