Prada unveils its Fine Jewelry “Couleur Vivante”: peridot in the spotlight

Prada unveils a preview of its new jewelry collection, featuring the electrifying yellow-green gemstone peridot.

An extraordinary gem

Prada’s Couleur Vivante collection unveils a bold approach to jewelry, conceived by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons. It showcases stones that are not “classic” for high jewelry, including peridot – described as “the gem discovered and cherished for millennia; unique in its gold-green hue”.
According to Prada, peridot “shines with an electric vivacity” in this collection.

The origin and symbolism of peridot for Prada

Peridot, a member of the olivine family, forms deep in the earth’s mantle, then rises to the surface through volcanic activity. It always appears in a single hue: a luminous golden green.
At Prada, this gem embodies an assertive contrast in a “Prada” color palette, where visual intensity is paramount.

Highlights of the collection

• The designs favor combinations of brightly-hued stones: amethyst, aquamarine, morganite, citrine and of course – peridot.
• Each piece is based on transparency: Prada indicates that gemological certification, as well as access to the gem’s transformation path (from rough to cut) are available to the buyer.
• The stylistic bias: classic shapes (bracelets, solitaire rings, pendants, earrings) are revisited through the prism of color and contrast.

A link with Paris

Installed in a number of iconic Parisian boutiques, Prada brings the Couleur Vivante collection directly to Paris. A visit to the store’s address is an opportunity to observe the peridot “in real life”, under one of the great chandeliers of Parisian luxury jewelry.
Moreover, as Paris is the heart of fashion and luxury in Europe, this collection is part of a dialogue with the history of Parisian jewelry: the stone, once reserved for traditional houses, is here reinterpreted in a more contemporary spirit.

A turning point for Prada in the world of luxury jewelry

Prada’s collection marks a turning point in the way luxury jewelry is considered: beyond the traditional highlighting of diamonds or sapphires, Prada favors color andvisual emotion. The use of peridot is indicative of this approach. The use of peridot is indicative of this approach.
However, this approach can appear more stylized than timeless: the insistence on contrast and color risks making the pieces more sensitive to trends. For a long-term collector, the choice of peridot may be a strong one, but it also carries a fashion risk.
Finally, as for prices, although not publicly displayed (“price on request”), we can expect significant sums, as is customary in fine jewelry. This limited transparency remains an obstacle for the general public.