Lydia Courteille's new jewelry collection is heavily informed by the history of the Silk Road and the mythical character of Iparhan. The 18th-century princess allegedly became the first consort of a Qing
dynasty emperor and is featured in Courteille's collection.
The Chinese legend inspired the jeweler to use traditional materials to delve into the country's rich history to create new pieces. Iparhan's portrait is exhibited on a ring, framed in diamonds, sapphire apatites, aquamarine, and cavansite. Other examples of the intricate designs include a pendant of a fisherman holding two koi carp, dripped in watermelon tourmalines, tsavorites, and pink sapphires. Other rings and earrings nod to ancient Chinese traditions through jade, dinosaur gembone, and darkly colored diamonds.
Image Credit: Lydia Courteille