In 1995, Marie-Hélène de Taillac discovered the city of Jaipur in an open-ended Asia tour. She spent a lot of time in casting factories, setting and polishing workshops, working closely with merchants and jewellers who create and sell one-of-a-kind gemstones. Many say, that it was her trip to Rajasthan that made her fell in love with the grandeur and innate flawlessness of rare and precious gems. Today, Marie is one of the very few designers who specializes in creating some of the most dramatic and globally relevant statement rings, which are redefining the oversized jewellery trend. You will find heavy traces of Indian traditional craftsmanship even in some of her chicest pieces. She uses some of the most stunning gems like pastel sapphires, morganite, garnets, rubies and many others to create her jewellery and you need to take a deep dive.
Inside the line
Marie tries to play up the colour scheme by teaming up chunky rings in the same spectrum of shade. This look, for instance, features sapphire, blue spinel, aquamarine and tanzanite gemstones set in a yellow gold base. The stacked rings come off as a mood-lifting accessory set, as it can really make a monotone ensemble pop.
Kiss of love
Whoever said precious jewellery has to be boring, is on the wrong side of the narrative. Marie’s Kiss rings are a huge rage among the millennials. Made with pure garnets, and fashioned into a lip motif, it’s the hottest thing you can wear this spring
See the influence
Some of her cocktail rings are clearly inspired by traditional Rajasthani craftsmanship and setting techniques, which obviously stands out amid the sea of minimal bling. Note how the ornate floral motifs from ethnic Indian jewellery makes its way into Marie’s Byzantine rings line, made of sapphires, amethyst, emeralds and rubies.
