The Royal Jewels That Inspired our Signature Motifs
There are certain design signatures that are woven into our DNA at Garrard. An enduring reminder of our regal past, discover the elegant motifs that weave their way through our jewellery designs and continue to inspire our designers today.
The Sovereign Motif
A signature design inspired by one of the most prestigious commissions to appear in our royal ledgers, the inspiration for the Sovereign motif draws on the historic setting of the most precious stone in history. In 1910, Garrard crafted an ornate enamel and gold setting to cup the 530.20-carat Cullinan I, the largest cut and colourless diamond in the world, positioning it atop the Sovereign’s Sceptre – a ceremonial object used at every coronation since Charles II’s in 1661 and among the finest treasures belonging to the British monarchy.
Interpreting the elegant, rounded silhouette of the Cullinan I setting, the graceful curves of the Sovereign motif feature in our Fanfare and Aloria collections, alongside our high jewellery pieces.
The Garrard Cluster
Ever since our founding years, we have focused on crafting jewels that amplify the innate natural beauty of precious stones, which gave rise to the cluster setting. The inspiration behind our 1735 collection, this famously sparkly setting also features prominently in our Jewelled Vault, where each one-of-a-kind creation is designed around an exceptional central stone.
The cluster setting became indelibly associated with Garrard when Prince Albert commissioned Garrard to create a blue sapphire and white diamond brooch for Queen Victoria, which he gave to his Queen on the eve of their wedding. When Princess Diana was photographed in her sapphire and diamond engagement ring in 1981, now worn by the Catherine, Princess of Wales, formerly Duchess of Cambridge, the iconic status of the Garrard cluster setting was sealed.
“A celebration of the historic designs that are so important to our identity, these motifs have come to represent the very essence of Garrard.”
Sara Prentice, Creative Director
The Windsor Motif
An alluring repeated pattern of round and geometric diamonds that graces several of our collections, including Albemarle and Fanfare, the Windsor motif was inspired by the spectacular Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Crafted by Garrard in 1893 as a wedding gift for Queen Mary and presented to her by her ladies in waiting, this spectacular jewel was in turn given by Queen Mary to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her wedding in 1947.
One of the most recognisable royal tiaras in the world, on the base of the tiara is a bandeau featuring a distinctive round and lozenge-shaped pattern of diamonds – the inspiration behind the Windsor motif. Among the most recognisable of our design codes, the Windsor motif appears often in our collections – as the focal point of a jewel, as an accent or, as with our Albemarle Abstract jewels, as a starting point for exploring new and exciting interpretations of this quintessential Garrard signature.
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