JEWELS, A PIECE OF HUMAN HISTORY
Throughout history we find many characters who have shown a special taste for jewelry: royals, actresses, singers, writers... There are especially relevant examples that have survived to this day.
First of all, it couldn't be anyone else: Marie Antoinette . She went down in history for being the Queen of France, among other things. But in our current world we could attribute to her the title of also being the first influencer in history. Despite being judged and criticized, everything she wore ended up becoming fashionable at the French court. Jewelry was a must in her looks. However, the piece of jewelry most associated with her was never actually hers. That jewel was a stunning necklace of more than 600 diamonds that Louis XVI ordered for his lover and not for her. One more extravagance to add to the little sympathy that the French had towards Marie Antoinette. She may have been a disastrous queen for them, but it is undeniable that she was a style icon. She died in the guillotine at the hands of the revolution, leaving us one last trend, the “revolutionary” shirt dress.
Extravagance and opulence were not invented by rappers like Drake or Travis Scott. The royals were already experts in this long before, if not tell it to Tsar Alexander III. Without it, Fabergé Eggs would not exist. Russian Orthodox tradition dictates that decorated eggs are exchanged during Easter. The Tsar wanted to go further and commissioned jeweler Peter C. Fabergé to create a special egg to give to his wife. The Tsarina fell in love with its beauty and since then the Tsar gave her a different egg every year, all created by Fabergé. When the Tsar died, his son, Nicholas II continued the tradition. He gave a new egg to his wife and mother every year. Today these pieces of jewelry have incalculable value.
But to talk about true love you must take into account Elizabeth Taylor and her jewelry. The Hollywood star once had a large collection of high jewelry pieces. In addition to the economic value, some of the pieces in his jewelry box had historical value added. Among them, the Taj Mahal diamond stands out, which is said to date back to the 16th century and belonged to Emperor Shah Jahan, the same one who ordered the Taj Mahal to be built for his wife. Also on this list is the mythical “Pilgrim Pearl” that passed from the Spanish crown to Napoleon Bonaparte and was finally given to the actress by Richard Burton. The passion for her jewelry was such that she wrote a book about all of them “ My jewelry love affair ”.
Approaching more contemporary figures we must include Princess Diana . If something has survived to this day, it is her style. The former Princess of Wales had a special taste for fashion and jewelry. If there are two jewels with which the princess is automatically identified, they are her daily use of pearls and her famous engagement ring. A ring with a huge sapphire surrounded by diamonds, which continues to be the object of desire of many women today.
Obviously these people have not gone down in history simply because of the jewelry they wore. However, jewelry has helped form the image we have of them today and in some way helps us identify them.
It is curious how maximalism once set the norm, purchasing power was flaunted through jewelry. Fortunately, this behavior, although it still persists, is no longer as present as before. At matterica we are committed to jewelry that represents oneself, that is wearable objects. For us, the economic value will never exceed the emotional and attachment value that a necklace, bracelet or ring may have. Keeping an object that preserves a memory for a lifetime has a value that goes far beyond monetary value.
Picture ⎯ © Marie-Antoinette 2006 Sofia Coppola