Fabergé Unveils
Fabergé, the world’s most iconic artist jeweller, creates extraordinary jewellery, watches and objets d’art. Founded in 1842 at Saint Petersburg, Fabergé has been the most revered name in jewellery ever since Peter Carl Fabergé created the fifty ingenious Imperial Easter Eggs for the Romanov family between 1885 and 1916.
For nearly two centuries, mystery and intrigue has surrounded the legendary label. As a new decade dawns, Fabergé takes us on the journey of the legendary Egg, opening the doors of their discreet workshops nestled in the Black Forest. The production process of the Palais Tsarskoye Selo Turquoise Locket with Heart Surprise is unveiled, shaped through the hands of true artisans.
The journey begins with pure gold being hand poured into bespoke silicone moulds, then delicately filed and buffed. Next, the mesmerising guilloché pattern unfurls by engine turning, a technique which dates back to the 18th century and has remained an integral part of Fabergé’s creations since the company began.
Fabergé’s art of enamelling then shines in all its glory. Powdered coloured glass is bonded to a surface via heat of 900 degrees centigrade – it’s a delicate science, a few seconds too long in the kiln and the piece will need to be re-started from scratch. Peter Carl Fabergé was considered a genius of this ancient technique, inventing over 145 new colours and establishing himself as a true pioneer in the field.
Fabergé’s craftspeople meticulously hand-paint the unique turquoise powder onto the egg, and crimson red for the heart surprise; when heated, the powder melts, flows and hardens into a lustrous, shiny surface. It can take up to five layers and five firings in the kiln to create the desired effect and can take as long as two days to produce a single item. Perfection takes time.
16 sparkling diamonds are then delicately set into the 18 karat gold piece before it is assembled and polished. The final stop is quality control – after being inspected under the microscope to ensure there are no imperfections, it is carefully packaged and shipped to Fabergé’s London headquarters for the final check before it makes its way to the client. Each pendant beautifully captures the spirit of Peter Carl Fabergé and creates a legacy for future generations.
