Beyoncé Donates Papillon Ring to V&A

The Papillon ring will be on display in the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery from 11 May 11th 2018, alongside jewels associated with some of history’s most notable women including Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great and the Empress Josephine.

Jewellery Curator Richard Edgecrumbe said:
“Beyoncé is a figure whose personal style the V&A is proud to represent, and a gift from whose personal collection we are honoured to receive. The papillon ring she has gifted is an exquisite example of contemporary jewellery design by one of Britain’s master jewellers.”

Ingeniously crafted and technically astute, the Papillon ring was designed by Glenn Spiro in 2014, and crafted from featherweight blue titanium, tsavorites and diamonds.  The ring sits on the finger and flutters mesmerizingly as the wearer opens and closes her hand, or simply bends her ring finger, via a clever mechanism that delicately extends over the knuckle.  To the observer, the butterfly is simply attached to the finger with a diamond studded tendrils. To the wearer, it is an exquisitely pretty pet which flutters its wings on command.

The ring is a perfect example of naturalism in contemporary fine jewellery.

“I am delighted that one of our bejeweled Papillons has found its way to the V&A, and all thanks to the generosity of our long time friend and client Beyoncé Knowles Carter and her family. It is an honor to have a piece in such a magnificent gallery, steeped in history, and I am looking forward to seeing it in its new home” said Glenn Spiro.

The star was photographed wearing the ring in a series of intimate family pictures taken by her husband, rapper Jay Z.