Translated by Bethszabee Garner
Under the clear skies of the Principality, the sparkle of the jewellery rivalled that of the Mediterranean Sea. On 25 October, the Salle des Étoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo was buzzing with a rare excitement. Artisans, collectors, designers, brand executives and muses gathered for the first edition of the Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie (GPHJ), an event set in Monaco to become a symbol in the international luxury calendar.
Grand Prix de la-Haute Joaillerie : A jewellery banquet under the stars of Monte Carlo
Co-founded by Stéphane Valéri, Deputy Chairman of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, and Jean-Philippe Braud, Chairman of Profirst France, the GPHJ wanted to mark a turning point in the recognition of jewellery as an art form in its own right, on a par with haute couture and architecture. In their opening speeches, the founders praised ‘the thrill of seeing the biggest names in fine jewellery gathered together in one place for the first time’.
Surrounding them was a prestigious audience, including Caroline Scheufele (Chopard), Frédéric Grangié (Chanel), Marie-Noëlle Barrère (Bvlgari), Nathalie Verdeille (Tiffany & Co.), designer Anna Hu and jeweller Martin Katz. The room was filled with familiar faces from the red carpet, including Eva Herzigová, Isabelle Huppert, Natalia Vodianova, and Cindy Bruna.
To orchestrate the evening, multi-starred chef Marcel Ravin created a dinner that echoed the expertise of jewellers from around the world. Each dish evoked the textures and contrasts of gemstones. The service was transformed into a ballet, while between courses the guests discovered thirty-three exceptional pieces paraded between the tables: necklaces, cuffs and sets chosen by the Houses to represent them.
This moment in time did not come out of nowhere. In the three days leading up to the ceremony, these pieces had already found their place in the windows of Monegasque boutiques and at the Café de la Rotonde, where a public exhibition was held. More than 20,000 visitors had passed through, fascinated, invited to vote for their favourite piece of jewellery via a dedicated app.
In the streets of Monaco, gold, mother-of-pearl and diamonds responded to each other like an alphabet of desire. With its open approach, the Grand Prix thus placed jewellery creation in a space of sharing and curiosity.
From Chanel to Messika, the jewellery that made Monaco's heart beat
Under the chairmanship of Fabienne Reybaud, an expert in contemporary fine jewellery, the jury, composed of personalities from the worlds of design, the press and gemmology, rewarded the Houses whose creativity, mastery and spirit of innovation are today reshaping the luxury landscape.
The 2025 Grand Prix de la Haute Joaillerie crowned Chanel for its Sweater necklace from the Haute Joaillerie Sport 2024 collection. A piece as bold as it is fluid, it embodies the elegance of movement so dear to Gabrielle Chanel.
The Special Jury Prize went to Tiffany & Co. for the sophistication of its latest collections. Caroline Scheufele, co-president of Chopard, was named Visionary of the Year, while Messika won the Design Prize for its spectacular Zebra Luhlaza necklace.
The Craftsmanship Award went to Dior for Diorexquis Forêt Nacrée, a jewel of light and mother-of-pearl.
Louis Vuitton was recognised for the nobility of its stones with Apogée. The Heritage Award went to Tiffany & Co. for the second time, for the rediscovery of a masterpiece by Jean Schlumberger: the Butterflies Choker from 1956. Finally, the Best Newcomer Award went to Sahag Arslanian for its Lunar Eclipse necklace, while the People's Choice Award went to Dolce & Gabbana for a flamboyant piece from its Sardaigne collection.
As the winners took to the stage for a final photo, cheerfully marking a page in history in the gentle Monaco night, the jewels gradually faded away. Under the stars of Monaco, Haute Joaillerie received its letters of nobility with a successful first edition.
