“If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.” These iconic words from Gabrielle Chanel are more than just a poetic statement — they are an invitation to rise, to dream, and to dare. With the new Reach for the Stars High Jewelry collection, Chanel celebrates this enduring spirit of independence, ambition, and ethereal elegance. Inspired by the golden hour — that fleeting moment between day and night when light dances across the sky — the collection glows with vibrant hues, celestial motifs, and Gabrielle Chanel’s cherished symbols: the comet, the wings, and the lion.
The collection, designed by Patrice Leguéreau and the Chanel Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, translates the magic of twilight into a sophisticated palette of diamonds, colored gemstones, and luminous design. At its core is Chanel’s refined vision of glamour: radiant but never ostentatious, free yet structured, bold yet graceful.
The Comet: A Sparkling Journey to the Stars
The star and the comet were among Gabrielle Chanel’s earliest jewelry symbols, first appearing in her revolutionary 1932 “Bijoux de Diamants” collection. For her, stars symbolized freedom — the freedom to believe in one’s lucky star, to shine beyond limits. In Reach for the Stars, this motif is reimagined in dazzling detail.
The Blazing Star set extends comet trails in gold and onyx, creating striking lines that intensify their brilliance. The Dazzling Star choker features twin diamond pendants at the clasp — a delicate nod to both seduction and sophistication. Other highlights include between-the-fingers rings transformed into radiant hand jewels, and earrings that seem to shimmer with movement and lightness.
Perhaps the most poetic interpretation is the Dreams Come True necklace, inspired by the contours of a couture gown. The Twin Stars necklace is a technical marvel: transformable into two bracelets and two shorter necklaces, it weaves together diamonds, comet motifs, and strands of tanzanite beads in a seamless celestial choreography.
The final punctuation to this chapter is the Silhouette Clock, a sculptural object featuring Gabrielle Chanel gazing upward, dressed simply in a braided jacket and trousers — a quiet yet powerful homage to her eternal connection with the cosmos.
The Wings: A Symbol of Liberation and Lightness
The wing, a new motif in Chanel Haute Joaillerie, echoes Chanel’s call to nurture our inner flight. Each winged piece is articulated with meticulous care to hug the body like fine lace — sensual, mobile, and weightless.
The Wings of Chanel necklace unfurls in a gentle arc around the neck, anchored by a rare 19.55-carat Padparadscha sapphire — its soft orange-pink glow evoking the warmth of a summer sunset. A matching ring features a flawless 8.15-carat diamond set in a delicate wing motif that seems to float just above the skin.
Elsewhere, the Free Move necklace gracefully accentuates either the neckline or a bare back, depending on how it is worn. The Pretty Wings asymmetrical earrings and the Full Swing tiara bring surprise and elegance to every profile. Colored gems amplify the mood of each piece: pink sapphires in the Pink Hour necklace, yellow and cognac diamonds in the Sunny Days brooch, and tanzanite beads in After Midnight that mimic the sky turning to dusk.
The Lion: Audacious Majesty
Gabrielle Chanel’s zodiac sign, the lion, has long symbolized strength, courage, and elegance — and since 2012, it has reigned as an emblem of Chanel High Jewelry. In Reach for the Stars, the lion roars in two spectacular interpretations.
The Strong as a Lion set features the lion’s face framed by a halo of stars, sculpted in white gold and adorned with white and yellow diamonds — commanding yet refined. The Be the One set offers a stylized version in yellow gold, surrounded by a diamond aura, expressing a subtler strength.
In profile, the lion becomes more sculptural, embodying Chanel’s philosophy of capturing one’s “physical aura” simply and truthfully. This vision materializes in the Embrace your Destiny necklace, where two lions flank a dramatic cascade of pear-shaped diamonds. The Sky is the Limit set wraps the neck in winged lions, merging architectural presence with gentle authority.
With Reach for the Stars, Chanel has composed more than a collection — it is a constellation of dreams, heritage, and feminine power. Comets blaze, wings lift, and lions guard, each motif articulating a different facet of Gabrielle Chanel’s timeless vision of glamour: one rooted in grace, illuminated by character, and unafraid to ascend. In these jewels, we don’t just wear beauty — we wear the spirit of freedom. An invitation, as ever, to dare, to dream, and to rise.
