Fanning A Historical Flame

The luxury jewellery house Garrard revisits its Fanfare collection and gives a new interpretation to the eye-catching pieces in its new Fanfare Symphony range.

History and opulence are part of Garrard’s biography, and expanding one of its most remarkable collections is part of keeping up with tradition and innovation. Elegance and glamour are the words to describe the opera masquerades and their attendees’ outfits. The indispensable accessory of the time, an intricate fan, is the inspiration for Garrard’s original Fanfare collection. They were the height of fashion in London’s theatre district when Garrard opened its first boutique there in 1735.

Garrard’s designers revisited these spirited masquerades for the new Fanfare Symphony jewels, adding the symphony of colour unleashed as ladies swirled around the ballrooms in their extravagant gowns. The new collection contrasts the signature coloured gemstones’ vibrancy with the unique beauty of ornamental hardstones.

Expanding the theme of colour that infused the original assemblage, the designers opted to work with hardstones for an exciting new range of shades. Mood boards with different combinations of gemstones and hardstones were created, and the most harmonious pairings were selected to compose the new jewels, more than 40 in total. The gemstone and hardstone matchings in the Fanfare Symphony collection are a captivating reminder of this fun-loving period in Garrard’s history. Designed to accentuate each jewel’s primary hue, these are the matchings: pink tourmaline is combined with pink opal; emerald with malachite; sapphire with lapis lazuli; aquamarine with turquoise; yellow sapphire with cacholong; ruby with hematite; and white diamond with mother-of-pearl.