The journey of life can be summed up in just a few words — individual, complex, and most importantly, memorable. For Christian Dior, the gift of life and its impermanence pushed him to pursue his wildest dreams, creating something that would outlast his own mortality. Never one to sacrifice quality for trend, Dior instilled these values during his life, helping the fashion house to thrive into the 21st century. Now his legacy continues through the work of Victoire de Castellane, the Artistic Director behind Dior Joaillerie‘s new collection.
Inspired by the Latin phrases memento mori and carpe diem — motivational epithets symbolizing that life is for the living — the ‘Tête de Mort’ collection of three delicate rings and three necklaces reminds wearers how lucky they are to lead such colorful lives. Soft pinks, blues, and violet stones are encased in various golds, juxtaposing the permanence of jewelry with life’s fragility — a concept that stirs within emotions of vitality.
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Hand-carved, each stone has a story to tell. Rich blue chalcedony represents strength, powdery rose quartz embodies mental peace, and the vibrant violet amethyst personifies balance. As for the designs, symbolism is cleverly hidden within each item as well. In homage of Dior’s love for the lucky charm, de Castellane added a tsavorite garnet clover to the amethyst and gold pieces. The blue chalcedony skull adorned in a lily of the valley crown harks back to the founder’s adoration for the flower, which he was known to slip into the hems of his Haute Couture dresses. ‘Tête de mort’ is a battle cry for living life with purpose, a vision — to its fullest — and the spirit of Dior is awakened within the delicately constructed, diamond-encrusted, glistening little skulls.
Explore the visual magic of each piece in the gallery below.
Dior ‘Tête de Mort’ necklace with white gold, diamonds and blue chalcedony.
Dior ‘Tête de Mort’ necklace with yellow gold, diamonds, amethyst and tsavorite garnets.
