Louis Vuitton’s 2024 High Jewellery Reveal Pushes Boundaries Like The Era That Inspired It
Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before…
There’s a sense of dynamism, a feeling of exhilaration, a palpable excitement. Serendipitously, that sentence could be about both the unveiling of Louis Vuitton’s latest high jewellery collection, as well as the pioneering 19th century period in France that inspired Francesca Amfitheatrof’s 220 pieces.
Louis Vuitton are known for creating an annual intricate storytelling extravaganza to introduce their sparkling range. The world’s editors, celebrities and Louis Vuitton high jewellery’s top clients – notoriously difficult to impress – had high expectations.
After all, Francesca, artistic director of jewellery and watches, had whisked everyone to the dawn of time courtesy of the masterful Deep Time in Greece last year. True to form, this three-day 2024 reveal in St Tropez, the sixth for the high jewellery line, lived up to the hype.
The French Riviera was the perfect backdrop to set the scene – you instantly grasped the allure of this location and innovative historical era that so entranced the creative tour de force. This time of change was when an explosion of talent was ignited thanks to the abolition of the gilts, coupled with leaps in technology – gas and electricity – which literally created the City of Lights. All this was celebrated, and explained, via 13 chapters that dissected the overarching theme of Awakened Minds, Awakened Hands.
“France in the 19th century was a phenomenal time of incredible change, and when Paris really became the centre of the world,” explained Francesca, who personally toured everyone around the display at Domaine de Bagatelle, where one-off Louis Vuitton artefacts and other special keepsakes highlighting the artistry of the period were shown alongside the jewels to give them context.
“The design language of Awakened Hands, Awakened Minds reflects that – all its intricacies, complications, and innovations – turned into incredible jewels,” she continued, articulating the thought process behind every item, leading you to feel invested, uplifted and giving an understanding of how unique each one-off piece is.
Among many firsts for the proudly French maison, guests gasped on the night of the welcome gala at Château Saint-Maur upon seeing the label debut a tiara under the Elegance banner that put the spotlight solely on diamonds. The distinctive monogram star-cut diamonds instantly, yet subtly, showed viewers where it was from.
And although all high jewellery lines look to dazzle with astonishing gems, what sets LV apart is their often very unusual provenance; Madagascar (7.08ct) and Ceylon (20.1ct) sapphires, a 5.07ct Zambian emerald, and a set of 110 Mozambique rubies were just some of the decorative elements on the brand’s most expensive line ever showcased.
The showstopper? The Cœur de Paris necklace, which immediately evokes the spirit of the Eiffel Tower. A pink gold confection complete with a rare pink 56.23ct diamond with orange hues set in a medallion that could also be worn as a brooch.
Another lovely anecdote that ties into this theme? “Craftsmanship becomes the currency of this country,” Francesca tells us. “It is the birth of France’s art de vivre – and the birth of what we know as luxury today.” And 1837 was also the year when a 16-year-old by the name of Louis Vuitton arrived in Paris and eventually started his own trunk-making business. The rest as they say, is history.
For more information visit louisvuitton.com.
Images courtesy of Nathanial Goldberg and Giovanni Giannoni
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2024 issue
