Chopard: The Sophisticated Ice Cube Collection. image credit: Unsplash
Chopard’s classic Ice Cube Collection was first released in 1999 and was rapturously received by the general public. It’s sleek, modern aesthetic, reminiscent of ice blocks, offered what felt like a groundbreaking contemporary take on high jewellery that stylists and consumers couldn’t get enough of. Since then, the simple design of the original cubes has not been tampered with too much, ensuring that the line remains recognisable and iconic with every new collection.
With six facets, twelve ridges and eight peaks, the cube offers a simple, geometric edge. Easily worn in both sophisticated and urban looks, cubes are genderless and ageless. It is for this reason that the Ice Cube Collection is one of Chopard’s longest running lines, which has never gone out of fashion no matter how much the trends of the day change.
The newest iterations of Chopard’s cubes are as wearable and eye-catching as their 90’s counterparts, with small cubes packed tightly together in rows, some polished to a sleek sheen, others dotted with diamonds. The collection is available in yellow, white and rose gold and consists of rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, allowing fans to wear them alone, mix and match them or even stack them up for a rebellious rock n roll vibe.
All pieces of the Ice Cube Collection are crafted from Fairmined or Fairtrade gold, in accordance with Chopard’s 2018 pledge to only work with sustainable and ethical sources for all future jewellery production. For fans of luxury jewellery, this adds another edge to the collection – making a social statement as well as a fashion one.
The Ice Cube Collection received the ultimate validation for fashionistas with sass as well as style when it partnered with pop diva Rihanna for the RIHANNA ♥ CHOPARD Collection. This saw the Swiss jeweller collaborate with the star for a nine-piece capsule collection based around the Ice Cube line. Rihanna injected her trademark modern cool into the jewellery, taking 18-carat Fairmined polished and diamond-set rose gold and teaming it with solid ceramic blocks in a distinctive Jungle Green.
Speaking about the collection, Chopard’s Co-President and Creative Director Caroline Scheufele said:, “Rihanna and I collaborated closely on this collection so you can feel her unstoppable energy, strong creativity, and inherent sense of design in every piece. With her unique style, she redefines the way people see and wear jewellery.”
Another contemporary collection that reinvigorated the 90’s Ice Cube range was the Ice Cube Pure Collection, which incorporated the traditional prisms in a sleek and modern set of styles. The collection is available in rose, white and yellow gold, and features necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings and anklets, all available with diamond inserts that add some sparkle to the streamlined design.
The idea behind Ice Cube Pure is that it makes luxury accessible for everyday. Whilst many of Chopard’s beautiful, intricate designs are bold and breathtaking, this collection is simple enough to be worn every day, whilst still adding something a little special to any outfit.
This collection is also created entirely from Fairmined gold, and is a standout example of how the brand uses ethics and sustainability to set them apart from others. In an interview with JFW Magazine, French model and actress Aymeline Valade discussed why she chose to work with Chopard for the Ice Cube Pure Collection, saying: “I think it’s a great thing that we are becoming increasingly aware of our responsibilities with regard to the impact we have on Earth. We have the opportunity to change the bad habits we’ve developed, and see what we can do to improve things in future.
“Enabling a decent quality of life for those who work in the different sectors of the fashion industry would be a great step forward. We could also develop new means of production to reduce impact on the environment, and place greater emphasis on recycling systems for example.
“With its Journey to Sustainable Luxury, Chopard serves as a pioneer in the watch and jewellery industry, making a real impact on the supply chain with the ethical Fairmined gold they use in some of their collections, such as Ice Cube Pure. But at the end of the day, this is not simply about fashion but applies to all humankind.”