Deep Time enters its second Chapter, amplifying this rich tale of geological legacy, transformational beauty and the interconnectedness of life. Francesca Amfitheatrof, the Artistic Director for Watches and Jewelry for Louis Vuitton, invites us to revel in the brilliance of 50 new one-of-a-kind pieces, each a testament to the rich tapestry of geological legacy, transformative beauty, and the intricate dance of life.
“With this second Chapter of Deep Time, we continue the story of this most beautiful, poetic collection that symbolises a vast and incredible storyline,” Francesca Amfitheatrof.
Laurasia: The Laurasia high-collar necklace is recognisably Louis Vuitton, with its sharp ‘V’ of colourless diamonds atop seven orbiting rings of baguette and round brilliant-cut white diamonds in platinum, yellow gold and rose gold. Requiring 2,465 hours to create, it is the most valuable jewel of this second Chapter. An exceptional 5.02-carat emerald-cut yellow diamond is the centerpiece stone, complemented by 34 emerald-cut diamonds – its array subtly reminiscent of the Maison’s Damier motif – as a 3.11-carat LV Monogram Flower cut diamond and over 270 custom-cut diamonds further galvanize the design. An exquisite ring with a 3.02-carat yellow diamond is another masterstone of the collection, while a striking triangle shape step-cut diamond tops a secret watch, a rare gem in Louis Vuitton High Jewelry.
Drift: A manifestation of the Earth settling into a new geological age. Energising and invigorating golden yellow sapphires grace a single-strand necklace featuring a magnificent 30.47-carat octagonal step-cut sapphire glowing among the modern geometric motifs. There is a matching classic white gold bracelet, its graphic V’s again matching an octagonal 17.22-carat yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka.
Myriad: Amfitheatrof takes us down a more esoteric route with the Myriad theme, which is described as “an embodiment of perpetual movement, where futuristic, hypnotic jewels take their cue from sinuous DNA and double-helix forms”. A bejeweled rope entwines and cinches both pieces, adding femininity and fluidity while recalling the sturdy ropes that were historically used to transport the Maison’s trunks. Luminous and graceful, the suite also features a ring and several pairs of earrings, each set with LV Monogram Star cut diamonds nestled in a woven mesh of diamonds.
Symbiosis: Ultra-feminine hues of pink, purple, and pastel blue spinels, sourced from Vietnam and Tanzania, come together in a stunning multistrand necklace. A stunning multistrand necklace mimics nature’s marvels via clusters of spinels that are cut in various shapes and set in different heights for intrigue and volume. Bombé pave diamonds topped by alternating LV Monogram Star cut diamonds further enrich the composition and proportions. A figurative interpretation of Symbiosis’s organic spirit and essence of life, the necklace required 1,381 hours of work and an extreme attention to detail; even the inside of the jewel is delicately crafted in the mushroom motif and only for the wearer to see. Symbiosis is rounded out by organic and fluid earrings and rings that likewise are set in clusters of spinels, diamonds and LV Monogram Star cut diamonds, which meet in a fantasy of light and harmonious beauty.
Fossils: Deep Time’s theme of interconnectedness continues with Fossils, a suite of jewels that Amfitheatrof describes as “treasures of time and place. A single-strand necklace and bracelet, set with 5.18-carat and 4.03-carat royal blue sapphires, respectively, showcase intricate stone settings and metal finishes. The theme continues with minimalist and classic creations, featuring bi-colour yellow and white gold.
Plants: Literal interpretation of verdant flora and fauna. A resplendent necklace crafted from platinum and yellow gold emulates a sumptuous rolled scarf adorned with three detachable leaves. Each leaf glows with a radiant vitality enhanced by a diamond-set V, and the jewel is a spectacular display of 302 custom-cut diamonds and 132 custom-cut Zambian emeralds, which exude a rare blue hue. A matching ring is set with an octagonal, step-cut 2.29-carat Zambian emerald flanked by two pear-cut diamonds. Meanwhile a more everyday necklace features a single leaf that’s set off-center, as 44 custom-cut rubies surround a 5.57-carat emerald.
Skin: Celebration of life’s unique connections, introduces the Umba sapphire from Tanzania’s Umba River. The Skin necklace in pink gold with 83 Umba sapphires of 19.45 carats and diamonds. Ultra-modern, convex and collar-bone skimming, this necklace recalls the skin of a snake but also the Maison’s Damier pattern. The suite includes a necklace, bracelet, standout ring, and delicate ear cuffs, all embracing the body in bombé volume
Bones: Opulent choker-style necklaces feature intricate diamond layouts, including an LV Monogram Star cut diamond and a bewitching 16.92-carat Australian opal. A second necklace is a graphic construction centered on a LV Monogram Star cut diamond and further fringed with around 100 custom-cut diamonds. The brilliant blend of white gold and custom-cut diamonds continues in a set of rings and a pair of standout, double-hoop ear cuffs, while a 3.84-carat oval fancy-cut Paraiba tourmaline tops a two-strand ring of over 240 diamonds.
Seeds: A double-strand necklace pairs luminous grey Tahitian pearls with a white gold band adorned with nearly 1,200 diamonds. Graceful and feminine but strikingly graphic and modern, the necklace matches a bracelet that links 32 Tahitian pearls with over a thousand diamonds. Rounded, white gold tubes also entwine pairs of beautiful golden pearls in a set of earrings.
Finally, the grand conclusion unfolds in Flower. Exclusively set in white gold and white diamonds, Flower is a brilliant tribute to the Louis Vuitton Monogram, where the Star cut diamond is the budding heart of an intricate layout of sophisticated petals, each one individually crafted from baguette and round brilliant diamonds to fit the petals’ curved shape and reflect maximum light. The centrepiece necklace, adorned with over 1,300 diamonds, including 90 custom-cut stones, radiates elegance and timelessness.
With this new high jewellery collection, Francesca Amfitheatrof invites us to join Louis Vuitton on an adventurous exploration, as Chapter II serves as the grand epilogue to Deep Time.
