Gemstones at the Heart of The Met and Sabyasachi’s Latest Collaboration

Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration bring forth fashion, art and jewellery in a multi-year collaboration inspired by more than 5,000 years of art and history.

Its first chapter inspired by the Byzantine Empire, exploring how culture travels, evolves, and leaves its mark across generations.

Set to debut during New York Fashion Week in September 2026, the high jewellery collection transforms historical influences into modern heirlooms through a contemporary lens.

Gemstones form an important part of this collaboration, with reported pieces featuring tourmaline, spinel, amethyst and lapis lazuli alongside gold.

The Sabyasachi and the Met collaboration ultimately explores how stories preserved through art can be reimagined for today.

What Is Sabyasachi and The Met Collaboration?

To understand the Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration, it is important to look at the two creative forces behind it.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee is an Indian designer whose luxury house is recognised for its connection to heritage, craftsmanship and jewellery.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met, is a major cultural institution whose collection spans more than 5,000 years of art from around the world.

Drawing from this history, Sabyasachi reinterprets historic forms, objects, and cultural exchange into contemporary jewellery, with gemstones adding colour, character, and a distinctly modern expression.

Gemstones Featured In Sabyasachi and The Met Collaboration

Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration places gemstones at the heart of its interpretation of historic art and craftsmanship.

From vibrant tourmaline and rich garnet to jade, turquoise and striking jasper, each stone adds colour and character to the collection.

Here are some of the standout gemstones featured in the collection.

TOURMALINE TAKES THE LEAD

Inspired by an 8th-century Iranian plate depicting a female figure riding a fantastical winged beast, this pendant necklace combines 18K and 22K gold with vibrant tourmaline cabochons.

Garnet, onyx, jade and turquoise add further colour and depth to the design, bringing the historic imagery into a richly layered contemporary jewel.

210 CARATS OF JASPER NECKLACE

Drawing from a 13th–15th-century Byzantine cameo featuring Christ Emmanuel, this pendant necklace pairs 18K and 22K gold with an extraordinary 210-carat jasper and faceted tourmaline.

Garnet, onyx and jade cabochons complement the piece, while brilliant-cut diamonds detail the Royal Bengal Tiger insignia on its reverse.

GARNET, WITH A SIDE OF BROWN DIAMONDS

A Roman marble sarcophagus from the 3rd century, depicting lions felling an antelope, inspires this striking wrist cuff.

Crafted in a combination of 18K and 22K gold, it features garnet cabochons and brilliant-cut brown diamonds, translating the dramatic movement of the ancient sculpture into a bold contemporary form.

TOURMALINE AND JADE STUDDED PANEL

Inspired by a 12th-century Iranian or Byzantine carved bone-and-ivory panel depicting animals, this 18K and 22K gold necklace takes the form of a tiger claw.

Tourmaline and jade cabochons bring colour to the design, while brilliant-cut brown diamonds add subtle highlights to its sculptural silhouette.

ANOTHER CHAPTER FOR GARNET & TOURMALINE

A late Imperial Roman marble sarcophagus depicting the Triumph of Dionysos and the Seasons, dated to around 260–270 CE, serves as the inspiration for this wrist cuff.

The piece combines 18K and 22K gold with garnet and tourmaline cabochons, giving an ancient artistic reference a distinctly contemporary jewellery expression.

Why Was the Byzantine Empire Chosen for the Sabyasachi and The Met Collaboration?

The Byzantine Empire was chosen for the first chapter of the Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration for its rich history of cultural exchange.

Centred in Constantinople, present-day Istanbul, the empire flourished between the fourth and fifteenth centuries and stood at the meeting point of Europe and Asia.

Trade routes connected Byzantium with regions including Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia and India, creating a distinctive blend of artistic influences.

This history of movement and interaction closely aligns with the idea behind the collaboration: exploring how cultures travel, evolve and influence one another.

Drawing from The Met’s extensive Byzantine and Late Antique collection, Sabyasachi transforms motifs such as imperial medallions, architectural details, ancient sculpture, stonework and religious imagery into contemporary high jewellery.

FAQs

1. What is the Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration?

The Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration is a multi-year partnership. The collaboration draws inspiration from The Met’s collection spanning more than 5,000 years of art and history, beginning with a high jewellery collection inspired by the Byzantine Empire.

2. What gemstones are featured in Sabyasachi and The Met collection?

The Sabyasachi gemstone collection features gemstones including tourmaline, garnet, jade, turquoise, onyx and jasper, along with diamonds.

3. What inspired Sabyasachi and The Met jewellery collection?

Sabyasachi and The Met jewellery collection is inspired by artworks and objects preserved within The Met’s extensive collection.

The first chapter explores the Byzantine world and its history of cultural exchange, translating historic forms and imagery into contemporary gemstone jewellery and modern heirlooms.

4. Where Will the Sabyasachi and The Met Collection Be Available?

The Sabyasachi and The Met collection will make its debut in New York City during New York Fashion Week in September 2026.

Conclusion

What began with a cryptic social media post has now unfolded into one of the most anticipated jewellery collaborations of 2026.

Sabyasachi and the Metropolitan Museum of Art bring together the designer’s Indian craftsmanship with the artistic legacy preserved within one of the world’s leading museums.

In Sabyasachi and The Met collaboration, gemstones do more than embellish the jewellery; they bring its historical inspirations to life.

Richly coloured stones such as tourmaline, garnet, jade, turquoise and jasper give each piece depth, while turning centuries-old artistic references into distinctive modern heirlooms.

With the partnership extending beyond a single collection, this debut marks the beginning of a longer creative conversation between history, craftsmanship and modern luxury.

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