Francesca Amfitheatrof, Louis Vuitton’s Artistic Director of Watches and Jewelry, has unveiled the brand’s fifth high jewelry collection—the second chapter of its last line, “Deep Time.” Profoundly inspired by the natural world, particularly how the planet was formed and has evolved, this second iteration of “Deep Time” features over 170 unique pieces, setting a record number of precious stones utilized by the maison.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
“Deep Time” was first unveiled last year in Greece within an atmosphere imagined by Estúdio Campana. Acknowledging Greece’s natural beauty as one of the oldest civilizations, the design studio realized an immersive installation adorned with bespoke décor to echo the tale of the collection.
“At Louis Vuitton we are as ever adventurers, traveling to extraordinary, unexpected places,” said Amfitheatrof. “Deep Time will transport you deeply into the past, to a time and place that is so remote and perhaps even difficult to comprehend. But at the same time, the stones—these treasures that span millennia—will bring you right there, to the beginning of the planet and into a history of the world and its mystical geological legacy.”
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton High Jewelry Follows the Story of the Planet
Explored through two subcollections, Geology and Life, the line is divided into 16 themes—13 of which are new for part two: Gondwana, Volcano, Wave, Rupture, Drift, Origin, Myriad, Fossils, Plants, Flight, Bones, Seeds, and Flowers.
At first, Gondwana taps into our planet’s evolution, starting in one of the two supercontinents that marked our planet’s formation. In “Deep Time II,” the landmass is gorgeously visualized through a wondrous selection of no-oil Colombian emeralds. Then, apocalyptic cryptics are imagined through the themes of Volcano, Wave, and Rupture—a sequence of explosions and transformations that are here imagined in the brand’s design vocabulary.
To reimagine these events, custom-cut LV stones dazzle designs, and a signature Louis Vuitton V appears in one-of-a-kind jewels. Drift then kicks in to embody the sun and the ocean, joining yellow sapphires with beautiful aquamarines.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
“We have this incredible ambition to find the most beautiful stones, which in ‘Deep Time’ are all connected to a theme, whether formed from lava, hail from different continents, or symbolize an idea,” said Amfitheatrof. “‘Deep Time’ is a celebration of the past, but also the beauty of nature and the incredible fragility of life.”
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
“Deep Time” Honors Life, Nature, and Time
Themes from Origin and Plants to Seeds and Flowers visually communicate the many formations and phenomena of our planet. Nature-themed pieces—like a double-strand necklace in yellow and white gold, featuring 17 brilliant-cut rubies and emeralds in Plants—join others that embrace the interconnectedness of time and space, like Fossils.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Fossils decode the mysticism of continents once being connected. Expressed through three-strand tubular necklaces with diverse patterns and intricate stone settings—like bezel, claw, and custom-cut pave settings, as well as Damier patterns and honeycomb motifs—the highlight piece shines with a 27.83-carat Sri Lankan sapphire and a 5.52-carat Monogram Starr cut diamond. The piece took 1,740 hours to complete.
“Fossils is really a roadmap, an imprint that tells us where we come from,” added Amfitheatrof. “Each strand of the necklace is unique and almost imprinted with a visual language that’s left for us to read.”
Francesca Amfitheatrof Captures the Beauty of Flight and Flowers
Flight embraces the beauty of the sky, inspired by birds in flight. Featuring the collection’s largest suite of pieces, the line evokes the lightness and beauty of birds in mid-air. 15 pieces capture the weightless wonder of this act, showing cocktail rings, necklaces, earrings, and brooches adorned with LV monogram-cut diamonds and Mozambique rubies.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The collection ends with Flowers—a theme only possible because of the one that came before, Seeds, represented in a sparkling medallion necklace showcasing an LV monogram flower. Raspberry-colored rubies and pink sapphires alternate, taking turns to be seen in layered petals of pink and yellow gold, suspended from a gold chain made of interlocking diamond pave rings and links. Joining the suite are a ring and earrings featuring the same unforgettable flower, sharing the story of an unforgettable voyage through life and time.
In celebration of the collection, for the very first time, the high jewelry line will be joined by nine remarkable bags that match the themes of “Deep Time.”
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
