Standing tall on almost two centuries of illustrious history, Guerlain is credited for formulating some of the most recognizable scents in the world. Guerlain’s enchanting fragrance universe would be incomplete without the magnificent bottles that house it. Called ‘The Bee Bottle,’ the now-iconic cylindrical case was designed by Guerlain’s founder as a wedding gift to Empress Eugenie de Montijo when she married Napoléon III. The top of the Colonne Vendôme inspires the distinct shape of the bottle, women’s pannier dresses, and the decadent gilding of Second Empire palaces.
Today, Guerlain’s Bee Bottles are not merely perfume holders but collectible works of art. Over the decades, Guerlain has invited several artists across the globe to present their own interpretations of the legendary bottle. This season, as a part of Guerlain’s ‘Believe in Fantasy’ holiday collection, the Maison partnered with Turkish designer Begüm Khan.
Khan, famed for her extravagant jewels, is a master of interpreting natural flora and fauna into vibrant, wearable pieces. As a part of the Guerlain x Begüm Khan collection, the emblematic Guerlain bee has undergone a dazzling transformation as a part of the partnership. Khan imagined a dreamlike world of animals crafted from luxurious and precious materials. These enchanting creatures, adorned with gold and special stones, now grace Guerlain’s holiday gift sets with the bee and Khan’s signature beetle taking center stage.
As part of the Guerlain x Begüm Khan collection, the designer has crafted two exceptional pieces that gracefully adorn the iconic Bee Bottle, which is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year. While the Métier d’Art piece features the designer’s lucky beetle, Guerlain’s symbolic bee sits proudly on the other designed for the Imagine Guerlain Christmas rendezvous.
THE GUERLAIN X BEGÜM KHAN BEE BOTTLE
In the Métier d’Art edition, Begüm Khan created a piece of jewelry in 24-carat gold-plated bronze, paved with 440 gems. The jeweled beetle, a symbol of good luck, poses majestically on the one-liter Bee Bottle, encompassed by shimmering crystals forming a rosette that marks the four cardinal points. Each piece is hand-crafted in the artist’s Istanbul atelier, showcasing delicate, high-precision craftsmanship. This limited edition of 40 pieces worldwide adds an extra layer of exclusivity to the collaboration, making each Bee Bottle a unique and covetable collector’s item.
GUERLAIN X BEGÜM KHAN IMAGINE GUERLAIN 2023 MILLÉSIME
For the 2023 Millésime, Begüm Khan has adorned the Bee Bottle with an imperial bee at the heart of a radiant golden flower. Crafted in 24-carat gold-plated bronze, the bee-flower duo, featuring 37 sparkling hand-set paved gems, immortalizes a fleeting moment at the heart of the House’s history. With a poetic and asymmetric design, this limited edition of 4,515 pieces worldwide captures the essence of enchantment.
GUERLAIN X BEGÜM KHAN L’ART & LA MATIÈRE
For L’Art & la Matière, Khan has crafted five precious personalization plates, embellishing the collection’s iconic bottle with imaginary animals dear to both creative houses. Hand-crafted in Istanbul, these plates are meticulously paved with vibrant gemstones, offering a unique way to celebrate the magic that has been a driving force for Guerlain since its earliest beginnings. With a limited edition of 180 plates per animal worldwide, these jewelry plates stand as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and artistic collaboration between Guerlain and Begüm Khan.
THE GUERLAIN X BEGÜM KHAN ROUGE G FANTASY BEE
As a part of the Guerlain x Begüm Khan collaboration, the iconic Guerlain bee has fluttered its way into the Maison’s makeup collection, landing on the ‘Rouge G’ lipstick case. Frosted with precious stones, the golden bee rests on the limited-edition ‘Rouge G’ lip tints in three shades: the ‘880 Ruby Red,’ the ’03 Light Rosewood,’ and the ‘214 Brick Red.’
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