Insofu Emerald
It was in January 2022, that the Swiss watchmaker and jeweler Chopard had unveiled its 6,225-carat raw Insofu emerald at the Paris Haute Couture Week. Recently, the Maison’s Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele and Julia Roberts, global Ambassador of the Maison, presented a dazzling parure conceived as a tribute to the beauty of the Insofu Emerald, co-designed by them.
The discovery a few years ago of the extraordinary 6,225-carat Insofu Emerald in the Zambian’s Kagem mine represented a pivotal moment in the history of jewellery. Defying conventions, Chopard acquired Insofu in its rough form, persuaded by the potential of this still uncut and unpolished gem with its captivating and changing shades of green, as well as the unparalleled purity of its texture.
Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director and Julia Roberts, global brand Ambassador
Believing that such a gem deserved a design project beyond the ordinary, Caroline Scheufele asked the most expert emerald cutters from India to study the stone in order to reveal its unique character. The cutting process took place both in Chopard’s Geneva workshops and in Jaipur, the cradle of Indian jewellery traditions.
An exceptional creative collaboration
Caroline Scheufele also envisioned a collaboration that could fully express and enhance the gem’s natural beauty and what better partner for exchanging ideas than Julia Roberts, a creative mind with ambitious visions and a deep appreciation for jewellery?
As Chopard’s global Ambassador, Julia Roberts has often worn the beautiful designs imagined by Caroline Scheufele and masterfully crafted by her Haute Joaillerie workshops, thus developing an understanding of how jewels interact with the body and what makes a woman feel comfortable when she is the centre of attention. Over the years, Julia Roberts and Caroline Scheufele, united by shared values and passions, have forged a unique relationship that fosters free-flowing conversations characterised by mutual respect and trust.
Mingling avant-garde execution with heirloom aesthetics, together they conceived a ring, a necklace, and a pair of earrings from a selection of the Insofu cut emeralds. This Haute Joaillerie capsule collection, ‘Chopard x Julia Roberts’, was expertly crafted by blending an array of vivid contrasting hues – evoking the rich cultural heritage of Indian jewellery – with the resolutely fresh and modern lines of contemporary goldsmithing techniques. A brave juxtaposing of the crystalline green of the emeralds, matt sky-blue turquoise – a gemstone particularly cherished by Julia Roberts, who has worn it throughout her life – and juicy cherry-red rubellites creates a mesmerising masterpiece.
The cocktail ring fans out over the adjacent fingers from its emerald heart forming a flat, vibrantly coloured flower with drop-shaped gem petals. Droplets of pear-shaped emerald, rubellite and turquoise dangle in chandelier-style from the earrings echoing the similar-shaped tassels scattered across the delicately designed necklace formed by a row of colourful gems featuring the same cut.
Traceability, a responsible vision
Each piece in this set is made in Fairmined-certified ethical rose gold, reflecting Chopard’s decade-long Journey to Sustainable Luxury.
The Insofu Emerald itself represents an innovative step in this commitment. By purchasing a raw stone, Chopard is able to follow its entire journey through to final creation. From gem-cutting to jewellery design, the workshops ensure a complete chain of traceability which is rare for stones of such quality. This quest for transparency – aimed at ensuring conscious and controlled sourcing from suppliers demonstrating responsible practices at a social, environmental and economic level – embodies the enduring nobility of a Journey driven by heart-felt conviction and elegance.
The creative focus of attention is the gemstone named after the Bemba word for “elephant” due to its impressive size and shape akin to the animal’s trunk. Its discovery and transformation into unique and singular gems underscore Chopard’s dedication to celebrating the Earth’s most beautiful treasures, now intertwined with Julia Roberts’ personal artistic vision.
“Caroline immediately caught my attention when she told me the story of her exceptional Insofu Emerald. It was such an exciting challenge when she later proposed we work on a bespoke design, and together, we’ve had a lot of fun bringing this set into reality, creating jewellery that’s beautiful, sustainable, and mixes the timeless allure of emerald with stunning colors and a stone I cherish, the turquoise” says Julia Roberts, adding that the pieces also work well individually and styled in a casual way on a pair of jeans.
“Collaborating with Julia on this capsule collection has been an incredible journey,” says Caroline Scheufele. “From the moment we discovered the Insofu Emerald, we knew it was a gem that could inspire greatness. This parure is a testament to that inspiration, a fusion of our shared passion for beauty, elegance, and responsible luxury.”
