Few aspiring young watchmakers have a vision like Louise-Ulysee Chopard had at his ripe age of 24. The company, originally called L.U.C. manufacturing company, first came alive in Sonvilier, Switzerland in 1860. Chopard wanted to manufacture precise watches, specifically, pocket watches with chronometers. By 1921, the company, on the instinct of Chopard’s son Andre, decided to make the push to La Chaux-de-Fonds due to Sonvilier’s rather dormant scene in the watch market. By 1937, the company had relocated its headquarters to Geneva. Chopard reflects this move by incorporating the Geneva Seal into some of their watch collections.

The company remained under the Chopard name until Louise-Ulysee’s grandson, Paul-Andre, sold the company to Karl Scheufele III in 1963. It was then that the Chopard brand branched out from its marquee watch manufacturing to other avenues of jewelry. Fast-forward to today and Chopard produces all sorts of luxury jewelry, including necklaces, watches, earrings, pendants, rings and bracelets, in addition to their tried and true watches.

Check out the details that have made Chopard a leader in the jewelry industry below.

Family-Owned and Independent

Even through the sale to Karl Scheufele III in 1963, Chopard has remained entirely family-owned and independent. Karl Scheufele III and his wife Karin are still active in the company despite orchestrating the company’s large-scale expansion and international development for over 40 years. Their two children, Caroline and Karl-Friedrich serve as co-presidents of the company, each managing the ladies’ and gents’ collections, respectively. Over the years, Chopard’s strict set of ethics and company values steeped in loyalty, innovation and quality have been maintained. So while the people leading Chopard don’t hold the same name, its every bit as family-owned as a company can get.

Creativity

Creativity and innovation have been at the forefront of Chopard since the start, but particularly since Karl Scheufele III took over in the early sixties. Today, Chopard boasts six watch product lines, each with their own sub product editions, as well as an assortment of Chopard necklaces, earrings, rings, pendants and even non-jewelry accessories like fragrances and writing instruments.

Quality

Chopard jewelry is manufactured across three facilities in Switzerland, including its location in Fleurier, just outside of Geneva. This is where the L.U.C. watch is made. What once was a manufacturing team of two people is now up to 130. However, the company has halted expansion and production increases in an effort to keep series quantities low and the quality of each individual watch as high as possible. You may see many different editions of Chopard jewelry, but you can bet they’re offered in small numbers.

At their headquarters in Meyri also just outside Geneva, a team of about 750 creates watches and other high-end jewelry. All production involving non-moving parts is done here, such as casing and bracelet work. But instead of importing gold casings, they smelt their own from special gold alloys, and shape them into case blanks from there. Ethically sourced and in-house produced, just what you want out of your jewelry company.

If you love high-end jewelry, you’re probably familiar with Chanel earrings. However, knowing how to pair a single favorite with any outfit is essential. This allows you to wear them with any outfit without looking repetitive, and where there’s a will, there’s a way. Check out these tips and tricks for adding those pair of new earrings to any outfit, whether for business, a formal affair, or a casual day out.

1. Pair Stud Earrings with a Business Ensemble

Black or navy business suits can be dull when worn without embellishment. If you want to add some pizzazz to your professional look while still keeping it tasteful, pair your crisp suit with some stud earrings. While adding too many accessories can appear loud and unprofessional, you can achieve a good balance with the right pair of studs and Chanel earrings have plenty of choices when it comes to that. Simple gold stud earrings can add class and color to a skirt suit and pumps, or consider adding even more flair to your business suit with turquoise stud earrings.

Pearl earrings are also a great way to make a statement at the office while adding a touch of femininity. As a matter of fact, pearls are better than diamonds when it comes to business attire since they’re understated while still carrying an air of sophistication. However, it’s best to just wear one pearl accessory at a time. Don’t overdo it with a pearl necklace, bracelet, and earrings all at once, or attention will be attracted to your jewelry, rather than your work ethic and professionalism.

2. Wear Statement Chanel Earrings with a Simple Outfit

It’s best not to pair large statement earrings with the same style of clothing. If you’re going big and bold with your earrings, you should opt for a simpler aesthetic with your garments. For example, consider dressing up in a plain white frock or crisp blouse with a bold necklace or eye-catching earrings. You can also add an edge with high fashion designers like Chanel, a detail that elevates you from savvy dresser to true tastemaker. Wearing a classic designer makes it simple to jazz up something as casual as a pair of jeans and a sweater, especially if you go for statement earrings. Dangling earrings are an excellent choice for more laid-back ensembles, and add elegance to a basic look. If you need to dress up for a formal event, consider pairing some bold Gripoix earrings with a simple black dress. Taking a note from the incomparable Coco Chanel, highlighting her statement that fashion is fleeting, but style is infinite. In other words, you can follow the trends, but being truly memorable and unique is all in the details.

