The Turquoise Edit: High Jewellery Masterpieces and Ocean‑Inspired Watches
Turquoise is the colour of summer not only summer 2026, but every summer we’ve ever imagined. It is the shade of escape, of freedom, of the sea we dream of when planning a holiday. Capri’s crystalline waters, the neon‑blue glow of the Maldives, the shifting turquoise tones of the Aegean this colour holds the entire mythology of summer within it. And this season, turquoise in all its forms has become more popular than ever, appearing not only in fashion but in the most extraordinary high jewellery and watchmaking creations.
Chantecler High Jewellery
Designers have always looked to the sea for inspiration its creatures, its movement, and above all, its colour. But in 2026, turquoise has become the ultimate expression of summer luxury, a hue that feels both modern and eternal.
At the heart of this chromatic obsession lies one of the most coveted stones in contemporary high jewellery: Paraiba tourmaline. With its electrifying blue‑green glow, Paraiba has become the dream stone for collectors who crave the turquoise aesthetic. Its rarity only heightens its desirability. The Brazilian mines where Paraiba was first discovered in 1989 are now largely exhausted, producing little to no new material. This scarcity has transformed Paraiba into a modern treasure a gemstone that feels almost alive with colour. British high jeweller David Morris has long been enamoured with Paraiba, often creating exceptional pieces that showcase its neon brilliance.
David Morris
Inspired by the water nymphs of Greek mythology, the Gemma Necklace captures the fluid poetry of the sea in motion. White diamonds and luminous Paraíba tourmalines intertwine like liquid light, forming undulating waves that glide across the neckline with effortless grace.
At the heart of this creation, more than 27 carats of pear‑shaped Paraíba drops appear to float weightlessly, releasing flashes of neon blue‑green radiance with every movement a hypnotic glow reminiscent of bioluminescent waters at night. The composition is both sculptural and ethereal, a jewel that feels alive.
In total, the necklace features 52.40 carats of Paraíba tourmalines and 15.31 carats of round diamonds, all set in 18‑carat white gold a masterpiece where myth, light, and craftsmanship converge.
But Paraiba is not the only stone that reigns in this hue. Turquoise, the classic summer gemstone, remains supreme beloved for its matte serenity and Mediterranean spirit. Aquamarine, with its icy blue clarity, offers a more crystalline interpretation of the colour, making a striking statement in both contemporary and traditional designs.
Few maisons capture the poetry of turquoise like TASAKI. Guided by expert gemmologists with an uncompromising eye for beauty, TASAKI has spent decades acquiring extraordinary Paraiba tourmalines renowned for their vivid glow. One of their standout creations this season is a dynamic bib necklace that feels both bold and impossibly light. Hand‑cut Paraiba tourmalines and brilliant diamonds form a mosaic of varying shapes and sizes, arranged in an organic, wave‑like movement across the neckline. It is a piece that mirrors the sea itself fluid, luminous, and endlessly captivating.
Hong Kong designer Austy Lee approaches turquoise through a kaleidoscope of blues. His Blueda Ring is a symphony of colour: Sri Lankan blue sapphire, Brazilian blue tourmalines, blue star sapphire, and white diamonds set in 18K white gold. The result is a jewel that feels like a fragment of the ocean, refracted through multiple depths and tones.
Romance enters the story through Dior High Jewellery, whose Belle Dior Pampilles necklace transforms turquoise into delicate floral poetry. White gold, diamonds, sapphires, and turquoises come together in a choker of tiny blossoms a piece that feels like a garden suspended above the sea.
Italy, of course, has its own turquoise love affair. The sea is part of our cultural identity, and nowhere is this more evident than in Damiani’sGoia del Mare cocktail ring from the Ode All’Italia High Jewellery collection. Its name “Joy of the Sea” says everything. It is a tribute to the element that defines Italian summers, crafted with the sensuality and craftsmanship that Italian jewellery is known for.
