Shopping for diamonds is about more than just the stones. It often starts with a mood, a deadline, and a plan for getting around London. Some couples begin in Mayfair, attracted by its historic buildings and elegant displays. Others go straight to Hatton Garden, where the focus quickly shifts to settings, stone choices, and custom options. Today’s buyers ask more detailed questions than they did a decade ago. They want designs that feel modern, not just expensive. They also expect clear information about where the materials come from, how comfortable the jewellery is, and how it will fit into their lives.
A key moment in this change came in 2017. That year, Chopard, the Geneva jeweller, launched Rihanna Loves Chopard. The project was more than just a celebrity partnership. It involved 18 months of collaboration between Rihanna and Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s Co-President and Creative Director, and led to two separate collections. One was high jewellery, designed for unique impact. The other was a limited-edition fine jewellery line that updated Chopard’s 1999 Ice Cube design with bold shapes and a new material for the brand’s fine jewellery.
For London buyers, the interest is less about fame and more about method. This story clarifies what to look for when choosing diamonds, coloured gemstones and ethical gold, whether you are browsing Mayfair or commissioning in Hatton Garden.
Why 2017 still matters in jewellery conversations
The source describes 2017 as a peak moment for celebrity-led collaborations in high jewellery. According to the source, 2017 was a high point for celebrity collaborations in high jewellery. This partnership stood out because it was treated as a true design project, not just a marketing move. Rihanna was seen as a co-designer, not just a brand ambassador. She took part in sketch revisions, reviewed prototypes, and worked on technical details to ensure the pieces fit perfectly in the design. The source describes using body moulds and mobile scans to ensure a cuff bracelet fits Rihanna’s body precisely, aiming for a second-skin effect. Even if you are buying on a smaller scale, the principle holds. Fit is a quality marker, especially when jewellery is bold in size or rigid in structure.
The collaboration was carefully planned. By creating two collections with different styles and price points, it offered both standout pieces and jewellery you could wear often. This approach is a big reason why the project is still seen as a turning point.
The launch also happened during the Cannes Film Festival’s 70th anniversary, which was Chopard’s 20th year as an official partner.
Rihanna’s role as described by Caroline Scheufele
The source attributes much of the collaboration’s framing to Scheufele. She describes a relationship that began years earlier when Chopard dressed Rihanna for major appearances. One early example is the 2008 Grammys, where Rihanna wore a diamond cuff when accepting her first award. The shift from wearing to creating is described as being initiated by Rihanna, who approached Scheufele about building a full collection.
The design process is described as involving 18 months of back-and-forth, with constant exchanges of sketches and ideas. Rihanna is also reported to make trips to Chopard’s Geneva headquarters to review designs and prototypes. The source emphasises that she did not merely sign off on finished pieces. She is presented as participating in technical evolution, including scan technology intended to help artisans shape structural jewellery to her morphology.
The source also connects Rihanna’s influence to her styling choices. She prefers mixing and stacking pieces, so they can be worn alone for a subtle look or layered for more impact. For buyers, it’s a good idea to ask not just what a piece is, but how it’s meant to be worn.
Two collections and 2 different ideas of modern
Chopard introduced Rihanna Loves Chopard as two related collections, each designed for a different buyer type. The high jewellery side comprises one-of-a-kind pieces built around 2 narratives inspired by Rihanna’s Barbadian identity. Gardens of Barbados draws on tropical flora and asymmetry, using greens achieved through stones such as emeralds, tsavorites and green beryls. Carnival aims to capture the energy of Barbados’ Kadooment Day festival through a vivid palette using multi-coloured sapphires, aquamarines and tourmalines in movement-heavy designs.
Alongside that sits the fine jewellery capsule, described as a limited-edition 9-piece Joaillerie collection based on minimalist geometry and sharp, clean lines. It updates the Ice Cube design introduced by Chopard in 1999 through rings, earrings, necklaces and bangles. The source states each design was limited to 2,000 editions.
For London buyers, this split makes the choice clearer. Are you looking for a rare, standout high jewellery piece, or do you want to build a collection of jewellery you can wear often, where the design is as important as the gemstones?
The Ice Cube reboot and why ceramic changed the mood
Chopard’s Ice Cube design is well known, and the source credits Rihanna with making its geometric style feel fresh again by giving it an urban, minimalist look and encouraging stacking. The main change was adding Jungle Green ceramic to the fine jewellery line, combined with 18-carat rose gold cubes. The source says Rihanna chose this colour to reflect the plants and lively spirit of Barbados, and coloured ceramic was a new material for Chopard’s fine jewellery.
Ceramic is important because it changes the look of jewellery. Unlike shiny metal, it has a matte, solid colour that stands out. When paired with warm rose gold, it creates a bold contrast that feels more architectural than traditional floral designs. This type of contrast is often what buyers mean when they want something modern.
If ceramic appears in a piece you are considering, examine how cleanly it meets metal. A confident design should show neat transitions and an intentional finish.
