Featured: Rubellite earrings from Simone Jewels High Jewellery collection, DOLMABAHCE.
Dolmabahce Palace, sitting on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, serves as a timeless testament to the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, blending Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical styles in its architectural elements.
The Inspiration
In the storied halls of the palace, Founder and Executive Creative Director Simone Ng discovered a captivating history. The eclectic designs of the palace reflect the diverse taste of its creators, resulting in a rich architectural legacy.
Simone Jewels' latest High Jewellery collection of the same name, DOLMABAHCE, is an invitation to explore the famous palace’s ornate architectural details and admire its beauty from a different angle – by gazing up at its ceilings.
Inspired by the majestic patterns adorning the palace’s domes and Ottoman-style mosaic tiles, Simone dreamt of translating the motifs into one-in-the-world, wearable art.
The History of Mosaic Art
Featured: Paraiba Tourmaline ring with mosaic-inspired Mother of Pearl and Diamonds.
One of mankind’s oldest and most beautiful art forms, mosaic’s long history can be traced back to numerous ancient civilisations, including Mesopotamia, Greece, Byzantium, and the Ottomans.
The creation of mosaics includes using regular or irregular pieces of stone, coloured glass, or other materials to create an image or pattern. From adorning religious sites to royal palaces, the art form of mosaic is anything but ordinary; in Turkish culture, colourful mosaic lamps are artfully crafted to scatter kaleidoscopes of hues into everyday spaces. Often called “paintings of eternity” due to their durability, mosaic artworks have truly stood the test of time.
It is with an appreciation of this timeless art form that Simone Jewels sought to infuse mosaic patterns into jewellery. Bridging tradition and modernity, the newest additions to the DOLMABAHCE High Jewellery collection feature a carefully curated selection of precious gemstones, highlighted by intricate mosaic designs achieved with Diamonds and Mother of Pearl. Each piece in this collection stand as a testament to the enduring beauty of High Jewellery.
Artisanal Craftsmanship: The Marquetry Technique
Featured: Majestic Mosaic ring with Chrome Tourmaline, marquetry-set Mother of Pearl, and Diamonds.
The technique of marquetry is utilised to compose the appearance of mosaic patterns. Emulating the curvilinear elements of the palace’s domes, skillful artisans hand-cut each piece of Mother of Pearl to precision, fitting perfectly into the design while maintaining a smooth and seamless surface.
This meticulous creation process is what brings the elaborate details of the Dolmabahce Palace from its bygone era into our present, transforming into high jewellery to adorn the body. The DOLMABAHCE collection is also a preservation of traditional, underappreciated craftsmanship – making each creation truly a collector-worthy piece of art.
Featured: Majestic Mosaic necklace with Tanzanites, marquetry-set Mother of Pearl, and Diamonds.
The DOLMABAHCE: Majestic Mosaic creations are now available for private viewing at the Maison Simone showroom. If interested, please kindly book an appointment with us here.
