Since its establishment, Boucheron has created many iconic works, including pieces that set new trends and custom jewelry for royalty, nobility, and social elites. Many of these are considered representative works of the brand.
In 1878, Boucheron participated in the Paris World Exposition and won an award. One of the showcased pieces was a sapphire necklace made for American socialite and loyal customer Marie Louise MacKay, featuring a central Kashmir sapphire weighing 159 carats.
In 1883, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia commissioned a very unique necklace from Boucheron, designed in the shape of peacock feathers with diamonds and emeralds, known as the "Question Mark" necklace. This piece was personally designed by the founder Frédéric and his workshop. Its distinctive shape allowed it to be worn without a clasp, making it a collectible work for Boucheron. The necklace won a gold medal at the 1889 World Exposition, after which peacock feather motifs became a recurring element in Boucheron's jewelry designs.
In 1821, British aristocrat Margaret Greville commissioned Boucheron to create a tiara, which was later gifted to Queen Elizabeth, the wife of King George VI. This tiara has been passed down through generations as part of the British royal jewelry collection and is now inherited by Queen Elizabeth II. It has also been loaned to her daughter-in-law, Camilla, the wife of Charles, Prince of Wales.
Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia first became connected with his wife after finding a scarf she had dropped. To commemorate their meeting, he commissioned a necklace from Boucheron. This piece, designed by Frédéric himself, features a scarf-like design made of gold adorned with pearls. This innovative technique allowed pure gold to be treated like fabric, leading to the creation of jewelry that incorporated gold thread in its designs.
In 1928, Boucheron received its largest order to date when the Maharaja of Patiala brought several boxes of gemstones to the boutique in Place Vendôme for custom jewelry. This collection included 7,571 diamonds and 1,432 emeralds. Ultimately, Boucheron created 149 pieces of jewelry using thousands of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. The collection featured necklaces, headdresses, and more, with the largest necklace incorporating 85 emeralds, totaling 1,117 carats.
In 1973, Boucheron opened its first boutique in Japan and took this opportunity to create a diamond tiara inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's famous ukiyo-e artwork, "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." The tiara was designed to resemble the waves depicted in the print, adorned with diamonds that created a delicate and dynamic curvature. This piece represents a perfect fusion of Boucheron's exceptional craftsmanship and artistic aesthetic, paying homage to a classic work of art.