Colour and stone choices are the collaboration’s signature
The source highlights colour as a key part of the collaboration. Greens appear often in the Gardens of Barbados theme, using emeralds, tsavorites, and green beryls. The Carnival theme adds more colours with sapphires, aquamarines, and tourmalines to create a lively effect.
Public appearances are used in the source to illustrate the jewellery vocabulary. The 2017 Grammys are described as an early preview, featuring mismatched floral-inspired chandelier earrings set with sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines, rubellites, and tsavorites, alongside a marquise-cut diamond solitaire ring. A Cannes appearance is described with a black nephrite cuff set with a 31.95-carat emerald, plus emerald rings and emerald studs. Black diamonds and black nephrite are also described as part of the palette, used to sharpen contrast and add edge.
The buyer takeaway is coherence. Bold colour can feel disciplined when the palette is organised and repeated motifs recur. If you are considering coloured gemstones, ask to see stones in different lighting and ask how the setting is intended to support colour.
Ethical gold and what transparency looked like here
One of the most consequential claims in the source concerns sourcing. The collaboration is described as aligning with Chopard’s Journey to Sustainable Luxury initiative, with all pieces using 18-carat ethical gold certified as Fairmined. The source links this to Rihanna’s own questions about provenance, including asking where the gold originated.
For buyers, this makes it normal to ask for proof. Whether you’re shopping in Mayfair or Hatton Garden, you can ask about the ethical claims, what certifications are involved, and what documents come with your purchase. Even in luxury, clear information is essential.
This is also where trust shows. If a jeweller gives clear and consistent answers, it shows confidence. If the answers are unclear, that’s something to consider before you decide.
How red carpet theatre became a retail structure
The source’s timeline shows how the collaboration moved from public imagery to a product. A 2014 Diamond Ball appearance is described with a Chopard necklace featuring a 123.24-carat pear-shaped rubellite, positioned as a major reference point in Rihanna’s Chopard universe. In early 2017, the story became a sequence of previews and editorial imagery, including transformable ear clips described as featuring over 17 carats of diamonds.
The source dates the official collaboration announcement to April 2017, confirming the split into high jewellery and fine jewellery lines. Cannes is presented as the launch centre. After that, retail followed. The source states that the fine jewellery capsule arrived in boutiques in June 2017, including a UK launch at Selfridges, with additional high jewellery releases later in 2017.
For buyers, this structure is helpful. High jewellery offers the big, dramatic moments, while the capsule collection turns that feeling into pieces you can wear often.
Pricing signals and what they mean for shoppers
The source provides GBP-focused figures for the fine jewellery capsule, and treats high jewellery pricing as 'upon request'.
For the fine jewellery Joaillerie collection, entry-level pricing is around £1,150 to £1,250 for a simple 18-carat rose gold ring without diamond accents. Ceramic and rose gold stud earrings are priced at around £1,300 to £1,450. Bangles featuring green ceramic detailing are priced between £3,500 and £4,500, depending on the number of diamond-set cubes. A long sautoir necklace combining rose gold, diamonds and green ceramic is priced at around £8,500 to £9,500.
High jewellery pieces are described as unique and priced upon request. The source includes indicative estimates for certain diamond ear clips and gemstone chandelier earrings, but these are positioning rather than a published price list.
The main point is to know where you fit. The capsule collection is collectible for many luxury buyers, while high jewellery is more exclusive. Decide which group you belong to before you start comparing or making choices.
What to check in a first appointment in Mayfair or Hatton Garden
This collaboration focuses on fit, material contrasts, and the origins of the materials. These ideas lead to practical things to check and questions to ask.
When you try on jewellery, move as you normally would. Something that looks great in a photo might not feel right if it doesn’t sit well on your body. If the piece has ceramic, check how neatly it joins the metal. For diamond designs, look for even, careful setting, since flaws are easy to spot.
In conversation, ask for documentation and clarity:
What paperwork accompanies the diamonds and coloured gemstones
What certification language applies to the gold, and what proof is provided
Whether ceramic components have specific care or repair considerations
What alterations are possible, including resizing, and what timelines are realistic
Whether the piece is a limited edition and how that is confirmed in writing
Timing is important. If you’re buying for a proposal, make sure you have time for resizing. If you want something custom, allow time for changes. Even with ready-to-wear pieces, giving yourself time helps you make better choices.
What the collaboration leaves London buyers with
The source calls this cultural shift the Fenty Effect, which brought a younger, more diverse, and ethically minded audience to Chopard and made the brand seem more cutting-edge. For buyers, the main takeaway is practical. Today’s high jewellery is about precise fit, careful use of colour, and clear information about where materials come from. Modern fine jewellery, especially in capsule collections, is built on repeatable shapes and distinctive materials.
If you want jewellery that feels modern in London today, keep these lessons in mind. Ask about how each piece was made, how it should be worn, and what is known about the materials. Take your time to compare, ask for paperwork, and allow time for any changes. Being clear leads to confidence.
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