Hermès 'Niloticus collection pays tribute to an imaginary Egypt, but we dare say that fiction outclassed fact.

Wahers of rose goldare joined together to create a semi rigid mash like structure reminiscent of reptilian armour.
Cleopatra would have proudly worn thses pices. So exquisitely created and evocative of the splendour of the old Kingdown, each jewellery from Hermes's new Niloticus collection is awashed in gold and adorened with glittering white diamonds and a hint of sparkling coloured gemstones.
This collection is anchored by a magnificent necklace and joined by a bracelet, earings and a ring. It's the brainchild of Pierre Hardy, who has designed Hermès's high jewellery lines snce 2001.
Hardy chose to christen the collection after the latin name pf the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus Niloticus, in reference to the Maisons's celebrated use of porosus leather - harvested from saltwater crocodiles or crocodylus porosus - ont its bags. Further inspiration is taken from the rose gold Kelli sac-bijou from it's 2012 Haute Bijouterie range.
The nekclace, for instance, requires 400 hours to produce and is made from 112 handcrafted "scales", arranged in a pattern that mirrors the symmetry found in nature.
Where each scales meets, a supple gold join is set with a diamond. For extra sparkle, the central spine is studded with diamonds and an array of coloured stones (beryl, iolite, peridot and tourmaline in baguette, cushion of pear cuts). The result is a pice that drapes fluidly accross the "décolletage" and shimmers with the wearer's every move.
"It was exciting to create a very modern piece with an archaic pattern and to find and intriguing way to mimic the geometric fluidity of the skin" Hardy told to the "New York Times' T Magazine". The idea to interpret iconic house motifs into high jewellery is fundamental to Hermès's Haute Bijouterie Collection, which was first intoduced in 2012. previous colections have reimagined equestrian themes such as the hoof and the whip, as well as signature Hermès products like the Kelly ans Birkin bags.