Need to know Gucci high jewellery

No stranger to decking himself out in jewellery, Alessandro Michele was appointed creative director at the house of Gucci in 2015. In 2019, he introduced its first high jewellery collection, which drew on his trademark maximalist aesthetic. Around 200 pieces were introduced, putting the brand alongside sparkly heavyweights like Cartier, Chanel and Dior (there’s only a handful of brands that do high jewellery). 

Reference points included the Victorian and Georgina eras; with contrasts in coloured stones, all of which he had picked himself. There is now a standalone Gucci jewellery store on Place Vendome. 

The latest collection, presented in 2021, starring Jodie Turner-Smith in its campaign and evoking the glamour of Hollywood, is called Hortus Deliciarum, which is Latin for “garden of delights”. The collection features motifs that are personal to Michele and that explore the history of the house’s iconography. Over 130 pieces split into four chapters – and mostly one of a kind – feature magical beasts, totemic symbols, flowers and nature. It is a combination of Italian craftsmanship and the poetic nature of Gucci, maximalist but with a great attention to detail.

Gucci is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), whose mission is to promote responsible, ethical, social and environmental best practices throughout the gold, platinum group metals and diamond supply chains. Since November 2015, all gold (100%) purchased by Gucci for jewellery has also been certified under the Responsible Jewellery Council Chain of Custody certification scheme in order to help us identify the origin and to guarantee verified responsible sources. This forms part of its mission to trace all materials in its supply chain.