Chopard, Giuseppe Zanotti Collaborate on ‘World’s Most Precious Shoes’
The bright lights and A-list star wattage of Cannes are about to meet their match.
To celebrate its role as an official partner of the Cannes International Film Festival, Chopard has teamed up with shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti on a jaw-dropping jewelry set that includes Haute Joaillerie earrings and a pair of jewel-encrusted stilettos billed as "the world's most precious shoes."
Boasting pink satin and a luxurious mélange of 84 briolette-cut, 22.12-carat diamonds; 60 briolette-cut, 134.84-carat rubellites; 514 briolette-cut, 199.98-carat pink sapphires; and 62 brilliant-cut rubies set in 18kt rose-gold chains, the 5-inch heavenly heels will be worn by model Anja Rubik to the Palais des Festivals on May 19.
Not to be outdone, the matching hoop earrings feature 18kt rose gold, 48 diamonds, and 360 pink sapphires.
But Rubik won't have all the fun. The set will be auctioned off at the Cinema Against AIDS event, with proceeds benefiting amfAR. We hope you packed your auction paddle!
“Chopard is a longtime supporter of amfAR, and in particular of its gala in Cannes," Chopard co-president Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele said in a statement. "This year, we wished to support the charity through an idea than took shape when I met Giuseppe Zanotti. His talent has inspired a project combining our respective crafts. This pair of shoes represents the expression of two artists at the peak of their profession and a beautiful means for their future owner to support a noble cause. Anja is stunning and has a great deal of elegance and presence. We couldn’t have dreamed of a finer ambassadress to unveil our unique and innovative jewelry set on the legendary Festival staircase."
“I have known Anja for a little while now, and when we began working with Caroline on this joint project, I immediately thought of her to sublimate our creations,” added Zanotti, who designed the shoe's jewelry-inspired ankle strap so that it could be removed and worn as a bracelet.
"I’ve always been passionate about jewelry, and being a collector of antique pieces, I am extremely sensitive to the need for philanthropic action, which is why I was immediately drawn to the idea of this association with Chopard. I have been supporting amfAR’s activities for several years. This project also sparked new creative inspiration and gave me the means of fulfilling a dream: that of creating the most precious shoes ever … ”
Funny—we had that same dream!
For more charitable Cannes coverage, check out Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief show.
