Animal-inspired high jewelry goes far beyond whimsical motifs—it channels the primal beauty of the wild, reflecting themes of strength, freedom, and spiritual symbolism. In the hands of today’s most visionary maisons, each creation becomes a modern fable told in gold, diamonds, and colored stones. Here’s a look at how two legendary houses—Chopard and De Beers—reimagine the animal kingdom with striking creativity and reverence.
Chopard’s Insofu Collection: A Tribute to the Elephant Spirit
Chopard’s Insofu high jewelry collection began with a legend—quite literally. The star of the series is a staggering 6,225-carat rough emerald unearthed in Zambia. So massive and awe-inspiring was the gem that miners named it Insofu, meaning “elephant” in the local Bemba language. The name reflects not just the stone’s size, but its trunk-like form and the quiet power it radiates.
As the collection now reaches its grand finale, Chopard presents a breathtaking pendant that pays homage to the emerald’s origin. Cut exclusively from the original Insofu stone, the piece is sculptural and symbolic—a talisman of wisdom, strength, and nature’s majesty. With this final act, Chopard closes the chapter on one of the most extraordinary stones ever discovered, transforming raw earth into wearable myth.
De Beers’ Forces of Nature: Abstract Power, Modern Spirit
De Beers takes a different yet equally captivating approach to animal-themed jewelry with its Forces of Nature collection. Rather than rely on literal forms, the maison uses abstraction and minimalist linework to evoke the essence of each creature, leaving much to the imagination—and to the wearer’s interpretation.
Take the Magnetism choker, for instance. A sleek array of olive-green fancy diamonds recalls the penetrating gaze of a panther hidden in the foliage, its body invisible but its eyes watchful and electric. Or the Tenderness ring—a poetic expression of an elephant’s profile, captured in sweeping curves of precious metal and a raised trunk adorned with diamonds. It’s not a portrait, but a presence.
By rejecting strict naturalism, De Beers offers a contemporary take on animal iconography—one that emphasizes energy, emotion, and individuality. This modernist edge is especially evident in the Individuality ring, where a 3.09-carat Asscher-cut diamond sits between enamel strokes representing the bold mane of a zebra. Here, the wild is not simply illustrated—it’s honored through artistic interpretation.
Whether through Chopard’s reverent transformation of a legendary stone or De Beers’ elegant abstraction of the natural world, animal-themed jewelry remains one of haute joaillerie’s most powerful storytelling tools. These are pieces that do more than sparkle—they speak.