Colour is always at the heart of Boghossian, and this season the maison presents one of the most striking interpretations of turquoise energy. A 13‑carat old mine cut fancy yellow diamond sits at the centre of a flower‑like design, surrounded by petals of boulder black opals and fancy yellow pear‑shaped diamonds. The vivid colours of the opal and yellow diamonds create a canvas of brightness and contrast. Black opals, among the rarest and most valuable opals, exhibit a strong play‑of‑colour that dances against their dark body tone. The central motif of the bracelet is detachable and can be worn as a ring a jewel that transforms with the wearer.
For collectors of the extraordinary, Moussaieff offers a masterpiece: a Paraiba tourmaline, emerald, and diamond brooch featuring a 57.21‑carat oval Mozambique Paraiba tourmaline with no enhancement. Paired with 26 carats of emerald beads and circular diamonds, the brooch is a true statement a celebration of rarity, colour, and magnificence.
American house David Webb brings turquoise into bold, sculptural territory with a cuff crafted from sugarloaf cabochon turquoise, brilliant‑cut diamonds, black enamel, 18K gold, and platinum. It is graphic, modern, and unmistakably Webb.
From Capri, Chantecler introduces Parure Aqua, one of its latest creations. Titanium waves shaped one by one in the colours of the Capri sea form a tribute to water as a symbol of freedom. Pavé diamonds enhance the edges, creating a shimmering effect reminiscent of sunlight on waves.
Brazilian jeweller Sauer offers a tropical interpretation with the Amazônia Necklace, a choker crafted in 18K yellow gold with aquamarine, blue topaz, and diamonds a jewel that feels like the rainforest meeting the ocean.
And yes turquoise has now moved beyond gemstones and into the world of fine watchmaking, where it brings a fresh, luminous energy to summer 2026. For some Maisons, turquoise is part of their DNA. Tiffany & Co., of course, has long embraced this shade as a symbol of the house, turning the colour itself into an icon. But this season, other watchmakers are diving into the turquoise dreamscape with exceptional creativity.
Chopard leads the way with one of its latest creations: the Happy Starfish. Part of the legendary Happy Sport collection, the watch embodies Chopard’s joyful spirit free‑spinning diamonds dancing between sapphire crystals, a concept that revolutionised watchmaking when it debuted in 1993. “Diamonds are happier when they are free,” the Maison famously declared, and in this turquoise iteration, the sentiment feels even more poetic. The playful starfish motif and radiant blue tones make it a perfect summer companion.
Blancpain offers a more classical interpretation with the Ladybird Colors. Its 34.9 mm white‑gold case is set with 2.22 carats of diamonds, including a rose‑cut crown, while a textured mother‑of‑pearl dial glows softly beneath hand‑painted Roman numerals. A turquoise alligator strap completes the look, giving the watch a serene, oceanic elegance. Powered by the self‑winding calibre 1163 with a 100‑hour power reserve, it is as technically impressive as it is visually enchanting.
Audemars Piguet expands the Royal Oak Offshore universe with a new 37 mm Selfwinding Chronograph in titanium, a creation that brings lightness, performance and modern colour into perfect harmony. Crafted in the Maison’s signature ultra‑resilient titanium, the watch is powered by the latest integrated self-winding chronograph movement, Calibre 6401 a technical achievement that delivers precision with a bold contemporary attitude.
The aesthetic is equally compelling. The interchangeable turquoise rubber strap injects a vibrant, summery energy into the Offshore’s sculptural lines, while the titanium pin buckle completes the look with understated refinement. The result is a timepiece that feels both athletic and luminous, a fusion of engineering and style designed for those who want their watch to echo the spirit of the sea.
Turquoise, in all its shades and stones, defines summer 2026. It is the colour of escape, of freedom, of the sea we dream of. And in the hands of the world’s greatest jewellers and watches, it becomes not just a hue but a story, a fantasy, and a piece of summer you can wear.