Sandra‘s Closet

B Blossom breaks new ground by introducing a fine jewellery collection inspired by the confident woman who leaves a mark in her way.
The star-shaped flower’s iconic design created by Georges-Louis Vuitton in 1896, is reimagined and emboldened in the guise of a stylish spherical stamp to meld attitude with playfulness.
Illuminated by diamonds, the pink and yellow gold range of rings, bracelets and cuffs, earrings, pendants and chain necklaces radiate the iconic flower’s rebirth in an ode to the precious matrix animating the Monogram’s potential for infinity.

Fashioned for the Louis Vuitton’s tribe, the Maison’s new interpretation of its signature Flower presides throughout this fine jewellery collection as the seal of a modern day avatar. Magnified by the power of gold, stones, and diamonds to redefine the signet ring and its play on heritage.

Seven playful rings offer a versatile interpretation of the House’s iconic design. Worn as single rings or stacked, they are available in malachite, onyx, white agate, pink opal, diamonds or plain gold in both yellow and pink gold. Complimented respectively by three statement signet rings, either in carved stone or the other in paveʼs diamonds.

These generous renditions emphasize the ring’s three dimensionality and its value as a statement piece. With the signature, Louis Vuitton star-shaped flower in diamonds set in white gold, these blossoms evoke Louis Vuitton’s unique know-how to heighten the preciousness of the materials, in a testament to elegant craftsmanship and multicoloured refinement.

Other iconic piece of the collection, a sumptuous bracelet in gold with sensual contour, encases in its curves, fives precious pearls paved of diamonds or in onyx. This impression strengthens the fierce beauty of the message in the stones and amplifies the impact of the design.

The collection’s approach to voluptuousness explores the geometric interplay by introducing a bead and a pendant monogram flower, set inside a single walled frame to be worn on short and long necklaces and bracelets. With earrings to compliment the contrasting shapes, these talismans add a minimalist feel to the iconic design, that exalt the sensuality of Louis Vuitton’s jewellery and exploit the harmony in the elements. Exquisitely sculpted mother of pearl, and the expert work on hard stones highlight the House’s approach to diamonds to showcase the essence of femininity. Set delicately off center, on a modern chain, the square frame can be paired with the rounded generosity of the bead to invite a modern interpretation of the monogram’s heritage.

As the adventurer it inspires, B Blossom finds its beauty in a finely nuanced metamorphosis
that encompasses the genesis of the original design, reinterpreted and sublimated
to entrust Louis Vuitton’s signature collection with a bold new attitude.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton

During Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris last week, I was invited by Louis Vuitton to explore the new Haute Joaillerie collection: ACTE V at their newly opened showroom at Place Vendôme. Old sketch books from the house were also on show as well as the high-finished jewels in diamonds and brilliant stones.

V as in the Roman numeral 5 is the leitmotif in the house’s fifth high jewelry collection. V is also the modern ideogram,the Maison’s signature stylised by Gaston-Louis Vuitton during the Art Deco period, in which he was a major player, chairing the Exhibition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in 1925.

Here are some of the most stunning pieces of the new ACTE V collection, of which each jewel is constructed on the basis of a V:

The Genesis Necklace
The cornerstone of the collection is presenting the V as in the shape of this pixelated gem, a 87.92-carat triangular Australian black opal.
White Gold – 1 Australian Opal: 87,92 cts – 1 Tourmaline: 8,60 cts – 1 Sapphire: 5,07 cts – 2 LV Star Cut Diamonds: 1,04 ct / 1,07 ct – Diamonds

The Genesis Ring
This is another amazing piece of Vuitton’s new High Jewelry collection. The exceptional 20.94-carat blue grey Burmese sapphire was extracted from the Pien Pyit mine in Mogok valley.
White Gold – 1 Burmese sapphire: 20,94 cts – Sapphires: 1,44 ct – Diamonds

Cuff bracelets were the star items of jewelry in the ’20s and for ACTE V, they are crafted with an avante-garde aesthetic transporting the idea of women travelling and breaking free:

The Apotheosis Cuff
White Gold – 1 Tsavorite Grenat: 16,51 cts – Onyx – Diamonds

The Apotheosis Bracelet
White Gold – Diamonds

The Apotheosis Necklace
White Gold – 1 Paraïba Type Tourmaline : 7,93 cts – 1 Emerald: 0,41 ct – Diamonds

The Metamorphosis Necklace
Platinum – 2 Panjshir Emeralds: 5,29 cts / 4,23 cts – Diamonds

Below you can enjoy some exclusive behind the scene photos of the artwork behind such a jewel.

In this collection, Louis Vuitton brings together extraordinary gems discovered after diligent searches the world over. This know-how is crystallised in a ring with a red Tanzanian spinel weighing over 20 carats, boasting a brilliance similar to that of diamonds:

The Metamorphosis Ring
Platinum – 1 Red Spinel: 20,03 cts – Diamonds

With ACTE V, Louis Vuitton pays tribute to outstanding and hard to find stones, their quality criteria and the emotions they arouse. They are the soul of the jewel: at the heart of the piece, they make us dream and indulge in the beauty of their colors.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton and © Sandra Bauknecht

Inspired by the innovation and seductive glamour of 1940s haute jewelry, PRADA presents a collection of cuffs, bangles, bracelets and earrings with a contemporary point of view. Each piece is finely crafted using artisanal haute jewelry techniques and exquisite detailing but is made with unexpected materials in daring colours and forms. The collection brings together PRADA’s signature Saffiano textured leather in rich shades of orange, emerald green and turquoise with bold formations of geometric crystals, inspired by the art deco era and the natural world.

A hibiscus flower motif taken from the S/S 2014 men’s and women’s collections appears in Saffiano leather on bracelets and in crystal on drop earrings. Exotic crocodile skin appears in different colours: jade green and ruby red amongst the others. Luxurious plated gold or palladium finishes the pieces, each a unique interpretation of a new modern decadence.

I love those pieces!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Prada

Today I would like to introduce you to the John Hardy brand. Canadian-born designer John Hardy founded his Bali-based eponymous jewelry line in 1989, working with skilled local artisans to handcraft each of his intricate tribal-inspired designs.

Truly impressive is the company’s environmental conservation activism, that shows particularly through the planting of bamboo to offset its carbon emissions, its use of recycled silver and its support of charities protecting endangered forests and wildlife.
Now under the creative leadership of Guy Bedarida, the company continues to follow Hardy’s strict policy of ‘sustainable luxury’, building on a successful production model without compromising the environment.

Famous model Angela Lindvall, muse and personal friend of Creative Director Guy Bebarida is the face of John Hardy.

I think that it is absolutely fabulous supporting such a brand by buying their products.
My personal favourites are the cuffs, bangles and bracelets (see above).

To shop, click on the banner below. John Hardy offers free shipping until March 31st, 2012. John Hardy is also available at net-à-porter.com.

LoL, Sandra

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Remember that I told you last year to get some cuffs and wide bracelets for this summer. If you followed my advice, it was definitely a good investment. The hype is not over yet and those pieces are going to remain absolute must-haves for the next season.