Louis Vuitton unveils Les Gastons Vuitton, an 18-piece fine jewellery collection that exudes a distinctly masculine essence. Designed by Francesca Amfitheatrof, Artistic Director for Watches and Jewellery at Louis Vuitton, the new line pays homage to Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the grandson of the maison’s founder. The fascination with Gaston developed when Amfitheatrof discovered parallels between him and contemporary men who are attuned to their inner selves and open to the world around them. This connection inspired the collection to be named Les Gastons Vuitton—a playful take that cleverly intertwines his name and the spirit of ‘les garçons’, French for ‘the boys’. The appended ‘s’ at the end of ‘Gaston’ in Les Gastons Vuitton serves as a nod to the plural form, symbolising the diverse facets of Gaston.
In 1883, Gaston-Louis Vuitton was born at a time of great change and invention. Despite his fragile health as a child, Gaston was described as a jokester and a mischievous prankster that brought levity to the family. He was also an erudite thinker in his pursuits, spent a lot of time studying and was fascinated by different cultures. Gaston possessed a flair for modernity as well, approaching the family business with a unique perspective for innovation. His creations spanned a spectrum, from Louis Vuitton toys to compact cases, intricate monograms and beyond, with several that earned patents.
The Les Gastons Vuitton fine jewellery collection, though marketed for men, is designed as a unisex series akin to a timeless pair of denim jeans. In fact, Les Gastons Vuitton is envisioned to be the denim of jewellery—effortlessly elegant and versatile, qualities embodied by Gaston himself. Iconic Louis Vuitton motifs, such as the Monogram and the Trunk, are captured throughout the collection. The unparalleled precision of laser cutting technology infuses the Monogram with a fresh and contemporary allure. Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton’s signature Trunk designs are transformed into exquisite jewellery pieces, showcasing the motif in its smallest rendition, and are crafted with precision using silver and diamonds. The collection also features yellow gold, white gold and the incorporation of a novel titanium material, inspired by the deep shade of denim.
In designing the collection, Amfitheatrof explores three chapters of Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s multi-dimensional being: The Creators, The Collectors and The Curious, as he was a sagacious creator and a discerning collector with a curious mind, who possessed a flair for invention by giving life to playful designs and imaginative concepts.
The Creators highlights Gaston’s passion for conveying his ideas through sketches. As an avid designer, he designed many of Louis Vuitton’s captivating window displays. This chapter is portrayed with the invention of a mechanical ring and a designer pendant that cleverly doubles as a draftsman’s pen. This taps into Gaston’s inventive spirit and prolific sketching habits. The Collectors narrates Gaston’s penchant for collecting and preserving everything from cocktail party invites to art, books and typography to trunks. This chapter comes alive with the introduction of signet rings, gourmette necklaces and tag necklaces, each serving as a nod to his identity.
Gaston had an insatiable curiosity for nearly everything. He was a bibliophile, a keen gardener, a photographer and a collaborator. He was also well-travelled and was famously alluded to have been nearly born in a trunk. Within The Curious chapter, miniature trunks are elegantly featured as studs, bracelets, necklaces and pendants, and are adorned with engravings in the tiniest proportions and complemented by the brilliance of diamonds.
Like the visionary spirit of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the Les Gastons Vuitton collection of fine jewellery is made for those who aren’t afraid to unapologetically be themselves. Effortlessly adaptable for an everyday look, the collection honours the design signatures deeply rooted in the Louis Vuitton heritage, refashioned for a new generation.
