Created in 2015 to celebrate Boodles' partnership with The Royal Ballet, Pas de Deux: Inspired by The Royal Ballet translated the elegance, movement and artistry of dance into a collection of Boodles jewellery. Bringing together two distinctly British institutions, the collection celebrated a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, creativity and exceptional design.
Pas de Deux
A Duet of Gems
The Story
Pas de Deux marked an important moment in Boodles' history as the brand’s first creative collaboration. Created in partnership with The Royal Ballet, the collection explored the connection between movement and jewellery, capturing the grace and emotion of ballet through contemporary design.
The Inspiration
Director of Design Rebecca Hawkins immersed herself in the world of ballet, attending rehearsals and performances at the Royal Opera House while spending time with dancers behind the scenes. Observing the movement, lighting and relationships between performers, she drew inspiration from both classical and contemporary ballet to create a collection defined by rhythm, balance and fluidity.
Special Stones
White diamonds are at the heart of the collection, each hand chosen for their purity and brilliance. Set in platinum and complemented by delicate touches of pink, the palette reflects the light, elegance and precision that is synonymous with ballet.
The Design
Inspired by the movement created by two dancers performing together, the designs explore shapes through sweeping lines, asymmetrical forms and graceful silhouettes. Drawing on The Royal Ballet's archive alongside Rebecca's own sketches, each piece captures a fleeting moment of choreography using precious materials.
Heritage
Created in 2015, Pas de Deux marked Boodles' first creative collaboration in over 200 years. The partnership with The Royal Ballet united two Houses renowned for British craftsmanship and artistic excellence, resulting in a collection that remains one of the most distinctive collaborations in Boodles' archive.
Craftsmanship
Translating the energy of dance into jewellery demanded exceptional craftsmanship. Intricate stone setting, sculptural platinum work and meticulous attention to proportion ensured each design retained a sense of movement while remaining beautifully balanced and wearable.
Behind the design
Rebecca Hawkins began the design process by photographing dancers in rehearsal before tracing the lines and shapes created by their movement. These sketches became the foundation for the collection, allowing the fluidity, balance and emotion of ballet to be interpreted through jewellery in a way that feels both contemporary and unmistakably Boodles.
The Boodles Archives
The Boodles Archive offers a glimpse into a series of exclusive high jewellery collections, each defined by one-of-a-kind designs and exceptional gemstones. Drawing inspiration from places, people and journeys, these collections reflect moments in time translated through craftsmanship and creativity.