Do you ever wonder what life was like before, well, life itself? The key to the universe is within reach: all you have to do is take a step into the time machine that is the Deep Time collection by Louis Vuitton and be transported to a period when Earth was nothing more than a cloud of dust and gas. Piloted by artistic director for watches and jewellery Francesca Amfitheatrof, Deep Time continues its existential probe that began a year ago.
Amfitheatrof, sparing no expense for her fifth high jewellery collection, chronicles the Deep Time Chapter II voyage through 50 pièces de résistance, each festooned with spectacular gemstones. These designs parade her creative vision with references to her signature motifs as well as her narrative ingenuity as they are spread across 10 themes—Bones, Drift, Flower, Fossils, Laurasia, Myriad, Plants, Seeds, Skin, and Symbiosis.
One of the landmark creations here is the Laurasia necklace. Inspired by one of the two supercontinents that mark the Earth’s origins, the necklace mirrors the circular movement of the planet with its seven-row construction in platinum, yellow gold, and pink gold. It is a marvel of jewellery making that took a whopping 2,465 hours to materialise, marrying an emerald-cut yellow diamond and an LV Monogram Flower-cut diamond with the house’s signature V motif.
Another symbolic creation, Drift, is modelled after the thermogenic ball of plasma that makes life on Earth feasible—the sun. Its inimitable spirit is best described by the fiery, octagonal step-cut yellow sapphires adorning a classic white gold single-strand necklace and a matching bracelet. The remarkable stones—responsibly sourced from Sri Lanka—are matched with brilliant diamonds and modern cut-out V motifs for maximum impact.
A natural progression from the sun’s solar power, Deep Time’s grand odyssey documents the first signs of life in Symbiosis. Here, Amfitheatrof’s fascination with the intricate forms of fungi and mycelium translates into high jewellery pieces with a suite of spinels cut in various shapes and set at different heights to mimic their unique structures. The glorious shades of pink, purple, and pastel blue breathe life into the multi-strand necklace, earrings, and rings.
Exhaustive in its retelling of our geological history, as the remaining acts of Chapter II would suggest, the Deep Time high jewellery collection is not only a showcase of unparalleled craftsmanship synonymous with Louis Vuitton but also an invitation that implores its wearers to embark on a deep introspection. Those looking for answers to their existence need only look within themselves, or at these jewellery masterpieces. Just ask, and you shall receive.