A woman’s Vesta friend

Lalique’s unique Greek goddess pendant finishes a world tour

René Lalique was quite the Renaissance man. Born in the Champagne region of France in 1860, he originally learnt the craft of jewellery making, but in later years started experimenting with glass, for which he is best known today.

“He was one of the most celebrated art-nouveau jewellers,” says Quentin Obadia, the brand’s head of jewellery design. Lalique’s creations were worn by art patrons and collectors such as Martine de Béhague and Marie-Louise Arconati-Visconti, as well as the US writer Natalie Clifford Barney. Pieces such as these saw him awarded the ultimate in French accolades, the Croix de chevalier de la Légion d’honneur in 1897. Lalique also designed stage jewellery for the darling of Paris’s Théâtre de la Ville, the actress Sarah Bernhardt, and during a state visit to Paris in December 1918 the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, Edith, was presented with a Lalique brooch featuring eight olive branches set with diamonds and eight glass doves.

Although Lalique’s current jewellery offerings are arguably eclipsed by its decorative creations, from vases to sculptures, the marque feels now is the moment to reignite its reputation for gems – and what better way than with a piece capturing the spirit of Vesta, the Greek goddess of sacred fire? Monday August 19 sees the brand’s magnificent one-off Vesta necklace, a modern take on M René’s art, finish a world tour, when it will be available for purchase at a price of £440,000. “It has become a statement piece for the new wave of Lalique jewellery and it truly heightens the modern Lalique name,” explains Obadia.

Make no mistake, the piece is fierce and sparkling. A profusion of diamonds, opals and crystals are set in bright yellow and white gold. In a nod to 21st-century-style fluidity, detachments enable it to be worn as a brooch and a pendant as well as a necklace. The collection can be completed with the Vesta ring (£26,400), earrings (£35,200), a bracelet (£88,000) and, finally, a pendant (£8,800).  

It is a lucky woman indeed who will find herself in the company of First Lady Wilson.