18 July 2025 |
Essence of Nature: Chapter 2 premiered during haute couture week.
Can a humble tree be a glittering work of art? In the hands of De Beers, yes. The 135 year old diamond company introduced their latest high jewelry collection, Essence of Nature: Chapter 2, during haute couture week in Paris. Paying homage to four varietals native to the countries from where the brand sources their stones, the 42 piece collection is nature’s wonders at its finest. 25 were shown in early July while the rest will be unveiled in China this fall.
Being that De Beers was founded in South Africa, naturally the first tree in the lineup hails from that country. Taking inspiration from the Jacaranda, the Jacaranda Bloom series imitates its vibrant yet delicate flowers. Consisting of pear, marquise, and round brilliant cut polished white diamonds set against purple enamel, it mimics the hues of its namesake. Two of the rarest diamonds from De Beer’s Natural Work of Art collection are featured in this set: a 20.10 carat D-Flawless pear-shaped white diamond and a 1.01 carat Fancy Intense Pink.
The next stop brings the collection to Namibia, home to the Camelthron tree, and the source of inspiration for the Camelthorn Resilience. Native to the country’s desert, the distinctive sculptural silhouette with its bare branches and unique bark is a minimalist’s delight. Polished and hand-textured gold is embellished with rows of white and brown rough diamonds, each set in meticulously crafted basket settings. To evoke the tree’s texture, polished diamonds are added for contrast. For those looking for a standout design look to the necklace, a convertible piece that can be worn seven ways.
For the third set, De Beers looked to Botswana, home to the ancient Baobab tree, also known as “the tree of life.” The Baobab Magnitude suite consists of bold and voluminous shapes, adorned with rough and polished diamonds. Unique to this series are new techniques for the brand: hand carved jet and diamond melee, which is used to set the rough stones.
Finally, to round out the collection, De Beers jaunted off to Canada. And what could be more Canadian than maples? The Maple Colours set honors the national tree as well as the country’s tundras, which are rich with diamonds. Consisting of distinctive maple leaves, crafted on white, yellow and rose gold, they’re embellished with orange-hued diamonds that evoke the shifting colors of the seasons. And being that fall is when part two of the high jewelry collection will be revealed, it’s a handy teaser for De Beer’s next stage in China. What can we expect next? Our bet is on icy branches.
