The French fashion house’s latest fine jewelry collection is a nod to its heritage
Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL
A longing for travel is an integral inspiration for countless Louis Vuitton collections and now Francesca Amfitheatrof, the French house’s artistic director of jewelry and watches, is tapping into both the physical elements of luggage (including fastenings and trunk studs) as well as the ethereal idea of wanderlust and the emotional push and pull of arrivals and departures in her new fine jewelry designs. The collection, comprised of 18-karat yellow, white and pink gold pieces for men or women, is an expansion of 2004’s Empreinte range based around many of the brand’s instantly recognizable house codes.
Louis Vuitton’s interlocking L and V and its trademark floral pattern first emerged in 1896, as part of Louis Vuitton’s son Georges’ incisive brand building campaign for the company’s boxes, trunks and assorted travel gear. Now the letters, one of the most visible marks in the world, adorn bracelets and ear cuffs. Openworked monogram flowers hang from medallions and appear on transformable necklaces that morph into bracelets or stacked necklaces from one destination to the next.
Geometric hoop earrings and diamond-studded ear cuffs include impressions of trunk studs while interlaced rings and bracelets resemble leather straps reinforcing train luggage and suitcases packed to the brim. The crossed laces in rings and bracelets also allude to relationships among loved ones and the ties that bind us all together. Amfitheatrof’s new iterations are a charming mix of early aughts minimalism and an of-the-moment reimagining of the house’s emblematic motifs.
August 17, 2022
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