18 Apr 2025
It is the crown jewel of the film world, the most coveted accolade in cinema, and this year, it turns 70. The Palme d’or, handcrafted by Chopard’s master artisans, celebrates seven glittering decades as the ultimate symbol of cinematic achievement. As the 78th Cannes Film Festival approaches, the trophy's rich legacy is once again in the spotlight, igniting global anticipation for one of the most glamorous nights on Earth.
Designed since 1998 by Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele, the Palme d’or is no ordinary award. It is a jewel in every sense—crafted from 118 grams of ethical 18-carat yellow gold and set on a cushion of hand-cut rock crystal, created over 70 painstaking hours in the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie ateliers in Geneva. In her signature touch, Scheufele added a tiny heart—Chopard’s emblem—at the tip of the palm’s stem, modernising a timeless icon while paying tribute to the palms that line the Croisette and the city’s historic coat of arms.
Its roots trace back to 1955, when the Festival first transitioned from giving out changing artworks to a permanent prize. Over the decades, the Palme d’or has grown into film’s “Holy Grail”, as Cannes General Delegate Thierry Frémaux so aptly describes it. Though the award took its present form under Chopard’s hand in the late '90s, the reverence it commands today speaks to a deeper cultural resonance. From Jane Campion to Justine Triet, from Theo Angelopoulos to Ruben Östlund, the trophy has passed through the hands of auteurs who have shaped the language of cinema.
But beyond its artistry lies a powerful statement. Since 2014, Chopard has committed to using only ethical gold for the Palme d’or, echoing its ongoing Journey to Sustainable Luxury. This initiative not only honours craftsmanship but ensures that the beauty of the Palme d’or extends beyond the surface—symbolising both excellence in film and responsibility in luxury.
On 24 May 2025, during the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Juliette Binoche—who first climbed the Festival’s famed red-carpeted steps in 1985—will bestow this year’s Palme d’or as Jury President. Her return, four decades later, is a full-circle moment for an actress who has lived every side of Cannes. And with her, the Palme d’or begins yet another chapter in its extraordinary story.
Discover more about Chopard’s connection with the Cannes Film Festival and its legacy in shaping the icons of cinema.
