Biennale des Antiquaires Paris: Designed by Karl Lagerfeld for the Grand Palais

The 26th Biennale des Antiquaires in happening now in Paris, with 122 galleries displaying some of the world’s most exquisite fine jewelry, art, and antiques. If you’re in the market for a new slew of diamonds, the perfect piece to round out your art collection, or some period interior decor items to fill your new Parisian apartment, the Biennale is the place to be this week. The Beaux Arts architecture of the Grand Palais, with its high-arched glass ceilings, is the perfect setting to highlight the art and jewelry exhibited within. This year’s set was designed by Karl Lagerfeld, with the intent of creating a miniature Paris inside the impressive Beaux Art exhibition hall. Try visiting on a sunny day so you can appreciate the full beauty of the locale, the art, and of course, the diamonds.

As you peruse the store fronts of Chanel Haute Joaillerie, Victoire de Castellane’s Dior, Van Cleef & Arpels, and others, be sure to look out for Bulgari, who has returned to the fair after 26 years of repose with the exhibition of the diamond tiara that made the house famous. American vintage fine jewelry expert Siegelson is also taking part in this year’s fair, with a stunning and rare collection of vintage jewels. Also exhibited is an astounding collection of antiques and fine art, from original paintings by masters such as Picasso, Cézanne and Renoir, to artifacts dating to the 3rd millenium B.C. The Galerie Chadelaud has brought art and furniture from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries over from its showcase in the Louvre des Antiquaires in the nearby Palais Royal. Paris notables Galerie Steinitz and Galerie Félix Marcilhac are joined by prestigious galleries from around the world who have set up their most coveted pieces for onlookers and buyers alike. Anything here to decorate a Paris pied-a-terre? To say the least. But decor trends in Paris are away from Louis XV, toward a cleaner, more refreshing look. Mixing styles can be the key to a successful finished look: pieces that are more brocante (simply “second-hand”) than antique can complement a signature work of real value, to give an apartment a more inviting, comfortable feel. Read about the art and antiques to look for at this year’s Biennale in the New York Times.