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Behind the Scenes of Chopard’s Glittering Takeover at the Cannes Film Festival
Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele, reveals the inspiration for “Miracles” and her favorite moments from the Cannes Film Festival.
Swiss co-President of Chopard Caroline Scheufele attends the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP)
The Hotel Martinez on Cannes’ famous Croisette is ground zero for the stars premiering films and unforgettable fashion moments at the festival. But to be clear, for this week, the storied hotel is synonymous with the sparkling glamour of the jewelry and watch Maison Chopard. The brand takes over the entire rooftop of the hotel overlooking the glittering bay — cinematically windswept when I visited — for previews of the new collection, fittings, and even a fashion show showcasing the latest Red Carpet Collection of gowns and high jewelry.
It was in the moments before this glamorous showcase that Chopard Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele, sat down with Only Natural Diamonds to share her inspiration behind the collection, personal memories from the Cannes Film Festival, and what goes on behind the iconic red carpet moments that Chopard makes possible, dazzling the world these two weeks of glamorous mayhem.
Meet the Expert
Caroline Scheufele is a German-born Swiss businesswoman. She is the artistic director and co-president of Chopard, the Swiss-based luxury watches and jewelry manufacturer.
Rising Talent and the Trophée Chopard
Chopard has been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for 28 years. Since 2001, the brand has awarded the Trophée Chopard to recognize two rising stars. This year, Isabelle Huppert was dubbed Godmother of the Festival. She bestowed Odessa A’zion and Connor Swindells with the coveted prize. The crowd, glittering in Chopard diamonds, counted Barbara Palvin, who unveiled her pregnancy with beau Dylan Sprouse on the red carpet, Bella Hadid, Demi Moore, Riley Keough, Ruth Negga, and many, many more.
Inside Chopard’s “Miracles” High Jewelry Collection
Caroline Scheufele also takes the occasion of the Cannes Film Festival to unveil the latest Red Carpet Collection, Chopard’s High Jewelry offering for the year. Entitled “Miracles,” the collection honors both the wonders of nature and the extraordinary moments that can completely shift our perspective. An avid gardener, but also a champion of sustainability through fairmined gold and natural diamonds, Caroline Scheufele is poetic about the collection.
“First, we’re talking about natural diamonds. Everything that comes from our planet Earth, billions of years old, that’s a miracle. Obviously, gold, all the materials I work with, nature, the wind today, the sun, moon, stars, animals — to me, they’re all miracles. That was the inspiration.” Importantly for Chopard, the stones come before the design. As each stone is unique, the design meets nature where it’s at. However, her experience of nature informs those designs, and flowers from her own garden inspire earrings and rings with orchids, peonies, and roses blooming across the collection. Butterflies and dragonflies are also frequent motifs.
The Men’s Jewelry Trend Taking Over Cannes
The high jewelry brooch that Ms. Scheufele wears for our interview seems an outlier at first: a clown in gold and diamonds. The story becomes clear as you speak with her, as the Artistic Director mines her personal life to yield unusual and exquisite results. Her first design for Chopard was actually a version of this piece; a reference to the circus and clowns, which brought her joy as a child.
Every design for the Maison is intended to spark joy in its wearer. And these days, many more men are showing up for that emotion. The business acumen of the Artistic Director reveals itself as she speaks as Chopard Co-President. “We have a lot of actors, and men in general, asking us for brooches. This one [I’m wearing] is new; it just came, fresh from Geneva. Today, there were two or three people who wanted to wear it. Now this one is sold, this one is sold, this one we can’t give. And it’s men!”
From Runway to Red Carpet
The pieces showcased at the Red Carpet runway show did not wait long to make their way to the Croisette. In the days following, Brand Ambassador, supermodel Bella Hadid, donned a necklace in 18-karat white gold, set with 33.73 carats of white diamonds. Former godmother of the Festival and current jury judge, Demi Moore, wore a necklace in 18-karat white gold set with 87.35 carats of emeralds and 57.15 carats of diamonds with a cuff bracelet in 18-karat white gold set with a 50.99 carat cabochon emerald and 82.45 carats of diamonds.
A lot goes into these moments, and Ms. Scheufele is candid about the process. She doesn’t go into the festival with a goal for who she wants to dress.
“I like to be surprised. And I mean some are pre-chosen because some of the stylists are very organized. Some are totally unorganized,” says Scheufele. “Sometimes they’ve already pre-chosen pieces, and then they see something else and fall in love with another jewel, so we suddenly have to hope we can find a couture look to match. Now that we have couture, though, it’s much easier. But it’s a lot of surprises too. In America, actually, it’s more planned. I have the feeling America is more planned than Cannes in accessorizing or in what actresses like to wear. They’re freer here. I don’t know, is it the seaside?”
Caroline Scheufele’s Favorite Cannes Memory
Asked about her favorite Cannes Film Festival memory, it was not a starlet or supermodel that resonated. “There are a couple [moments] that are memorable,” she says. “The very first time I was on the red carpet was overwhelming. I said ‘Oh my God, how am I gonna get up there?’ Because it’s not flat like the Oscars or the Golden Globes, it’s stairs! Obviously, nobody knew me. I came out of the car, and a little girl took a picture and said, ‘Can I have an autograph?’ I said,’ I’m not an actress.’ She said, ‘Well, maybe one day, you will be one.’ That was a long time ago!”
This year, the Red Carpet Collection encompasses 79 pieces, each a testament to the craftsmanship and reverence Chopard has for nature’s wonders. Asked if she has a favorite piece from the collection, the Artistic Director evades the question and instead points to her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Byron. It’s actually a fitting answer: her beloved companion has inspired several jewelry creations over the years, most memorably a high jewelry pendant modeled after his charming face. And it makes perfect sense — Byron is often nearby as Ms. Scheufele sketches new ideas and dreams up future collections, with the gardens just outside.
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