Fashion & Beauty

Francesca Amfitheatrof: Fantastical Jewels

A privileged look at visionary jewelry designer Francesca Amfitheatrof’s unique approach to creating collections of high jewelry for Louis Vuitton.

Working in the heart of Paris, Francesca Amfitheatrof brings a new perspective to the ancient art of jewelry design, translating her love of fashion into the jewelry collections she creates for Louis Vuitton. She approaches each collection following a theme, as a storyteller would approach a novel, but written in the oldest materials on our planet—diamonds and gold.

This book is a fascinating look at four extraordinary jewelry collections, exploring the designer’s alchemical process from raw materials and inspiration to polished jewel. Journal-like in style, and featuring unique sketches, gouaches, collages, and personal photographs the book highlights how Amfitheatrof and Louis Vuitton have given the ancient craft of jewelry-making a modern approach. The book also reveals how Amfitheatrof’s personal journey, and her creativity, are perfectly matched with the pioneering and visionary spirit of Louis Vuitton, a house with its roots in luggage and travel. Amfitheatrof, working together with renowned art director Fabien Baron, has created a stunning and highly personal volume that beautifully reflects her singular artistry, within a unique and luxurious package that features a ribbon tie closure and vellum inserts.

About The Author

Stefania Amfitheatrof is a New York-based multilingual luxury and branding specialist with a focus on creating compelling storytelling. She is currently working on her first novel.

Cate Blanchett is a two-time Academy Award-winning actress. She recently won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance in Tár (2022).

Francesca Amfitheatrof is Artistic Director of Jewelry and Watches at Louis Vuitton—the first person to be given this role at the fashion house. Prior to her appointment at Louis Vuitton she was the first ever female design director of Tiffany & Co. from 2014 to 2018, and created jewelry for brands including Marni, Fendi, and Chanel.

  • Publish Date: September 19, 2023
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Category: Design - Fashion & Accessories
  • Publisher: Rizzoli
  • Trim Size: 10-1/2 x 13
  • Pages: 264
  • US Price: $115.00
  • CDN Price: $155.00
  • ISBN: 978-0-8478-7321-0

Reviews

"The work of Francesca Amfitheatrof, lavishly chronicled in the pages of T&C over the years, is now captured in a lush, 264-page, 1.25-pound coffee table book that's a must-buy for jewelry lovers and design aficionados alike. As artistic director of jewelry and watches at Louis Vuitton, Amfitheatrof brings the weight of history and her own intellect to create modern collections that astonish the eye. Conceived in collaboration with Fabien Baron, the volume also carries a foreword by none other than Cate Blanchett." — Town And Country

"Louis Vuitton’s new coffee-table book, Fantastical Jewels, is an ode to its crafted and sculptural fashion pieces. Over 263 glossy pages, we get a peek into Amfitheatrof’s artistic vision, showing the process of diamond cutting, sketches, and more. The book tells a story of the jewelry piece by piece, analyzing the details and techniques of making these works of art. If you’re mesmerized by craftsmanship, absolutely yes [the book is worth it]. The diamonds, rubies, and other jewels are some of the rarest and most brilliant in the world. If you aren’t as interested in jewelry but like storytelling, we also get to understand Amfitheatrof’s journey with the brand through her craftsmanship, starting in 2018 with the first-ever piece Amfitheatrof created for Louis Vuitton — the Royaume necklace, which paid homage to medieval times." — The Cut

"The world of jewelry can be quite mysterious, especially high jewelry. Many one-of-a-kind pieces require massive amounts of artistry and craft to create. And getting a behind-the-scenes look at how these works are produced can be both fascinating and dazzling at the same time. The just-released tome, “Francesca Amfitheatrof: Fantastical Jewels” unveils the world of the Artistic Director of Jewelry and Watches at Lous Vuitton in a scrapbook-like style. And for those in the know, the book was designed by famed art director Fabien Baron, with a foreword by Cate Blanchett, who is an ambassador for the Vuitton’s high jewelry and has starred in the house’s campaigns." — The Grand Tourist

"Louis Vuitton fans, this one’s for you. A foreword by actress Cate Blanchett sets the stage for a deep dive into the work of Francesca Amfitheatrof, the fashion house’s first-ever Artistic Director of Jewelry and Watches (and former design director at Tiffany & Co.). Presented in a collage-filled scrapbook format, Francesca Amfitheatrof: Fantastical Jewels focuses on four of the designer’s collections in particular, documenting her storytelling process from first-take sketches to the incredible diamond creations that they become." — Only Natural Diamonds

"Working in the heart of Paris, the author brings a new perspective to the ancient art of jewelry design, translating her love of fashion into the jewelry collections she creates for Louis Vuitton. Journal-like in style, featuring unique sketches, gouaches, collages, and personal photographs, the book highlights how Amfitheatrof and Louis Vuitton have given the ancient craft of jewelry-making a modern approach. Working together with renowned art director Fabien Baron, this elegant book is a deeply personal volume that beautifully reflects her singular artistry, offered in a unique and luxurious package that features a ribbon tie closure and vellum inserts." — Curated Texan