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 200^th 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 tribute to the birth of Louis on 4 August 1821, La Constellation d’Hercule references a constellation only visible at that time of year.

It is depicted on a necklace of organic magnificence, whose unique pairing of 209 carats of tanzanites, 50 carats of Australian opals and nearly 34 carats of tsavorites reveals all the splendour of its sparkle, illuminated by a mist of LV Monogram Star and Flower-cut diamonds. Louis Vuitton has ingeniously reduced the gold of the mount to the bare minimum, making this symphony of blue, green and purple sparkle all the more brilliantly. To increase the suppleness of the piece, the necklace ends with a diamond-set rope, reminiscent of those once used on trunks. It is joined by three rings, two pairs of earrings and a precious brooch.

 

Expressing the strength of character that led Louis to leave his native Jura for Paris, Francesca Amfitheatrof has created this hypnotic motif reminiscent of the infinite convolutions of DNA chains.

These white-gold and diamond ropes are also consistent of those that young Louis used to carry luggage. The gem-setting work of the 2000 brilliants – including several LV Monogram Star diamonds selected to give volume and sensuality to this fluid necklace – is truly magnificent. The same may be said of its perfect cascade, which embraces the body’s movements. A selection of bracelets, earrings, chokers and rings completes this monochrome tableau.

To represent the 400-kilometres journey of roads and forests that separates the Jura area from Paris, the Maison has created this luxuriant jewellery set. On the necklace, the green of the most beautiful Colombian emeralds – which took two years’ research to pair – is combined with three rows of platinum, yellow gold and white gold, entirely pavé-set with diamonds.

This Damier checkerboard stone marquetry, where each link presents four different settings, is a radiant work of art enhanced by the presence of an LV Monogram Flower and a 5.21-carat DFL pear-shaped diamond of remarkable colour and purity. The necklace, which can be worn in six different ways, took over 1600 hours to complete. It is joined by three rings, a voluptuous bracelet and two pairs of earrings including pendants with exceptional stones, Colombian emeralds and DFL type 2A pear-shaped diamonds with the same weight of 3.19 ct.

The Arrow is both a metaphor for Louis’ journey and a literal interpretation of the V in his name, enhanced by exceptional craftsmanship and gemstones. At the centre of the necklace, the three-coloured V set with rubies, sapphires and diamonds is a nod to the personal emblem of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson.

It curls around the hollow of the neck like an ultra-precious scarf whose tip sparkles with a 2.61-carat D IF Type 2A LV Monogram Flower diamond and a sumptuous Sri Lankan sapphire with a perfect royal blue crystal weighing over 26 carats.

With its elegant shape and rich diagonal pavé settings, this model – which may be worn in three different ways – inspired an entire jewellery set including a solitaire presenting an extremely rare velvety-blue, 18.62-carat sapphire.

 

The young man from Jura quickly laid the foundations for his House by lending his signature to his trunks and patent his famous canvas which covered them. Le Mythe is a superlative piece of jewellery combining several emblematic Louis Vuitton signatures: the Damier (or checkerboard) pattern, studs and motifs inspired by trunk locks, rope, and the Monogram flower. Resting on a bed of diamonds, this three-row necklace presents three sugarloaf cabochons of unearthly perfection: a 19.70-carat Sri Lankan sapphire in a divine royal blue colour, an 8.64-carat Colombian emerald with a deep bright green colour and a vibrant, velvety-soft 7.11-carat Madagascan sapphire.

This centrepiece of the Bravery collection may be worn in twelve different ways and is extremely supple, meaning that its cascade is always flawless. It took over 1300 hours’ work to create Le Mythe, a set that also comprises matching bracelets, rings and pendant earrings.

 

Inspired by the mallettage that lines the interiors of trunks, this lattice necklace is also one of Francesca Amfitheatrof’s signature pieces. Designed to feel like a second skin, the white-gold collar set with diamonds and a precious collection of 75 round rubies is entirely articulated. Three bright red Mozambique rubies weighing 5.03, 3.52 and 2.24 carats add a fiery sparkle to this model, which ends with a 3.29-carat LV Star-Cut diamond set in a double diamond rope. Louis Vuitton has created a cuff bracelet, two rings and clip earrings in the same vein.

 

Invented in 1890 by Louis Vuitton, this is the first time that the unpickable Tumbler lock, a patented lock mechanism, has inspired a High Jewellery piece. Adorned with a Santa Maria-type cerulean aquamarine weighing over 24 carats, the Tumbler, interpreted here as a diamond-set clasp, is positioned elegantly off-centre on a multicoloured necklace displaying all the colours of the Earth, reminiscent of a rainbow. With its aquamarine, citrines, tourmalines, peridots, amethysts, iolites and rhodolites, this collection of over 130 gemstones offers a joyfully vivacious colour palette. Radiant bracelets, earrings and rings form a matching set.

 

Destined to become a new Louis Vuitton High Jewellery classic, this diamond choker depicts the metaphorical figure of the “good star”, a light that will guide our hero throughout his journey. Two rows of refined, graphic diamonds are punctuated by the presence of a knot reminiscent of those used on the interior of trunks. Alongside the knotted white gold, the jeweller has sown an exceptional Monogram Flower: a 10.07-carat Type D IF Type 2A diamond enhanced with an LV Monogram Star cut. This stone of incomparable purity can also be worn as a ring as “La Star du Nord” is a transformable model. It is accompanied by matching earrings, a ring and a bracelet. As the epilogue to this collection and the light that guides Louis Vuitton on his journey, this set, inspired by the night sky, shows the way to a radiant, luminous future.