Bevy of avian delights
A perky brooch from Patek Philippe depicts a scampering chick with textured wings and feet, sparkling cabochon emerald eyes, and polished beak, its body and head pavé-set with ruby cabochons and diamonds. It’s got such a cute expression and a chubby body, slightly off balance so you just want to reach out and save it from tumbling over like a toddler learning to walk.
Nesting birdies on another gold and diamond brooch from Van Cleef & Arpels ooze charm and sentiment, apparent in the smooching and loving glances of the parental unit admiring the soon-to-be nestlings.
The jungle book
The giraffe might not be the first animal that comes to mind when you think of an appropriate species translating well into jewellery, but prominent designers have frequently been inspired, perhaps by the exaggerated potential of such long legs and neck. A most charming novelty brooch from Birks is a whimsical giraffe wearing a cap and oversized green tinted sunglasses, the body decorated with black enamel patches. If you balanced it just right, the creature could actually stand on its spindly legs. A more demure version comes from Van Cleef & Arpels, and this time, the giraffe shyly peeks out from under half-closed eyes with prominent fluttery eyelashes. It is decorated with brown enamel patches and nose, round diamond ears, and black enamel eyelids with the applied lashes. The dominant head and neck are completely out of proportion with the almost unseen legs, yet it’s still so attractively unrealistic. Fred of Paris also found inspiration in the giraffe’s elongated limbs and neck; his version is done in gold with black enamel markings and
a comically bulbous nose.
