In celebration of the forthcoming Lunar New Year, which heralds the arrival of ‘Year of the Dragon (龍)’, we are exploring the significance of the dragon in Chinese zodiac, as well as spotlighting our collections which feature this almighty animal.
The Dragon is the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Dragon is powerful, endlessly energetic and full of vitality, goal-oriented yet idealistic and romantic, and a visionary leader. Those born in the year of the dragon are said to present themselves as magnificent yet benevolent rulers who are confident, generous, idealistic, and ambitious. In Chinese culture, these mythical creatures are in a class of their own, regarded as the givers of abundance and longevity. Dragons hold a unique place in the Chinese Zodiac; of all the animals present, only dragons are mythical and occupy a special seat in Chinese folklore.
In collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), the Fabergé x Game of Thrones high jewellery partnership launched with ‘Chapter One: Dragon’, and is a fitting tribute to the year of the dragon. This high jewellery collection is inspired by the HBO original series, Game of Thrones and has been developed in partnership with Michele Clapton, the Emmy® and BAFTA® winning Costume Designer for Game of Thrones.
These high jewellery creations are pieces of history in the making, set to delight fans, fusing our artistic ingenuity with the fantastical world of one of the most popular television shows. The collection features six designs which feature both bold and subtle nods to Daenerys’ trusty dragons, with each creation limited to just ten collectible pieces.
“The collection was inspired by the strength and vulnerability of Daenerys and her relationship with her dragons, to try and express this complex woman and her journey from orphaned exile to conquering monarch and her ongoing quest for the Iron Throne.” Michele Clapton
This presence of red, which is also symbolic of Daenerys’ fiery spirit, has been brought into the collection via the use of deep red rubies, responsibly mined from Gemfields’ Montepuez mine in Mozambique. These rare and precious gemstones are paired with white gold, rose gold, diamonds and black rhodium in this striking collection of dramatic creations.
In addition to these high jewellery creations, our Heritage collection offers a complete Chinese Zodiac set of lockets. The beauty of these lockets, each crafted from 18k yellow gold, decorated with diamonds and delicately hand-painted with vibrant red guilloché enamel for luck and prosperity, is beyond visual. There is innate beauty in the way Peter Carl Fabergé’s joy for surprise is embedded in each piece, as the egg opens to reveal a different zodiac animal.
It has been over 100 years since we made our first creations in celebration of Chinese New Year. Master craftsman, Francois Birbaum, was commissioned by the royal court of Siam to make a series of objets and trinkets for the Year of the Pig in 1911.
The Heritage Yellow Gold Diamond & Red Guilloché Enamel Year Of The Dragon Surprise Locket features red guilloché enamel and round white diamonds. The 18k yellow gold locket opens to reveal an 18k yellow gold dragon with diamond eyes, in honour of the ‘Year of the Dragon’.
Explore the full Heritage Chinese Zodiac collection here.
