Style Edit: Boghossian’s Palace Voyages collection is a journey through history, architecture and dazzling jewels that embodies the maison’s meticulous craftsmanship

Dec 9 , 2024

Boghossian’s latest high jewellery collection, Palace Voyages, was unveiled in Bangkok in November. Photo: Handout

Boghossian’s latest high jewellery takes inspiration from royal residences around the world, such as Bangkok’s Grand Palace, Beijing’s Qianlong Palace and Jaipur’s City Palace

Boghossian’s latest high jewellery collection, Palace Voyages, is a mesmerising journey through history’s most storied palaces, reimagined as breathtaking adornments. Unveiled for the first time in Thailand during an exclusive showcase at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok last month, the collection embodies the maison’s meticulous craftsmanship and its passion for cultural storytelling.

The occasion proved to be a seamless blend of artistry and elegance, with Ralph Boghossian, the sixth-generation custodian of the brand, in attendance. Each piece in Palace Voyages unfolds as a dazzling dialogue between architecture and ornamentation, drawing inspiration from 14 royal residences – from the tranquil courtyards of Beijing’s Qianlong Palace to the bold arches of Mysore Palace.

Some of Boghossian’s high jewellery collections feature pieces that take inspiration from architecture. Photo: Handout

“Studying the history and architecture of the palaces that inspired these pieces was profoundly enriching,” says Edmond Chin, Boghossian’s creative director. “The unique characteristics of these places seemed to imprint themselves into the designs, creating unusually beautiful effects.”

A Boghossian high jewellery set presented at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok last month. Photo: Handout

The Tranquil Magnolia necklace is a stand-out, inspired by the Qianlong Emperor’s devotion to classical Chinese art. Its jadeite links cradle a mother-of-pearl magnolia blossom that appears to float, crowned by a sparkling oval diamond. This delicate piece reflects the marquetry and aesthetic principles of the Qianlong Palace, where balance and empty space are integral to its artistic philosophy.

From Beijing, the collection ventures to Indonesia, where the sacred pools of Taman Sari in Yogyakarta inspire the Flowing Droplets set. With Paraiba tourmalines and marquise diamonds, these pieces shimmer in hues reminiscent of sunlit water, with a fluid design enhanced by a mesh setting that mimics the pools’ ripples.

The grandeur of Bangkok’s Grand Palace is reimagined in the Grand Court set. Thanks to an innovative invisible setting in the Shimmering Rays ensemble, yellow and white diamonds are combined in a series of angles and repeating lines to replicate the structure’s soaring columns. The central pendant is inspired by the head of the mythological Naga – fierce dragons – that guard its grounds.

The Shimmering Rays ensemble, part of the Grand Court set, encapsulates the glitter of Bangkok’s Grand Palace. Photo: Handout