Flora, Fauna, and The Many Nature-Inspired Jewels

Blooming petals, kaleidoscopic colours, magical garden bugs, and wildlife royalties – nature and its bountiful beauty continue to be an inspiration for artists, jewellers, and designers. Transcending centuries and generations, nature-inspired motifs have dominated the realm of jewellery and memorialized the botanical beauty. And now, brands and jewellers are embracing the circle of life and bringing alive the power and visual richness of flora and fauna with a more figurative, three-dimensional approach – tapping into the desires of story-telling, symbolism, spirituality, and essentially, a yearning for all things nature. So, are you ready for a stroll through a bedecked garden or a glittering jungle safari?

VAK Jewels Autumn Tree of Life Earrings (Price On Request), Sajjante Textured Gold Lotus Necklace (Price On Request)

Associated with the notions of beauty, love, and femininity, floral motifs have forever held a special place in the world of adornment for their versatility (in design and style) and the ability to convey deep characteristics and meanings. Take for example VAK Jewels’ Autumn Tree of Life earrings that represent birth, rebirth, the cycle of life, and new beginnings, or Sajjante’s textured gold lotus necklace with rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds with the lotus symbolizing purity, prosperity, and eternity. And then there’s Chanel’s emblematic camellia – known for its simplicity and vitality – that blooms across the jewellery and watch collections, like Bouton de Camélia and Extrait de Camélia designs.

Chanel Bouton de Camélia Bracelet & Ring (Price On Request)

Bold and modern or dainty and intricate – floral motifs have been interpreted in myriad ways, allowing us to express our distinctive style and sensibilities. From Sunita Shekhawat’s summer peonies corsage bracelet to The Line’s stunningly simple Big Bloom Sapphire studs, from the unusually impressive Studio Renn Seed Leaf Blackened Diamond eartops to Anabela Chan’s whimsical cherry blossom brooch and Goddess of Glocal’s Chashm-e-Shahi set inspired from the vibrant regal blooms of Kashmir’s historic gardens – the versatility and variability of these floral designs ensure that there’s something for everyone to complement their unique sartorial spirit and capture the essence of nature for them. And not to forget, the Amapola brooch from the ever-iconic Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. that perfectly imbues the sensual beauty and timelessness of a poppy. Yes, a definite must-have for jewellery and flower connoisseurs alike!

Goddess Of Glocal Chashm-e-Shahi Set (Rs.32,500), Anabela Chan Cherry Blossom Brooch (Rs.256,075)

Sunita Shekhawat Summer Peonies Corsage Bracelet (Price On Request), The Line Big Bloom Sapphire Studs (Rs.550,000)

Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Amapola Brooch (Rs.460,677), Studio Renn Seed Leaf Blackened Diamond Eartops (Price On Request)

Amidst the emergence of more abstract interpretations of nature-inspired motifs, the animal kingdom has claimed more territory in the jewellery world, courtesy of our desire to express power and an affinity for spirituality and fantasy. With brands and designers crafting realistic animal forms, these jewelled pieces represent a transformation of artistry, technical craftsmanship, and traditional design into intricate yet bold anatomical marvels of the animal kingdom – such as Silvia Furmanovich Marquetry Butterfly earrings, Dior’s Diorama Forêt Enchantée necklace, Apala by Sumit Exotic Cockatoo bracelet, Candere (by Kalyan Jewellers) Bold Beauty Peacock ring, Cartier Nature Sauvage Koaga necklace, and Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Animals clips.

Dior Diorama Forêt Enchantée Necklace (Price On Request), Cartier Nature Sauvage Koaga Necklace (Price On Request)

Silvia Furmanovich Marquetry Butterfly Earrings (Price On Request), Apala by Sumit Exotic Cockatoo Bracelet (Price On Request)

Van Cleef & Arpels Lucky Animals Clips (Price On Request), Candere (by Kalyan Jewellers) Bold Beauty Peacock Ring (Rs.27,245)

Besides the aesthetic allure, many of the zoomorphic motifs also hold significance as symbols of beauty, strength, or courage, and even serve as a mythological or fantastical figure i.e., butterflies symbolize freedom, growth, and transformation, lions and tigers stand for power and sovereignty, eagles for honesty, wisdom, strength, and courage, and elephants for prosperity, strength, and gentleness. And then elephants are even epitomized in Indian mythology as Lord Ganesha and Airavat (the vahana of Indra) along with parrots symbolizing love and affection for their connection to Kama (the God of love) and peacocks, prominent across Indo-Mughal culture and Indian mythology, represent immortality, beauty, grace, and luck. Zayn by Sunena Mithu earrings or Chopard Frog ring, Anu Merton Rustom ring or Sabyasachi’s The Bengal Bracelet, Moi Gaj Pendant Necklace or The Gem Palace Monsoon Drop Peacock earrings – each of these pieces tells a distinctive tale of emotions and personality, while serving as a reminder of our connection to the natural world. So, choose your bejewelled spirit (and style!) animal wisely. And yes, the hypnotic emblem of eternity, rebirth, and bold metamorphosis – the snake remains the most prolific zoomorphic motif in the jewellery world, courtesy of Bvlgari and its many remarkable serpent iterations, especially the Terra Mater Serpenti necklace from the Aeterna High Jewelry collection.

Chopard Frog Ring (Price On Request), The Gem Palace Monsoon Drop Peacock Earrings (Price On Request)

Zayn by Sunena Mithu Earrings (Rs.15,500), Anu Merton Rustom Ring (Rs.21,000)

Sabyasachi The Bengal Bracelet (Price On Request), Moi Gaj Pendant Necklace (Rs.75,190)

Whether it’s the gleaming garden bouquet or the dazzling roar of the animal kingdom, nature continues to enchant us with its enduring allure and symbolic analogy. And nature-inspired jewels become the ideal canvas for capturing the beauty and appeal of the natural world through the artistic lens of brands and jewellers. Well, see you on the next nature walk amidst the bedecked flora and fauna!

All Images Courtesy of Respective Brands

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