Hummingbird? Kingfisher? Or is a Blue magpie your spirit animal? Choosing a particular bird-inspired brooch may be a difficult task when there is an entire aviary of sparkling options.
The bejeweled flock is part of the fine jeweler and watchmaker Harry Winston’s Marvelous Creations. The collection landed in the brand’s Houston salon and online earlier this month.
These are extremely rare birds—each piece is a one-off. Think of them as minuscule, intricate sculptures or wearable works of art. And unlike those grousing Bored Apes, these majestic beasts are fungible and sparkling.
Put a Bird on It: This Peacock brooch has rubies, pink sapphires, and pink diamonds set in platinum and 18k rose gold. Courtesy of Harry Winston.
Two Birds With Many Stones: These Falconry Legacy cufflinks feature fancy quartz, fancy onyx, and diamonds set in 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold. Courtesy of Harry Winston.
These Marvelous Creations are not only ornithological—there is a broader animal kingdom represented in the menagerie. Some designs are easily recognizable avatars; others are more abstract and even surreal, like a ruby-and-diamond betta-fish brooch with undulating fins.
Perhaps most beguiling is the serpentine exquisiteness of the python-themed pieces. The snake has been immortalized in a high jewelry set with a diamond-and-sapphire bracelet, timepiece, necklace, and earrings.
May I Help You With That Classssp? The Blue Python Necklace has blue sapphires and diamonds set in platinum. Courtesy of Harry Winston.
Ringmaster: The Star Sapphire ring at left has a star-sapphire oval cabochon and diamonds set in Platinum; the one at right features a cats-eye cabochon chrysoberyl and diamonds set in platinum. Courtesy of Harry Winston.
Four one-of-a-kind rings have been created for the collection. While adhering to the nature theme, they celebrate the wonders beneath the earth with diamonds surrounding a main stone (ruby, cat’s eye chrysoberyl, or one of two types of sapphire). These rare gems also nod to the heavens above: they exhibit a natural occurrence called asterism, which creates a motif on the surface of a stone that happens to look like a star.