Pearls of wisdom: Tasaki’s new collection marries modernity and artistry
Creative director Thakoon Panichgul imbues the new Tasaki balance cross collection with playful wearability for a new generation
Pearls have always held a certain elegance: the multiple ropes which adorned the necks of Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly became a lustrous signifier of a certain meticulous beauty. Since then, of course, the rules have been rewritten, and we have seen pearls sliced, studded with spikes and layered with costume jewellery as an insouciant play on their value.
In his decade-long role as creative director of jewellery house Tasaki, Thakoon Panichgul’s treatment of pearls has always stood apart. The pearls, which derive from Tasaki’s own pearl farms in Japan and Myanmar, encapsulate both his intention to modernise the design and the exceptionally skilled levels of craftsmanship a Tasaki pearl requires.
‘I think the perception is that pearls are for a more sophisticated set, but that stands to be broken,’ Panichgul says. ‘Pearls can be quite youthful when applied in a different way than what we’ve been used to seeing for a long time.’
A new collection, balance cross, retains this less formal aesthetic Panichgul champions. Perfectly spherical pearls unite with graphic silhouettes of gold in cheerful geometrical juxtapositions. The pearls, paired with diamonds and the cross of the gold, spell out XOXO (commonly recognised as hugs and kisses), Panichgul’s way of dismissing the idea love requires balance.
‘I bring what I think is a modern interpretation,’ he says. ‘We want to be modern for the women of today.’ He enjoys challenging the preconceived ideas of pearls: ‘This is why, in the designs, a lot of the energy that comes out is sometimes a contradiction in form and perception. But ultimately, they are modern.’
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
Vivienne Westwood’s personal wardrobe goes up for sale in landmark Christie’s auction
The proceeds of ’Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection’, running this June, will go to the charitable causes she championed during her lifetime
By Jack Moss Published
-
Montblanc’s leather goods evolution offers peak style
Montblanc takes design inspiration from its iconic writing archive for new collections of leather goods
By Simon Mills Published
-
Ray Phoenix to rise in Arizona
Ray Phoenix housing project launches, designed by Johnston Marklee, who worked with Lamar Johnson Collaborative and artist Alex Israel, for property experts Ray and Vela
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Emerging jewellery designers to get to know
These independent, new and emerging jewellery designers and brands from New York to Paris are firmly on our radar
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Jewellery designers share their most precious personal pieces
A host of jewellers give us a peek at the jewellery which brings them joy and solace
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Playing it cool: pearls are having a moment
We've been deep-diving into boutiques around the world to find the very best calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form. It seems jewellers have been busy rethinking pearls, with contemporary (and often affordable) results
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Eternity rings for the modern couple
Eternity rings, whether sleekly minimalist or sprinkled in diamonds, can be a chic and contemporary love token
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Alternative engagement rings with an edge
As the sales of engagement rings sky-rocket during lockdown, enjoy our off-kilter curation of edgy and unconventional engagement rings
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Hair jewellery to covet and collect
Today’s hair jewellery is both practical and pretty. We're pinning our hopes on these simple and elegant accessories
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
CryptoPunks come to life on Tiffany & Co pendants
Tiffany & Co has partnered with blockchain infrastructure company Chain to create custom pendants and NFTiffs
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Andreas Kronthaler’s costume jewellery for Vivienne Westwood is fun, flirty and fabulous
Andreas Kronthaler’s new jewellery draws on romantic and theatrical motifs
By Hannah Silver Last updated