Boucheron has donated its “Faisceaux” brooch to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where it will now be displayed within the museum’s jewellery galleries. The acquisition marks the first time a piece from the Maison’s Carte Blanche collection has entered a permanent museum collection.
Created for the 2021 Carte Blanche “Holographique” High Jewelry line, the brooch reflects Creative Director Claire Choisne’s ongoing exploration of light, transparency and material innovation. Crafted in holographic rock crystal, rose gold and diamonds, “Faisceaux” reimagines how precious materials can capture and refract light.
The technique behind the piece is central to its impact. Metallic powders are applied to rock crystal at high temperatures, producing a prism-like holographic surface that shifts with movement. For this jewel, artisans hollowed out the crystal to insert a fully diamond-set Jack motif within — a reference to Boucheron’s signature design language. The transparency of the stone magnifies the internal structure, creating depth and an ever-changing interplay between brilliance and shadow.
Since 2020, Boucheron has released two High Jewelry collections annually: “Histoire de Style,” which revisits archival codes, and “Carte Blanche,” which allows for technical and conceptual experimentation. “Faisceaux” belongs firmly to the latter, embodying a forward-looking approach that challenges traditional definitions of preciousness.
The V&A already houses twelve Boucheron works dating from 1875 to the 1960s. The addition of “Faisceaux” extends that timeline into the 21st century, placing contemporary High Jewelry alongside historic craftsmanship.
By entering the museum’s permanent collection, the brooch positions innovation not as a fleeting moment, but as part of an evolving cultural legacy of Boucheron.
