English Version | Timeless beauty

Bold, charismatic, exuberant, and sophisticated, a blend of Hollywood glamour and the bohemian spirit of Los Angeles: like Julia Roberts - to whom the aforementioned adjectives accentuate like a glove - the collection now presented by Chopard - for whom the award-winning actress is a global ambassador - is a hymn to the encounter between modernity and tradition. Chopard x Julia Roberts is a historic collaboration, co-designed by Maison's co-president and artistic director, Caroline Scheufele, and the eternal "pretty woman", a tribute to the mesmerizing beauty of the 6225-carat Insofu Emerald. It was its discovery in 2021 at the Kagem mine in Zambia that started this whole fable-worthy process. Defying convention, Chopard acquired the Insofu in its rough form, persuaded by the potential of this uncut and unpolished gem, with its captivating and changing shades of green, as well as the unparalleled purity of its texture. Quickly, India's most experienced emerald cutters began studying the stone to reveal its unique character; then the cutting process took place in Chopard's workshops in Geneva and Jaipur, the cradle of Indian jewelry traditions. The first steps towards creating a unique piece of design were taken.

Caroline Scheufele envisioned a collaboration that would enhance the natural beauty of the gem - and who better to bounce ideas off than Julia Roberts, a creative mind with a deep appreciation for jewelry? As Chopard's worldwide ambassador, the actress has often worn Scheufele's creations, thus developing an expert understanding of how jewelry interacts with the body and what makes a woman feel comfortable when she is the center of attention, such as the countless red carpets where she is photographed. Over the years, united by the same values and passions, they have forged a unique relationship that fosters respect and trust - but also creativity. Blending avant-garde execution with the ethics of tradition, they have designed a ring, necklace, and pair of earrings from a selection of Insofu-cut emeralds. 

This High Jewelry capsule collection, Chopard x Julia Roberts, was created by mixing a series of vivid, contrasting tones - evoking the cultural heritage of Indian jewelry - with the fresh, modern lines of contemporary goldsmithing techniques. An incredible juxtaposition of the crystalline green of emeralds, matte sky-blue turquoise (Julia Roberts' favorite gemstone), and sumptuous cherry-red rubellites create a mesmerizing masterpiece. The cocktail ring extends to the adjacent fingers from its emerald heart, forming a vibrantly colored flower with drop-shaped gemstone petals - which also characterize the last piece in the collection, the earrings.

Expertly crafted with unparalleled skills, each piece in this set is made from Fairmined-certified ethical rose gold, reflecting Chopard's decade-long journey towards sustainable luxury, a cornerstone of the Maison that is also particularly important to Julia Roberts. The Insofu Emerald itself represents an innovative step in this commitment: by purchasing a rough stone, Chopard can follow its entire journey through to the final creation; from the cutting of the gem to the design of the jewel, the ateliers ensure a complete chain of traceability, which is rare for stones of this quality.  This quest for transparency - which aims to ensure conscious and controlled sourcing from suppliers who demonstrate responsible social, environmental, and economic practices - embodies the enduring nobility of a journey driven by genuine 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 similar to the animal's trunk. Its discovery and transformation into unique and singular gems underline Chopard's dedication to celebrating the Earth's most beautiful treasures, now intertwined with the actress's artistic vision.

The memories of the creation process couldn't be better. "Caroline immediately captured my attention when she told me the story of Esmeralda Insofu. It was a very exciting challenge when she later proposed that we work together on a custom design, and we've had a lot of fun bringing this together, creating beautiful, sustainable jewelry that blends the timeless allure of the emerald with dazzling colors and a stone I love, turquoise," says Julia Roberts, adding that the pieces work well individually and paired casually with a pair of jeans. "Collaborating with Julia on this capsule collection has been an incredible journey," said Caroline Scheufele. "From the moment we discovered the Insofu Emerald we knew it was a jewel that could inspire greatness. This piece is a testament to that inspiration, a fusion of our shared passion for beauty, elegance, and responsible luxury." A journey that is now shared with lovers of all that is beautiful and timeless.

Originally published in The Memories Issue, from April 2024. Full stories and credits are in the print version.