Cartier unveiled its latest high jewellery collection, Le Chœur des Pierres, in the picturesque seaside town of Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera on Wednesday. International editors and celebrities including Shu Qi, Zoe Saldaña and Tilda Swinton explored the range at Château Saint-Maur, a residence filled with modern artworks from the likes of Damien Hirst, Yves Klein and Anselm Kiefer set within an estate dating back to the 17th century.

The name of the collection, which features more than 150 unique pieces in this first chapter, is a play on words. Meaning literally “the chorus of stones” in English, it can also be read as “the heart of stones” because the French words chœur (chorus) and cœur (heart) sound the same.

As its moniker suggests, Le Chœur des Pierres is a celebration of the power of stones. Everything begins with the stones at Cartier, where each creation – from a panther motif necklace to an abstract, geometric bracelet – is meant to serve the stones and highlight their beauty.

Envisioned as an orchestra in which the gems sing in harmony with one another and Cartier acts as conductor, the collection reflects the maison’s commitment to sourcing the best and rarest stones from around the world – from extremely rare coloured diamonds to vivid blue sapphires, fiery red rubies and deep green emeralds.

Just like the members of an orchestra, Cartier’s gemologists, designers, jewellers, setters and polishers work in unison to bring precious gems to life, always staying true to the maison’s rich heritage of timeless designs that are instantly recognisable as Cartier.

In the same way, the stones are also part of an ensemble, which is why pairing them with one another is akin to an art. Take Cartier’s signature Tutti Frutti motif, where sapphires, rubies and emeralds in different cuts create a tapestry of hues – or “a chorus of colours”, as the maison puts it.

The necklace Tutti Kanya from Le Chœur des Pierres features as its centrepiece a stunning 30.33-carat engraved emerald from Zambia, surrounded by flowers, leaves and berries made of rubies, sapphires and emeralds.