Vhernier Lapis Lazuli, Diamond and Rock Crystal Balloon “Palloncino” Earrings

Vhernier was founded in Valenza, Italy in 1984, a town famous for its technically sophisticated goldsmithing. From its beginning, the Maison was unusually modernist and design-driven. The goal was to create pieces that felt more like contemporary sculpture, architecture and industrial design than traditional “high jewelry”. Their balloon jewels including these lapis lazuli, rock crystal and diamond earrings, were among the very first creations of the House and appeared immediately after its founding. They became an instant sensation because they looked playful, like “Pop Art”, yet were technically extremely difficult to make. What made them revolutionary was not merely the shape but the material construction. Vhernier developed a signature technique that was referred to as “transparenza”, where artisans layered carved rock hand-carved rock crystal over intensely colored hardstones or organic materials (lapis lazuli, opal, carnelian, jade and others). The rock crystal acts like a magnifying lens (or pool of water) over the colored material beneath making the jewel appear extraordinarily deep with a softened luminosity, strongly saturated in color, with a glossy almost liquid hard surface. 18K white gold 38 diamonds totaling approximately 0.25 carats Weight is 24.2 grams Signed Vhernier