From Earth’s treasures to dazzling Haute Joaillerie: a commitment to traceability, bold creativity and masterful craftsmanship
Chopard unveiled the latest opus of its Insofu Emerald: an extraordinary fusion uniting the forces of Nature, the concern for traceable and sustainable luxury, and the Maison’s boundless creativity to give birth to a one-of-a-kind Haute Joaillerie collection that is as mesmerising as it is rich in significance.
For the second time in its history, Chopard has taken the bold step of devising an Haute Joaillerie collection, not from a set of cut and polished gemstones, but instead from a raw stone, full of both promise and uncertainties. Such a scheme is unusual for a jeweller, but to Chopard, it represents a guarantee of traceability, and an opportunity to work in closer collaboration with those at the beginning of the supply chain.
After the Garden of Kalahari Collection – born from a 342-carat rough diamond in 2017 – the story of the Insofu Collection began in 2022 in Paris, when Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s visionary Co-President and Artistic Director, unveiled an astonishing 6,225-carat rough emerald, unearthed in Zambia a few years prior. Awestruck, the miners named it Insofu, meaning “elephant” in the local Bemba language — a nod to its trunk-like shape and unprecedented colossal size. Captivated in turn by its vivid colour, shifting hues, and unique character, Caroline Scheufele acquired the gem, sure it would yield stones destined to become the centrepiece of extraordinary jewels. Unlike a rough diamond, whose yield in terms of diamond types and carats can be determined by specific tools with scientific precision, a rough emerald is an even bolder undertaking, as the stone only reveals its true potential during the fraught cutting process.
Chopard brought the world’s most skilled gem-cutters from India to its Geneva workshops to meticulously study the gem and propose cuts and facets to reveal its inherent beauty, while preserving its unique soul. This proved to be a lengthy and delicate venture lasting nearly a year, given emeralds are notoriously fragile and demand the utmost expertise. Their internal inclusions, known as “jardin,” require careful handling: cutting too close to them may create fractures that can spread across the gem. Moreover, it is essential to ensure the inclusions’ position does not overshadow the stone’s brilliance.
Ultimately, the Insofu gem yielded 850 carats of breathtaking emeralds, each a testament to the Artisans’ unparalleled skill and dedication.
“In every stone lies a story, and my role is to listen and honour the natural magic they carry as treasures from the Earth,” says Caroline Scheufele. “With the Insofu Collection, it was about respecting this inherent beauty. I chose the finest quality stones from the heart of the emerald, pairing them with diamonds, pink sapphires, and pearls”.
A creative soul with multiple talents, who thinks of women’s beauty holistically, Caroline Scheufele has chosen to accompany this collection with five matching gowns showcasing the craftsmanship of Caroline’s Couture – her collection of Couture silhouettes designed as a dialogue between fashion and jewellery. The Insofu Collection thus brings together all the Métiers d’Art preserved by Chopard’s Artisans.
Chopard Insofu Collection features 15 exquisite Haute Joaillerie creations — five pairs of earrings, four necklaces, three rings, a bracelet and a jewellery watch. Each jewel reflects a different facet of the Insofu Emerald’s character, drawing influences from the organic and fluid lines of nature, abstract forms, and the rigorous elegance of Art Deco. Their unifying element lies in the embodiment of the Joie de Vivre so vividly portrayed by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby.
Caroline Scheufele decided to unveil the Collection in collaboration with the charity Elephant Family, linking the discovery of this natural marvel with a meaningful cause. The charitable dimension imbues this Haute Joaillerie collection with profound meaning, perfectly complementing the Chopard’s pioneering spirit in innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of sustainable luxury. Part of the profits from each piece sold in the Collection will be donated to support Elephant Family and its actions.
Elephant Family exclusively works in partnership with conservation experts on the ground to tackle the challenges facing Asia’s wildlife and the indigenous communities that live alongside them. Its efforts focus on mitigating human-elephant conflict, safeguarding migratory corridors, and fostering community engagement to promote a culture of coexistence. Elephant Family is uniquely positioned to support communities to thrive alongside wildlife, and to ensure that Asia’s biodiverse landscapes remain truly wild for generations to come.
