Nature and its winged creations, especially birds, have been a huge source of inspiration for jewelers with bird motifs finding their way into brooches and earrings. Jewelers use gemstones, enamel, feathers, semi-precious stones and carved gems to depict the beauty of the plumage. In flight, in cages, perched on a branch or a gemstone, spread wings, dancing in delight – birds in movement and in nature continue to spark the imagination of jewelers.

Jean Schlumberger’s 1965 Bird on a Rock Tiffany&Co clip and subsequent smaller versions remain one of his most iconic designs. Birds have also inspired Van Cleef & Arpels to give life to its own vision of nature: the maison has reproduced the brilliant plumage in a colourful palette of exceptional stones – the Les Inséparables clip was created with love in mind, in 1946, and the Berylline Colibri clip, crafted in 2009, celebrates the beauty of hummingbirds. The Oiseau de Paradis collection and Perroquet Mystérieux clip embody the grace of free birds in nature, while combining Van Cleef & Arpels creativity and jewelry expertise.

Luxury houses such as Boucheron, Chopard, Cartier, Carrera Y Carrera, Graff, Fabergé, artist jewelers like Jewellery Theatre, Morphée Joaillerie, Palmiero, Why Not Sky and independent designers like Arman Suciyan, Ilgiz F, Ichien, Roberto Coin, Theo Fennel have regularly found their muse in birds: bullfinches, doves, flamingos, cranes, humming birds, parrots, peacocks, swans, swallows, birds of paradise, owls and even mythical creations. Meanwhile, peacocks, parrots and swans have carved a niche for themselves as key motifs in Indian jewelry and Mughal inspired creations, as seen in Farah Khan’s designs.

In our first edit on gem-encrusted birds, we bring you a strong collection of pieces that you’ll surely love. View the Photo Gallery below.

Smitha Sadanandan