Shawish Opens Dreamy London Boutique

The staggered chandelier serves as central design element

Swiss high jeweler Shawish Genève continues to expand into new markets and ventures. Recently, it opened its first London boutique in the affluent central London neighborhood of Chelsea. 

The dream-like space matches its enchanted jewelry inspired by magical forests, fairytale legends and exploratory voyages.

The fish scale motif for the entrance

The facade of the space employs a motif in the likeness of colorful fish scales backed by black marble that reflect light in the same way that fish scales do in the sunlight. Inside, walls of neutral off-white shades and gray carpeting are offset by touches of purple, the Shawish corporate color. The centerpiece is a chandelier of luminescent glass tubes hanging in staggered columns a bit like stalactite formations in a cave. 

The display for the one-of-a-kind Octopus bracelet

Ten display cases contain the one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces in staged fantasy settings. For example, the Octopus bracelet sits on a pillow resembling an underwater throne surrounded by five columns. Two Teddy Bear pendants, which depict bejeweled teddy bears resting on crescent moons, are displayed in a night setting, with one on the corner of a starlit sky looking down on its partner resting on a cloud. 

The nighttime display for the Teddy Bear bracelet

Shawish’s Moonlight Necklace, with its twisted branches of white gold paved in white diamond, commands center stage in front of a portrait of an orange moon. Flanking the necklace are matching earrings and ring. In another display, jewels are encased in a frosty winter scene with mounds of snow below and stalactite formations above. Bejeweled Magic Mushroom pendants are suspended on the showroom floor near the entrance. 

The display for the Moonlight suite of jewelry

This is the company’s second boutique, the other being at its headquarters in Geneva. Mohamed Shawesh, co-founder, said the boutique was designed to reflect the cosmopolitan and quirky nature of London and its people. 

A winter scene for a jewelry display

“We are here for the wonderful weird people, the English flavor, and to stir up the international glamour factors of the city,” he said. “Most of all we’re here to celebrate high jewelry with a heartbeat.”

Magic Mushrooms hang about at the entrance of the boutique

The company is reportedly opening a third boutique in Dubai. So the expansion continues. 

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Shawish Adds Light to A Jewel’s Sparkle

Shawish bespoke Octopus bracelet in pink gold, paved with white, brown and yellow round-brilliant diamonds and centered with a pink pearl. This one-of-a-kind bracelet not only sparkles but it emits colorful light from within.

When I first learned of Shawish Genève prior to Baselworld 2014, I wondered why I was not familiar with this company. It produces bespoke and limited edition traditional high jewelry creations. I assumed the company has been around for 100 years or so and should have been on my radar.

It turns out this is a relatively new firm founded in 2008 that enhances old-world high jewelry design and craftsmanship with modern technology, whether it’s in the making of its products or in way the pieces are used. Mohamed Shawesh, co-founder of Shawish, describes it as “a marriage between high jewelry and technology” and “the art of jewelry and innovation.”

The 18k white gold necklace from the Princess Collection features blue sapphires (92.23 ctw.) and diamonds (24.83 ctw.).

Shawesh, whose family of Libyan descent has been in the luxury gem business for generations, reminded me at Baselworld that I had heard about the company when in 2011 it created the first ring made entirely of a faceted diamond (in this case a 150-carat stone). He explained that this was the young company’s attempt to attract international attention and at the same time demonstrate its laser cutting technological capabilities. It worked. The YouTube video of the ring attracted more than 400,000 views.

The Octopus bracelet being worn. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Its technological prowess may even be more noticeable with its Octopus bracelet (video above). The bespoke piece paved in diamonds not only sparkles but it emits colorful light from within. Then there’s bejeweled mushroom pendant necklace that contains a USB port that the company is calling the world’s most expensive USB port. All of the creations, even the diamond ring, are designed to be worn and used.

The bejeweled Magic Mushroom in the open and closed position is made in pink gold 11.35 carats of pink sapphires and diamonds. It opens to reveal a USB port that contains Luxury VIP services based on the owner’s lifestyle and interests. Shawish is calling it the world’s most expensive USB port.

The company also produces true traditional pieces that use precious materials, design and craftsmanship to tell stories. This includes the Princess collection, which combines 18k white gold with diamond pave with touches of faceted blue sapphires; its Teddy Bear pendant, which depicts a teddy bear paved with brown, black and white diamonds resting on a diamond pave quarter moon. The bear’s cap is covered in pink sapphires.

The flexible Mermaid Tail ring from the Beauty of the Sea Collection has white diamonds and pink sapphires set in 18k white gold.

There’s also the Moonlight collection, which sparkles in 18k white gold and diamonds; and the different shapes and styles of a Mermaid’s tail in white and pink gold, paved with white diamonds, pink and yellow sapphires, or black diamonds for its Beauty of the Sea collection.

18k white gold Teddy Bear pendant is enhanced with pink sapphires (1.94 ctw.). The total Diamond carat weight is 11.49 ctw., and includes black diamonds, brown diamonds and white diamonds.

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18k white Moonlight earrings set with 347 white diamonds (15.7tcw.).

The Magic Mushroom USB pendant at work. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco