How ancient Egypt is inspiring a new generation of high jewellery

The recent opening of the billion-dollar Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, housing the famous Tutankhamun treasures, coincided with the launch of Van Cleef & Arpels' high jewellery collection titled "Fascinating Egypt." This collection pays tribute to the land of the pharaohs using rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds, reigniting Europe's fascination sparked by Napoleon's 1798 invasion.

Egyptian aesthetics influenced European designers in the late 19th century, leading to the Art Deco era. Now, Van Cleef & Arpels is reviving the Egyptian allure with 180 abstract and figurative pieces, embodying the maison's artistic language. Catherine Reinier, president and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, explains that the maison has long been inspired by Egypt and wishes to prolong this story.

The collection features pieces such as Paysage bracelets, a ruby and diamond lotus brooch, and the Beauté Légendaire necklace. The trend continues with Boghossian's Queens of Time collection, inspired by Egyptian queens like Cleopatra. Ancient Egyptian jewellery techniques are still used today, and motifs like scarabs, lotus flowers, and hieroglyphs remain symbolic of glamour.

Egyptian jewellery designers Amina Ghali and her mother Azza Fahmy are particularly fascinated by the quality of goldsmithing from ancient Egypt, admiring the seamless gold mask of Tutankhamun. The museum's opening has renewed interest in Egypt's cultural heritage and design language, inspiring contemporary designers to incorporate ancient motifs into their work.