Messika unveiled its latest High Jewelry collection, Terres de Contrastes, with a runway show at the Grand Palais in Paris yesterday, bringing the Maison’s fascination with diamonds and movement into a setting inspired by the landscapes of Botswana.
Created around the idea of perpetual renewal, the collection draws on the contrasts of Botswana’s natural environment, from the waters and vegetation of the Okavango Delta to the ochres and reds of the Kalahari Desert and the mineral whites of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The colour palette moves between deep blues and greens, fiery earth tones and pale mineral shades, with delicate pinks and violets evoking the landscape at dusk.
The show took place in the Galerie Courbe, whose soaring architecture was incorporated into the presentation. Its curved form was conceived in reference to the crested dunes of the Kalahari, creating a dialogue between the historic Parisian landmark and the wilderness that inspired the collection.
Alongside Messika Artistic Director Valérie Messika, Carine Roitfeld brought her vision of the Parisian woman to the runway, styling the jewellery with silhouettes defined by sophistication and sensuality. As the models moved, the pieces were designed to sway with the body, emphasising the Maison’s distinctive approach to jewellery in motion.
Adriana Lima opened the show, while Irina Shayk closed it wearing Okavango Blue, the collection’s most significant stone. Cut from a 41.11-carat rough diamond into a 20.46-carat polished stone, the blue diamond is described by Messika as the largest blue diamond ever discovered in Botswana and the eighth largest in the world. Classified Fancy Deep Blue with VVS1 clarity, the stone was presented during the show in the presence of Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Honorable Bogolo Joy Kenewendo.
