Pharrell Williams is bringing Lorraine Schwartz jewels to auction

By Kim Parker

Newly-appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton menswear, Pharrell Williams is hoping to bring his Midas touch to the world of digital jewellery auctions. Joopiter, his digital-first auction house which launched last year, will be holding its first high-jewellery auction from now until March 28.

Entitled ‘A Journey Through Gems’, the auction has been created in partnership with red carpet jeweller and third-generation diamond dealer Lorraine Schwartz, and will include one-of-a-kind pieces worn by Schwartz’s celebrity fans, alongside dazzling loose gemstones.

“I was lucky enough to meet Pharrell over 20 years ago, and we’ve built an incredible friendship through a mutual appreciation for the most exquisite and unique gems int he world,” Schwartz has said.

“To me, A Journey Through Gems is not only a curation of the finest bespoke high jewellery available now, but also the story of our journey and relationship as told through gems. I am excited to partner with Joopiter for this once-in-a-lifestime sale, bringing access to these gems and their provenance to a global audience.”

And what a provenance. Highlights going into the sale include the glamourous 18-karat white gold and purple sapphire, Paraiba tourmaline and diamond panel earrings that Taylor Swift wore to the 2023 Grammys, an astounding 50-carat D Flawless Type IIa heart-shaped loose diamond, and a Colombian emerald bib necklace with matching earrings which have been previously spotted on Beyoncé.

A Journey Through Gems is Joopiter’s second auction. The first, entitled Son of a Pharaoh, including items from Pharrell’s own personal collection of jewellery and watches, including an estimated $2.6million worth of baubles later worn by Drake in his music video, Jumbotron Shit Poppin’, with a portion of proceeds going to Pharrell’s Black Ambition Initiative to support Black entrepreneurs.

Bidding begins on March 17 on the Joopiter website, and will remain open until March 28. A private preview of the jewels is scheduled to coincide with Art Basel in Hong Kong, which will be Joopiter’s first ever event outside the USA.

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