La Panthère Noir Absolu by Cartier Parfums and the Graff Venus diamond – things we’re loving this month

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  Courtesy Versace

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  Magic Alhambra earrings. Courtesy Van Cleef & Arpels

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  Jean Paul Gaultier's Reverse bracelet for Swarovski. Courtesy Swarovski

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  Graff Venus diamond. Courtesy Graff Diamonds

Cartier

Cartier Parfums has a new offering that is exclusive to the Middle East. La Panthère Noir Absolu, Eau de Parfum, takes its inspiration from the iconic La Panthère, first launched in 2014, and features similarly bold floral accords, with new notes of oud. The bottle is similar in shape and design, with a faint outline of a panther's face on the front, but the colour scheme is now a mix of yellow gold and black. The fragrance is available in 50ml and 75ml versions, with prices starting at Dh499.

Versace

If you missed Donatella Versace during her recent trip to Dubai, you may want to pick up her new book Versace, which documents her interpretation of the brand nearly 20 years after she assumed the role of artistic director. Published by Rizzoli New York, the hardback tome was written in partnership with fashion curator Maria Luisa Frisa and the editor-in-chief of W magazine, Stefano Tonchi. Featuring a minimalist black-and-white cover image of a young Donatella, the book features exclusive contemporary and archival imagery, including runway and backstage shots, and scenes from the Versace atelier, as well as original essays penned by some of the most influential names in the industry. The photography is courtesy of the likes of Richard Avedon, Steven Meisel and Mario Testino.

Van Cleef & Arpels

The December 2016 issue of Luxury includes a feature on the iconic high-jewellery creations of Van Cleef & Arpels, which were sported by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Grace of Monaco and the Maharani of Baroda. While the custom-created, bejewelled pieces favoured by these ladies may be slightly beyond reach for many of us, there are plenty of Van Cleef icons that are not. Since its launch in 1968, the maison's Alhambra collection has become something of a classic and is offered in countless variations. New to the portfolio are five additional Alhambra pieces – a long necklace, a bracelet, a shorter necklace, a pendant and a pair of earrings – that combine yellow gold and diamonds with malachite, a hard stone traversed by light and dark striations of green. The brand has also expanded its Rose de Noël collection. Taking its inspiration from the hellebore flower, this line centres on a six-petalled floral motif. The latest iteration of the motif sees the rounded petals set in either carnelian, onyx or lapis lazuli, with six round diamonds at their centre.

Swarovski

Atelier Swarovski is known for its creative collaborations, having worked with the likes of Maison Margiela, Karl Lagerfeld and Zaha Hadid. Its 2016 autumn/winter collection is no exception and consists of three new lines by three different designers. Arbol, a 13-piece collection designed by Peter Pilotto, includes everything from rings to bracelets set in ruthenium or gold plating, and features vibrantly coloured crystals and geometric shapes. Jewel-y McHue-y, a 12-piece collection by Rosie Assoulin, includes chandelier earrings and cocktail rings defined by their blend of bold crystals in primary colours and playful designs. Finally, there's Reverse, a collection by Jean Paul Gaultier. Pieces include oversized rings, ear cuffs, statement necklaces and bracelets (pictured), all in asymmetric styles set with bold, dark crystals. The brand has also introduced the Swarovski Award for Positive Change, as part of the Fashion Awards 2016, which took place on December 5 in London. The award went to Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, for her continuing work with local and international charities.

Graff

The name Graff is all but synonymous with record-breaking diamonds. In 2010, Laurence Graff acquired the 24.78 carat Fancy Intense pink diamond for US$46 million (Dh169m) at a Sotheby's auction in Geneva, and promptly renamed it the Graff Pink. It was, at the time, the most ever paid for a diamond at auction. In 2014, the 100.09-carat Graff Vivid Yellow was sold by Sotheby's for $16.3m (Dh59.8m), becoming the most valuable yellow diamond ever sold at auction. And now, the brand has unveiled the Graff Venus, which is the largest D Flawless heart-shaped diamond in the world. It took craftsmen 18 months to cut and polish the Type IIA diamond from a 357-carat, rough diamond that was discovered in 2015 at the Letseng Mine in Lesotho. The final product weighs in at 118.78 carats and is a D-colour, flawless stone with excellent polish and symmetry, and no fluorescence.

Read this and more stories in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, December 8.