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31 Mar 2025
In a daring alchemy of nature’s raw grandeur and human ingenuity, Chopard has unveiled its Insofu Collection—a Haute Joaillerie masterpiece born from a 6,225-carat rough emerald, as colossal and enigmatic as the African elephant it was named after. Discovered in Zambia’s Kagem mine, the gem, christened Insofu (meaning “elephant” in Bemba), embarked on a three-year odyssey from rugged stone to radiant jewels, guided by Chopard’s Co-President Caroline Scheufele. The result? Fifteen exquisite pieces that weave Art Deco elegance, organic fluidity, and a profound commitment to sustainability into a narrative as timeless as the earth itself.
The journey began in 2022 when Scheufele, captivated by the emerald’s vivid hues and trunk-like silhouette, acquired the stone—a gamble, given emeralds’ notorious fragility. Entrusting master gem-cutters from India, Chopard’s Geneva artisans spent a year coaxing 850 carats of polished gems from the raw mass, navigating treacherous jardin inclusions with surgical precision. The collection’s pièce de résistance is an elephant-shaped pendant, its tusks shimmering with diamonds, trunk raised in a symbol of prosperity. Art Deco chokers, cascading sautoirs, and cocktail rings adorned with Zambian emeralds, pink sapphires, and pearls echo the roaring twenties’ opulence, while a statement cuff interlacing emeralds and tsavorites with pearls whispers of sea-and-earth symbiosis.
Beyond aesthetics, the Insofu Collection is a manifesto of ethics. Chopard partnered with Gübelin Gem Lab to embed DNA nanoparticles into each gem, ensuring lifelong traceability—a first for emeralds. Since 2018, the maison has used 100% ethical gold, and proceeds from each sale support Elephant Family, a charity safeguarding Asia’s wildlife. “True beauty arises from ethical commitment,” Scheufele affirms, her vision extending to five couture gowns that dialogue with the jewels, marrying fashion and craftsmanship.
From the Kalahari’s diamonds to Zambia’s emeralds, Chopard’s pioneering spirit shines. The Insofu Collection isn’t merely worn—it’s inherited, a legacy where luxury and conscience converge.