3. Add Sparkly Earrings to A Dress or Gown for a Night on the Town

Flashy or sparkly earrings are a great look for a night out on the town. Chanel offers a wide selection of rhinestone and crystal earrings in a diverse range of designs and colors. While a night out gives you free range to select almost any type of accessory you like, you can never go wrong with vintage earrings. These work especially well with a simple black or red dress for a classy look during a first date or girls’ night out. If you’re headed to the club with your friends, try pairing a slinky dress and sky-high heels with a pair of crystal earrings. For more formal nights out, pair diamond earrings with your gown at a festive gathering or ball.

4. Choose the Proper Color Scheme to Match Your Earrings with Your Outfit

Many people believe that mixing gold and silver jewelry is a huge fashion faux pas. Fortunately, when you’re wearing Chanel, mixing and matching gold with silver creates a stylish contrast. Consider pairing silver earrings with a chunky gold necklace. If you decide to forego the metallic in favor for a pop of color, Chanel jewelry comes in a wide range of hues so you can easily match the color of your earrings and jewelry to your outfit. An easy way to figure out which colors complement each other is to use the color wheel as a guide for matching your earrings to your dress. Colors across the wheel from each other tend to look great together, so consider pairing a red dress with a pair of green earrings. You can also match colors next to each other on the wheel. For example, a blue dress looks perfect with violet earrings.

There you go with some really good ideas for looking your ultimate best. And if you are looking for unique and eye-catching jewelry, TrueFacet’s the perfect place to browse luxury items. Take a look at our marketplace today!

It’s been another week and another round of amazing watch photography on Instagram. Check out our favorite watch snaps from the week. For jewelry and watch photos from TrueFacet, follow us at @TrueFacet.

Art and fashion are always depicted as a sign of their time, but that doesn’t mean every design is an original. Many of the popular runway trends have an interesting and sometimes surprising history. Check out some of our favorite trends and learn the story behind the jewelry designs.

Choker Necklaces

The choker was ubiquitous at New York Fashion Week this fall, but it’s origins are less fashion-forward and more politically minded. Though the current trend is a revitalized version of the classic ’90s look, the true origins date back hundreds of years earlier.

During the French Revolution in the 18th century, women would tie a red ribbon around their neck to represent a rather grim occurrence. Though the nobility wore fashionable and elaborate designs as chokers, the commoners took to simple, red ribbon as a silent protest. The choker was a tribute to those who has died at the French guillotines. Slowly, the trend spread, originally as a sign of solidarity. Over time, stones and other eccentricities were added to the ribbon for a more stylish look.

Collar Necklaces

The collar necklace has made quite the comeback after several thousand years. The collar was a popular jewelery in ancient Egypt and the influence of the design has lasted ever since.

The term for Ancient Egyptian collars is a pectoral, and more specifically the Usekh collar. This type of collar was worn by the wealthiest and most powerful Egyptians, men and women alike. The Usekh collars were typically made of beads or entirely of metal with gold clasps.

Baroque Jewelry

The Baroque style of jewelry was influenced by the clothing of the Renaissance period. The restricting and structured nature of dresses of the earlier period evolved into a more freeing less restricting style. The jewelry styles of the period evolved to match this new style.

The style was extravagant and luxurious, featuring gold, pearls and diamonds. The wealthy of the time period used their jewelry to display the scope of their power. Jewelry transitioned from a personal sentiment to an assertion of power during the Baroque period. Diamonds and pearls especially gained popularity during this time and diamond-cutting techniques were more thoroughly developed with the introduction of the brilliant cut.

Art Deco Jewelry

From the 1920’s throughout the ’30s, art was closely tied to industrial designs and this carried over to jewelry design. The designs were geometric and angular with symmetry and patterns. The rigid and industrial designs didn’t necessarily mean the designs were minimalist or lacking in extravagance.

The gemstones weren’t always cut for maximum yield or shine, but for their design purposes. During this period, Cartier expanded on colorful, carved gemstones that became known as tutti frutti. During the ’30s, the designs became larger and relied primarily on diamonds and platinum in the same lavish and geometric designs.

With so many beautiful watch photos on Instagram, it’s hard to choose just four! After much consideration, we finally chose our favorite snaps from the week — check them out below. For jewelry and watch photos from TrueFacet, follow us at @TrueFacet.