Brilliant Results
For the first time since I started designing on HSN, I watched Monday night’s hour afterwards. I did it because the presentation felt different, and a record number of you tuned in and purchased pieces we presented that night.
As I left it on my previous blog, the most challenging aspect of presenting my collection was to have never met you, in person. I think that last Monday, I somehow did, and at the very least, I now know what is most important I share with you.
Right before the show, I met with colleen Lopez in the green room, and we spoke for a while. We had met before, a year ago, but in the excitement of my first appearance, we had not had a chance to really speak in depth. This time was different.
We spoke of jewelry, rare gems, history, and tradition. I could see a genuine interest and excitement from Colleen at the prospect of sharing those stories with all of you. So I did.
I realized that beyond the celebrities, it is most important I take you with me in times and in places that most of us will never see.
Today, we are visiting a Parisian “High jewelry” workshop. “High jewelry” defines a piece that either because if its design, or the uniqueness of its stones, will never be reproduced equally. It is one of a kind. In essence, a piece for a single owner and the archives of the jewelry house. There is both a studious and humorous atmosphere in a workshop. The “Joaillier” (Jewelers) as we call them, like to say that their work is so delicate and precise, that they have to joke often, to release some of the pressure stemming from the concentration.
There are maybe 25 jewelers at the “bench”, as their workspace is named. Each jeweler has a very specific task in which he excels.
A piece of ‘High jewelry’ always start with a drawing, painted for that matter, with all colors and sparkles, to reflect, almost to a photographic quality, the end result. Once approved, the design will take its rough shape after the small plate of gold is bent, flattened and pulled, manually, into various shapes and strings.
All the parts are assembled with one another to create the desired volume and balance. Once the mounting is created, the piece is sent through a painstaking polishing process. Each corner of metal will be polished, sliding vigorously the piece up and down cotton strings that will eventually render the gold its flawless shine.
From the original drawing and the nature of each stone, the setter will now drill each space and try each gem until he senses it is fitted perfectly. He will then lay the stones and fix them permanently using one of many different techniques of diamond setting.
After countless hours, the piece will be polished once again to its final brilliant result.
It takes many more skills and hours to execute a piece of jewelry than you would ever imagine. It is simply a matter of dedication.
A bientot,
Jean |
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