Messika Unveils Botswana-Inspired High Jewelry Collection at Paris Fashion Week

Parisian high jewelry house Messika unveiled its 2026 high jewelry collection, Terres de Contrastes, with a runway presentation at the Grand Palais on October 1 during Paris Fashion Week.

Inspired by Botswana’s striking landscapes, the collection explores the contrasting colors and textures of the Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi salt pans. The jewelry was designed to move naturally with the models, highlighting the brilliance and fluidity of the diamonds.

The show’s finale featured model Irina Shayk wearing Okavango Blue, a spectacular high jewelry creation centered on a 20.46-carat blue diamond. The stone was cut from a 41.11-carat rough diamond and is classified as Fancy Deep Blue with VVS1 clarity. According to Messika, it is the largest blue diamond discovered in Botswana and the eighth largest known worldwide.

Founder and Artistic Director Valérie Messika designed the piece to place the rare gemstone at the heart of the creation, emphasizing its exceptional color and scale. Its Botswana origin also strengthens the connection between the jewel and the landscape that inspired the collection.

Terres de Contrastes unfolds across three distinctive color palettes: deep blues and greens representing the Okavango Delta, warm ochres and reds inspired by the Kalahari Desert, and mineral whites reflecting the Makgadikgadi salt pans, complemented by shades of pink and violet inspired by dusk.

The presentation took place in the Grand Palais’ Galerie Courbe, where the sweeping architecture echoed the curves of desert dunes.

Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, also attended the show, underscoring the collection’s connection to the country’s natural heritage.