One thousand times rarer than diamonds and expected to be depleted within the next few decades, that’s perhaps the best way to describe tanzanite, one of the world’s most extraordinary gemstones. Another would be the spectacular stone worn by superstar Zendaya in Messika’s breathtaking Miroir du Delta necklace from the maison’s new Terres de Contrastes High Jewelry collection. Helping the actress look every bit the goddess she portrays in Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey was a mesmerizing 14.03-carat cushion-cut tanzanite that stole the spotlight at the film’s Paris premiere. Styled by her longtime collaborator Law Roach, Zendaya paired the dramatic jewel with a flowing white gown that reinforced the ethereal, mythological mood of the occasion.
The modern gemstone, discovered only in 1967 in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, remains one of the jewelry world’s youngest precious stones, yet also one of its rarest. Set in 18-karat white gold, the vivid violet-blue tanzanite formed the dramatic centerpiece of the necklace, surrounded by more than 16 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds whose sparkle only amplified the gem’s remarkable depth of color. The Miroir du Delta necklace belongs to Messika’s Terres de Contrastes collection, which draws inspiration from the powerful landscapes, vivid colors, and natural contrasts of Botswana. Zendaya completed the look with more creations from Messika, including the Luminescence ring featuring a 3-carat center diamond framed by another 8 carats of diamonds, and the understated yet elegant Divine Enigma diamond stud earrings.
“In my eyes, three words symbolize this collection: power, color, and life. Power, that of landscapes that impose themselves. Color, revealed in all its strength by the light of Botswana. Finally, life, because each creation carries within it a singular breath, vibrating to the rhythm of a country whose contrasts reveal all its beauty,” said Valérie Messika of the new Terres de Contrastes collection, according to Vogue.
