PIAGET Rose Passion Watches and Jewellery - part 1 - Empress Josephine and Malmaison

The new Piaget Rose Passion collection is based on a luminous choice of colourful and precious stones (yellow diamonds, emeralds, pink sapphires) as well as hard stones (chrysocolla, chrysoprase, chalcedony), with a predominance of pink echoing the colour of the flower, and green for a fresh touch. Piaget has lavished the full force its expertise and jewellery-making skill on this especially large collection, since it comprises 100 pieces embodying a wealth of creativity. It encompasses watches, jewellery and High Jewellery items, connected by the theme of the rose and the spirit of Empress Joséphine instilled in each piece. Entirely manufactured in Piaget’s jewellery workshops, the collection features jewellery items that can be worn in many different ways, such as combs, tiaras as well as the brand’s cherished cuff-watches and secret watches. For this occasion, it rediscovers the classical techniques of High Jewellery and all the artistic crafts of which the creative sensitivity is successfully associated with jewellery-making precision.

The rose has special significance for Piaget and the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais. The woman whom Napoleon renamed Josephine had, from birth, a predilection for roses thanks to her given name, Rose. The rose collection that she brought together at Malmaison became one of the most beautiful and enviable in all of Europe, thanks to the diversity of some 250 varieties it contained in 1814.

In 2013, we reported the restoration project sponsored by Piaget to reclaim the glory of the rose garden at the Chateau de Malmaison. PIAGET and the Roses of the Chateau de Malmaison [CLICK the following URL link]
piaget.watchprosite.com

Although this is primarily a horology forum, we have to appreciate the watches in the context of their setting in the whole Collection. For ladies, the watches are not stand-alone accessory but a complementary part of the assembled 'Look'. The choice of precious metal and gem colour combination is an essential start. The ability to extend the use from Day to Night and from Casual to Formal is helpful but not essential. What is essential is a cohesive theme.

Garden rose, elegant rose, exotic rose: the Piaget Rose Passion collection, pervaded by the personality of Joséphine de Beauharnais, shares her character traits and embodies her passions. Through its interpretation of roses, the collection expresses the beauty of this flower, to which Joséphine devoted her life, yearly increasing her amazing rose collection at Malmaison.

 It vividly reflects the elegance of the Empress who wore magnificent gold-embroidered dresses with floral motifs.

Piaget has notably also funded the restoration of a dress and an amazing mantle.

Its colourful exuberant and exotic nature is a reminder of the origins of Joséphine, who throughout her life remained homesick for her native Martinique. In the PIAGET Rose Passion Collection, the laurel branches, with their leaves daintily represented by a marquise-cut diamond, are reminiscent of the elegant motifs of which Joséphine was fond and which adorned her exquisitely feminine gowns, furniture, marquetry floors and the painted ceilings at Malmaison.

Through this mini-series about the Technique and Aesthetique of the Piaget Rose Passion Collection, we will explore cloisonné enamel, 'petticoat-style' setting, meshwork, chaton and glyptic work.

Many of the jewellery techniques and tools were adopted for watchmaking during the evolution of luxury goods market.

Do you think there such discussions will help or hinder our efforts to involve the fairer sex on PuristSPro?

Regards,
MTF

PIAGET Rose Passion Watches and Jewellery - part 1 - Empress Josephine and Malmaison
piaget.watchprosite.com

PIAGET Rose Passion Watches and Jewellery - part 2 - Cloisonné Dial
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