Why We Love It: 20 Years of Boucheron's Quatre Collection

Zhou Dongyu wears a ring from the Quatre Classique Collection featuring diamonds, yellow sapphires, and spessartite garnets.

Since its debut in 2004, Boucheron’s Quatre ring has steadily become an iconic symbol of the maison. To truly understand Quatre is to appreciate the brand’s inimitable Parisian spirit, unparalleled craftsmanship, and an endless wellspring of creativity that make it utterly irresistible. As the Quatre collection celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Boucheron continues to unveil masterful designs, showcasing the timeless allure of this contemporary classic.

TEXT BY JOYCE MOK PHOTO BY BOUCHERON

Reason One: The Essence of Paris

In French, Quatre means "four," a fitting name for this collection that began with the iconic four-band ring. Each band draws inspiration from the Boucheron archives, reflecting the deep connection between the brand—founded by Frédéric Boucheron in 1858—and the city of Paris.

The Double Godron, a sleek double concentric circle design, first appeared in Boucheron’s creations in the 1860s. Inspired by architectural grooves, the intertwined bands symbolize eternal unity between lovers.

The second element, the Clou de Paris motif, is a lattice-like pattern rooted in Boucheron’s 1911 designs. Its intricate facets evoke the cobblestones of Place Vendôme, paying homage to Boucheron's boutique at 26 Place Vendôme. In 1893, Frédéric Boucheron chose the sunniest corner of Place Vendôme to establish his boutique and workshop, becoming the first contemporary jeweler to set up shop there—a decision that cemented his reputation as a master of light.

The Quatre Collection highlights this mastery with its signature diamond band. Crafted using a mirror setting technique, the diamonds emit unparalleled brilliance, showcasing the brand's extraordinary craftsmanship that dates back to its groundbreaking 1892 creations.

The final element, the Grosgrain motif, mimics the texture of pleats or fabric folds, a nod to Frédéric Boucheron's family heritage in textiles. His father, Louis Boucheron, was a fabric merchant in Paris, and the elegance of fine textiles profoundly influenced the jeweler's artistic style.

Together, the Quatre rings, with their horizontal, grid, and vertical patterns, seamlessly weave a story of Boucheron’s enduring bond with the heart of Paris.

Quatre Classique Collection Ring with Diamonds, Yellow Sapphires, and Spessartite Garnets

Reason Two: Impeccable Craftsmanship

A single Quatre ring is the result of four distinct bands coming together as one—a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Each of the four rings is meticulously crafted, with precision reaching near-nanometer levels in both the initial alloy composition and the assembly of the four bands. Skilled artisans manually assemble the rings using a press machine, without any adhesives or welding materials, relying on their experience to gauge the pressure and angle of each movement. The sound of the final "click" signals perfection. The slightest difference in assembly is the crucial factor between success and failure. To ensure precise execution, Boucheron enhances the artisans’ expertise with computer-controlled machinery, using techniques such as rotational engraving to carve the gold, achieving flawless inner and outer contours. It’s a seamless marriage of technology serving the art of craftsmanship.

Han Shaoxi wears the Quarte Classique necklace in gold, platinum, and diamonds.

The Quarte Classique necklace in gold, rose gold, platinum, brown PVD, and diamonds can be worn in seven different ways, transforming into two necklaces, a belt, three bracelets, and a hair accessory.

The Quarte Radiant collection features a platinum pavé diamond choker, crafted with a hinge design.

Reason Three: Innovative Materials

Under the visionary direction of Creative Director Claire Choisne, the design team at Boucheron has pushed the boundaries of innovation, utilizing a mix of natural and engineered materials in various hues and finishes to craft the iconic Quatre collection. Each piece is designed to seamlessly adapt to any occasion, reflecting both elegance and versatility.

In the Quatre Classique and Quatre Black Editions, the signature Clou de Paris pattern is reimagined with platinum bands enhanced through PVD technology. This vacuum coating process, which uses evaporation to bond color, results in a dazzling, lustrous finish. Boucheron has also embraced cutting-edge materials such as the highly refined Hyceram® ceramic, which was used in the Blue, White, Red, and Double White Editions, achieving a mirror-like polish.

In 2020, the Quatre collection ventured into denim fabric, 18K white gold, and diamonds, creating bold, fashion-forward rings and bracelets. By 2021, holographic coating techniques were employed to introduce color-shifting effects that change with the light. 2022 saw the introduction of Cofalit®—a material made from recycled industrial waste, adding a vibrant splash of color to the collection. And in 2023, the Quatre Capsule series made its debut, crafted from aluminum and set with diamonds, further challenging the brand’s technical mastery and continuing Boucheron’s legacy of combining craftsmanship with avant-garde innovation.

Han Shao Xi wears the Quatre Classique bracelet from Boucheron, featuring a stunning combination of gold, rose gold, platinum, PVD, and diamonds.

Reason Four: A 20-Year Journey

From its origins as a four-ring design, Quatre has evolved into a versatile collection that now includes double-ring and single-ring styles, as well as pendants, bracelets, and earrings. To mark the 20th anniversary of Quatre, Creative Director Claire Choisne has once again unleashed her boundless creativity, pushing the boundaries of the iconic collection. In the workshop, Quatre has been transformed with a hinge structure, giving it a ribbon-like fluidity and elegance. The result is a dynamic quartet of jewelry pieces, including two necklaces, a pair of pendant earrings, and the anniversary highlight: the graceful Quatre Ribbon.

The Quatre Ribbon is truly revolutionary, offering seven distinct ways to wear it. It can be styled as two necklaces, a belt, three bracelets, or even a hair accessory. To achieve the perfect level of softness, skilled artisans meticulously assemble over 100 components by hand, all while preserving the unique spirit of the Quatre collection. The result is a celebration of two decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless beauty.

The Quatre Classique collection’s gold, rose gold, platinum, PVD, and diamond bracelet brings together 12 jewelry pieces in a design reminiscent of a spool.

Boucheron also explores a striking variety of gemstones to evoke distinctly different feelings. The Classique white gold, full diamond jewelry collection showcases exceptional craftsmanship with diamonds of various cuts and settings, all within a singular color tone that enhances the piece's refined elegance. The gemstone edition of the Classique necklace, bracelet, and rings features the Double Godron motif decorated with manganese aluminum garnets, while the trapezoidal yellow sapphires highlight the Grosgrain satin-finish linear engraving. These details are beautifully complemented by diamond rings and matte brown decorative accents.

Two standout masterpieces further illustrate Quatre’s assembly technique. The impressive Quatre Classique necklace is composed of 50 interconnected rings, while another Quatre Classique bracelet, designed with a spool-like structure, brings together 12 individual pieces of jewelry, including 2 bracelets and 10 bangles. Entirely handcrafted, this bracelet allows wearers to freely customize and wear it in various combinations, showcasing a style as versatile as it is bold.

Quarte Classique White Gold Diamond Bracelet