大部分人对路易威登的第一印象，多还是停留在其子乔治威登所催生的Monogram图腾，但对品牌之父路易威登本人的故事，却不是那么熟悉。适逢路易威登200岁诞辰之际，路易威登钟表珠宝艺术总监Francesca Amfitheatrof即借最新推出的Bravery高级珠宝系列，勾勒出品牌创办人的精采一生。
Bravery是Amfitheatrof为路易威登打造的第3个高级珠宝系列，共由8个章节、90件作品组成，依序描绘了路易威登从出生到只身赴巴黎奋斗的历程。项链是奠定每个篇章形象的基础，像是采用凸圆形切割沙弗莱石、坦桑石和澳洲蛋白石镶组成的Constellation d’Hercule项链，便记录了路易威登于北法Jura省出生时星空的模样。路易威登10岁丧母，后因和继母不和离家，花了2年时间徒步前往巴黎自立门户，La Fleche项链上由红宝、蓝宝及钻石镶组出的V形图样，不仅代表了他日后成立的品牌，更象征了巴黎对他的无形引力。
An expression of renewed elegance, the collection, underpinned by virtuoso savoir-faire, interprets the Maison’s signatures in gemstones and precious metals to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of a man who has become a legend. Bravery is a collection of 90 emblematic pieces that celebrate and retrace the extraordinary destiny of Louis Vuitton in a dreamlike, metaphorical manner. From the birth of travel to modern times, the House continues to reinvent itself, drawing inspiration from the universal appeal of its founder.
Born in the Jura area in 1821, Louis Vuitton was barely a teenager when he decided to leave home and try his luck in Paris. This initiatory journey on foot across France inspired him to become a trunk-maker and packer. Having met with instant success, his trunks paved the way for modern luxury.
“I was surprised that a fashion house like Louis Vuitton was created through the sheer courage of one young man”, remarks Francesca Amfitheatrof, Louis Vuitton’s Artistic Director for Watches and Jewellery.“ Driven by his curiosity about the world, he embarked on that incredible journey across France. That’s why we have named this collection Bravery. It’s not a word often used in High Jewellery! Yet these notions of determination and adventure are intrinsic to Louis Vuitton, and we wanted to express them through this collection.”
Francesca Amfitheatrof’s powerful and striking writing injects a masterful energy into these 90 High Jewellery pieces whose manufacturing excellence relies on the talents of the finest artisans. Thanks to their exceptional expertise, the jewellery workshops at Place Vendôme transform graphic creations into real masterpieces of suppleness and fluidity, adorned with an infinite number of precious details.
The rare quality of the gemstones used on all the models is just as important. It took a global three-year search to source the sapphires, emeralds, rubies, diamonds and gemstones used on the pieces in order to obtain such richness of colour. The stones are enhanced by peerless jewellery know-how, with most benefiting from very special attention with bezels and settings made to measure, such as the 1700 gemstones cut directly on the piece. A shimmering harmony of colour lit up by the fire of over 110 LV Monogram-cut diamonds, Louis Vuitton’s signature diamonds and a sparkling reincarnation of the Monogram flower.
A magnificent allegory of the visionary spirit of a man born 200 years ago, the Bravery High Jewellery collection retraces this remarkable saga in eight themes.
All photos provided by Louis Vuitton
