Home Trends and Fashion Pyramid Scheme: Messika’s New High Jewelry Collection Borrows From Ancient Egypt
Trends and Fashion

Pyramid Scheme: Messika’s New High Jewelry Collection Borrows From Ancient Egypt

This past weekend, I roamed through the excellent new Beyond King Tut exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. There were so many fascinating things to see and read, but my joy-o-meter really started buzzing when, in one room of the exhibit, oversized projections of jewelry unearthed from various Ancient Egyptian tombs danced across the walls.

 

The Ancient Egyptians prized adornment, and gold above all, and were innovators in jewelry craft; they mined, cut, and carved stones including lapis lazuli, turquoise, beryl, and malachite to set in their jewelry. And they took the concept of “meaningful jewelry” to new heights; most jewels in Ancient Egypt were imbued with meaning or purpose—to please the gods, sustain health, wisdom, healthy crops, or provide protection in the next life (the boy king Tutankhamun was entombed with symbolic jewels meant to guard him during his journey through the Underworld).

 

Ever since Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922—and the hundreds of extraordinary handmade items buried with him were splashed across the front pages of newspapers globally—jewelry designers have been deeply inspired by the artistry, colors, and motifs used by the Ancient Egyptians.

 

The latest jewelry designer to divine inspiration from the legendary Valley of the Kings is Valérie Messika, founder of French diamond-centric jewelry maison, Messika. The Parisian atelier characterizes it latest high jewelry collection, Beyond the Light, as “a retro-futuristic symphony subtly tinged with Egypt and its hypnotic mythology.”

 

The most referential piece in the series is also the collection’s masterpiece: the Akh-Ba-Ka necklace, which features a classic Egyptian winged scarab with a 33 ct. diamond body surrounded by 15 good-sized diamonds. The other notably voluminous piece, the multi-row necklace, encircles the neck up high with seven rings of yellow gold or diamond-pave white gold. The seven rings were intentional—the number is considered powerful and protective in Egyptian culture.

 

“Ancient Egypt emanates a mystery, an almost magical aura that evokes eternity,” said Valérie Messika in a statement. We couldn’t agree more. Cast your eyes on these forever jewels from the house of Messika. —Emili Vesilind

 

Messika’s Akh-Ba-Ka necklace featuring a 33 ct. diamond-bodied winged scarab and 2,550 diamonds—overall totaling 71.49 cts.

 

Messika’s Akh-Ba-Ka necklace in process at the bench. To showcase the once-in-a-lifetime 33 ct. diamond, the master jewelers made a snug, pave-ringed setting.

 

A spectacular diamond ring with an Ancient Egypt-inspired wing

 

A protective/evil eye diamond necklace centered by a marquis-cut diamond

 

The seven-ring necklace in diamond pave with complimentary rings and bracelet

 

The multi-ring necklace in yellow gold on the bench

 

This pharaoh-worthy necklace was hand-made from a single yellow gold plate

 

The Golden Shield diamond and yellow gold ring

 

Follow The Zing Report on Instagram and Facebook

 

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Related Articles

Trends and Fashion

New Chanel Fine Jewelry Book Serves Up Sparkle and Style

There have been books published about Chanel—and Chanel jewelry—in the past. But...

Trends and Fashion

Oscar Awards 2023 Jewelry: Statement Necklaces Ruled

The 95th Academy Awards rolled out its champagne carpet—a color Oscar’s organizer...

Trends and Fashion

Louis Vuitton’s Band Instrument Brooches Blared in Paris

When’s the last time you considered the beauty of a French horn’s...

RetailTrends and Fashion

JB Jones on Contemporary Jewelry: The Retailers of Contemporary Jewelry

Let’s shop contemporary jewelry! Buying and collecting contemporary jewelry often matches the...

%d bloggers like this: