Apogee necklace – Louis Vuitton Virtuosity – Louis Vuitton High Jewelry ©Solve Sundsbo
Recently at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, the inaugural Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie Awards took place—honoring the world’s foremost names in high jewelry. Among those celebrated were Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Boucheron, Bulgari, Chanel, Chopard, and Dior, along with other maisons whose heritage and artistry have long defined the craft.
Presented by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), the event recognized excellence in design, creativity, and craftsmanship across eight categories, each judged by an independent panel of experts. Every participating brand showcased exceptional one-of-a-kind creations that exemplify mastery in haute joaillerie.
Louis Vuitton Apogee
Among the winners, Chanel received the Grand Prix Best Piece of the Year for its Sweater Necklace; Tiffany & Co. earned both the Heritage Prize and the Jury’s Special Award; Louis Vuitton won the Gemstone Award for its Apogée necklace; Dior took home the Savoir-Faire Award; Messika was honored for Design; Dolce & Gabbana received the Public Prize (voted on by more than 20,000 people); and Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele was named Visionary of the Year.
Naturally, determining the “best” jewelry piece is highly subjective—balancing emotion, design, craftsmanship, and the rarity of stones. Yet several pieces stood out as triumphs of artistry and innovation.
Louis Vuitton’s Apogée platinum and white gold necklace from its Virtuosity High Jewelry collection is a striking example. It features a breathtaking 30.75-carat pear-shaped Brazilian emerald as the drop pendant, suspended from a diamond-set collar of 10.56 carats of D Flawless stones forming the iconic LV Monogram star motif. Ingeniously convertible, it can be worn in multiple configurations, embodying both creativity and versatility.
Tiffany & Co. Butterflies necklace
Equally noteworthy, Tiffany & Co.’s Butterflies choker—originally designed by Jean Schlumberger in 1956—showcases the maison’s enduring artistry. Set with diamonds, turquoise, amethyst, sapphire, spinel, and peridot, it celebrates the vivid beauty of nature while honoring Tiffany’s rich heritage.
The recognition of Caroline Scheufele further underscores how the finest watch brands often excel equally in jewelry. Through her leadership, Chopard has elevated its high jewelry collections to global prominence, blending artistic daring with technical mastery and a strong presence on the red carpet from Cannes to Hollywood.
Together, these awards highlight not only the virtuosity of high jewelry but also how the great horological maisons—Louis Vuitton, Chopard, and Tiffany among them—continue to prove that excellence in watchmaking and jewelry design often go hand in hand.
Caroline Scheufele of Chopard
