Chopard’s “Insofu” High Jewelry Collection: A 6,225-Carat Emerald Becomes 15 Masterpieces

In the rarefied world of haute joaillerie, few unveilings have captured the imagination like Chopard’s latest feat: a high jewelry collection crafted entirely from a single, extraordinary emerald. Unveiled during Paris Fashion Week, the “Insofu” collection is a testament to both the wonders of nature and the heights of human artistry-a 15-piece suite born from a 6,225-carat rough emerald discovered in Zambia’s Kagem mine.

The Discovery: Nature’s Colossus

Named “Insofu”-the Bemba word for “elephant”-the stone was unearthed in 2022 and immediately drew attention for its immense size and trunk-like silhouette. Chopard’s co-president and artistic director, Caroline Scheufele, recognized its potential not just as a gemstone, but as a story waiting to be told. “In every stone lies a story, and my role is to listen and honor the natural magic they carry as treasures from the Earth,” Scheufele shared.

From Rough to Radiant: The Art of Cutting

Transforming the Insofu emerald into wearable art was a feat of both science and intuition. Unlike diamonds, whose yields can be precisely calculated, emeralds are notoriously fragile, with internal “jardin” (gardens) that make cutting a high-stakes endeavor. To meet this challenge, Chopard enlisted master gem-cutters from India, who spent nearly a year at the Geneva atelier studying the stone’s structure and devising cuts that would maximize both beauty and carat weight

The result: 850 carats of polished emeralds, each one preserving the soul of the original stone. The process was painstaking, but it allowed Chopard to create a collection that is as much about reverence as it is about radiance.

The Collection: 15 One-of-a-Kind Creations

The “Insofu” collection comprises five pairs of earrings, four necklaces, three rings, a bracelet, and a jewelry watch. Each piece is a unique ode to the emerald’s natural hues, with designs inspired by organic forms, Art Deco elegance, and the exuberance of the Jazz Age.

The collection’s centerpiece is an elephant-shaped pendant, a direct tribute to the stone’s name and origin. Set with emeralds of varying shapes and sizes and framed by diamond tusks, the pendant’s upturned trunk symbolizes prosperity and good fortune. Other highlights include a diamond choker with a 2.5-carat square-cut emerald, a necklace pairing pink sapphires with a 15.53-carat octagon-cut emerald, and a sautoir of alternating emeralds, pearls, and diamonds.

Ethical Brilliance: Traceability and Conservation

Chopard’s commitment to ethical sourcing is woven into every facet of the Insofu collection. The journey of each emerald-from mine to masterpiece-is fully traceable, thanks to Provenance Proof’s Emerald Paternity Test, which uses DNA-based nanoparticles to mark each stone for life. “Traceability is more than a technical advancement; it is an ethical achievement,” says Scheufele. “The ‘Insofu’ collection reflects our belief that true beauty results from a genuine commitment to society and ethical practices.”

In a move that underscores this ethos, a portion of proceeds from the collection will benefit Elephant Family, a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation and supporting peaceful coexistence between elephants and local communities.

A New Chapter in High Jewelry

Every piece in Chopard’s “Insofu” collection has already found a home with collectors, a testament to the allure of both the emerald and the craftsmanship behind it. From its Zambian origins to its Parisian debut, the journey of the Insofu emerald is a story of rarity, responsibility, and the enduring magic of high jewelry at its most inspired.