By Annabelle Fernandez – published 9 Jun 2025
The natural world is full of fleeting, blink-and-you-will-miss-it moments of ephemeral beauty: a flower blooming, a shooting star, the magical period just before sunset known as golden hour; when the sky turns a brilliant combination of blue, pink and orange.
Golden hour was the inspiration for Chanel’s new high jewellery collection, Reach for the Stars. In a statement from the brand, Patrice Leguéreau, the late Director of the Chanel Fine Jewellery Creation Studio, elaborated: “I wanted to create jewellery pieces that are illuminated by the rays of the sunset and beyond, with those colours blazing across the horizon. Capturing that magical moment between day and night when High Jewellery sparkles on the skin.”
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And as guests of the Maison—who had gathered in Kyoto, Japan for the occasion—set off for the black-tie dinner at the Shogunzuka Seriyuden Temple, its beauty was in full effect.
Located at the top of Mount Higashiyama, we saw the sky transform from day to night as we wound our way up the mountain. Arriving at the temple, paper lanterns decorated with the three symbols of the collection—the comet, the wings, and the lion—lit the way to the observation deck, where guests took in sprawling panoramic views of the city under the by-now glittering night sky.
(Left) Kim Go Eun wore the Wild at Heart necklace and ring in pink gold, natural polished diamonds and rubies. (Right) Nana Komatsu wore the Take My Breath Away set TAKE MY BREATH AWAY set in pink gold, white gold and natural polished diamonds.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
(Left) Hannah Quinlivan wore the Strong as a Lion earrings and ring in white gold, yellow gold, natural polished diamonds and yellow natural polished diamonds, and the Five Stars ring in white gold and natural polished diamonds. (Right) Aokbab Chutimon Chuengcharoe Nsukying wore the Dazzling Star set in white gold, natural polished diamonds and black lacquer.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
Brand ambassadors and Friends of the House, including actresses Kim Go Eun, Nana Komatsu, Aokbab Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Fala Chen and Hannah Quinlivan, dazzled on the deck; each sporting pieces from the new collection.
Aokbab Chutimon admiring the drone show
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
But the star that took everyone’s breath away that night was the drone light show: a stunning display of precision and skill, we watched as the sky was illuminated by first, the wings, then the comet, then the lion…and finally, the words “Reach for the stars”—a wonderfully fitting way to kick off the night’s festivities.
Inside the beautifully decorated temple, we were greeted with a welcome speech from Frédéric Grangié, President of Chanel Watches & Fine Jewellery, who paid tribute to Leguéreau and how he was endlessly inspired by Japan. Guests then tucked into a sumptuous meal executed by chefs Kei Kojima and Arritea Rossingol from the Alain Ducasse team. Just before dessert, we were treated to a traditional Japanese taiko drum performance; dynamic, rousing and masterfully executed, words that can also be used to describe the “Reach for the Stars” collection.
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Reach for the Stars
The day before the dinner, we were lucky enough to see the collection for ourselves, displayed in all its shimmering splendour within the Meiji Kotokan Hall of the Kyoto National Museum. Upon entering the hall, we were greeted by neon-lit signs on the walls, which we soon discovered were names of the pieces in the collection, as well as quotes from Gabrielle Chanel.
The Wings
Stepping into the main exhibition room, one could not miss the masterpiece of the collection, the Wings of Chanel necklace. For the first time, Patrice Leguéreau and the CHANEL Fine Jewelry Creation Studio have interpreted wings as a symbol in high jewellery, as an expression of elegance.
The Wings of Chanel necklace in white gold, platinum, natural polished diamonds featuring a cushion-cut 19.55-carat Padparadscha sapphire.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
An exceptional 19.55-carat Padparadscha sapphire sits in a bed of diamonds, flanked by diamond wings, which unfold to wrap around the neck. Like many of the pieces in the collection, the necklace is light, delicate and transformable, with a detachable pendant that can also be worn as a bracelet.
The Free Move belt in white gold and natural polished diamonds.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
This spirit of ease and flexibility is echoed in other pieces with the Wings motif. The Free Move belt can be worn in three different ways: as a belt, a sautoir necklace and a double-row format; depending on your mood and outfit.
The Full Swing earrings in white gold and natural polished diamonds featuring a 3.11-carat pear-shaped diamond.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The Full Swings earrings, in white gold and natural polished diamonds, has two pendants that you can mix and match, while maintaining the asymmetrical effect.
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The Comet
In 1932, Gabrielle Chanel presented her first and only high jewellery collection, Bijoux de Diamants. The main icon? The comet, which she associated with the freedom to dream, and to believe in one’s destiny.
The Dreams Come True necklace in in white gold, black-coated gold and natural polished diamonds featuring a 6.06-carat brilliant-cut diamond.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
In 2025, Patrice Leguéreau and the CHANEL Fine Jewelry Creation Studio have expressed this freedom in a scintillating assortment of star-studded jewellery. The Dreams Come True necklace consists of woven black chains contrasted with a line of precious stones, coming together with a clasp that features the 1932 comet as its central motif, with a 6.06-carat brilliant-cut diamond in the middle. Another transformable piece, the pendant can be removed if you’d rather wear it short.
The Five Stars rings in in pink gold, natural polished diamonds and pink sapphires featuring a 0.73-carat brilliant-cut diamond.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The Rise and Shine earrings in white gold, natural polished diamonds and sapphires featuring a 6.68-carat oval-cut sapphire.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
Across a series of necklaces, between-the-finger rings, cuffs and earrings, the stars are a representation of glamour according to Chanel, and a reminder to reach for the stars, as Gabrielle Chanel herself did.
The Lion
Lastly, the symbol synonymous with Gabrielle Chanel, the Lion. This time around, it appears in a new celestial and winged version, symbolising audacity.
The Embrace Your Destiny necklace in white gold and natural polished diamonds, featuring a 5.62-carat pear-shaped diamond and a 5.6-carat pear-shaped diamond.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The Embrace Your Destiny necklace sees another first for the House: two lions in profile, guarding two pear-shaped diamonds. Lines of precious stones cascade downwards, for a regal yet always refined effect.
The Follow Your Heart necklace in platinum, natural polished diamonds, red spinels, rubies and moon stones, featuring a 7.81-carat pear-shaped red spinel.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The Strong as a Lion earrings in white gold, yellow gold, natural polished diamonds and yellow natural polished diamonds, featuring a 2.03-carat pear-shaped yellow diamond and a 2.02-carat pear-shaped yellow diamond.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The other pieces in the series see the lion facing us fearlessly, commanding us with its presence. Be it laced with wings—Sky is the Limit, Fly High, Follow Your Heart—or surrounded by stars to form a medallion—Be the One, Strong as a Lion—the overall effect is one that imbues the wearer with a gentle authority.
The House of Chanel has always been one that puts its founder—and the symbols, signs and values that guided her—at the forefront. With the Reach for the Stars high jewellery collection, we are invited once again to go on a journey: to push the boundaries of self-expression, to challenge the status quo, to dare to dream. After all, as Gabrielle Chanel herself said, “If you were born without wings, do nothing to prevent them from growing.”
AloJapan.com