Unique Jewelry Blog

March 2012 - Arresting Pearl Earrings

While rings carry much meaning, earrings are equally important as they frame your face. In designing the drop earrings, Atelier Leseine and Geoffrey Good spent much time debating on how to link somehow the classic lines of pavé diamond work with the structure of a contemporary 18k gold palladium hexagonal cage. They wanted the earrings to have impact, to be arresting and yet discreet. The classic pavé diamonds links add the sparkle and femininity to the earrings while the modern gold palladium 'cage' protecting the lustrous round Tahitian pearl delivers an aura of confidence for a woman who knows how to be unusually unique.

March 2012 - Not Just A Pearl Ring

Having seen the Tahitian pearl in many jewelry designs since 1995, Nathalie wanted again to offer something unique, like she had done with Tahitian Designs by having carved Polynesians motifs on the pearls. So this time around as she explored her ways into being a designer, she tried to focus on creative ways to present the pearl while using her multi- cultural background and her love for both classic and contemporary designs. She remembered the intricate geometric metal work of France's Eiffel Tower, she recalled the structure of traditional small bird cages, often hexagonal, in China, she was inspired by New York designer Geoffrey Good knowing he would be able to add his unusual designs ways. In the end Atelier Leseine and Geoffrey Good designed a pearl ring both classic and modern. A ring that presents the Tahitian pearl like never before for a woman that wants to affirm her unusually unique style with discretion and powerful elegance.

February 2012 - Atelier Leseine Preview of Perle Captive

Perle Captive is the name of Atelier Leseine's very first collection. This line has been inspired by Nathalie's love for French classic pavé designs and her love for the geometric lines of the Eiffel Tower. She also drew influences from her memories of Chinese people who keep their colorful birds in traditionally intricate bamboo cages often hexagonal in shape. The latest lines of Geoffrey Good, Hex and Hedra were also a good starting point for both Atelier Leseine and Geoffrey Good who designed the line as partners. The creative thought process led to ask; why not create an exquisite yet minimalist gold nest in which the lustrous Tahitian pearl could be presented? A fusion of cultures, of forward designs with classic sensibilities is what Atelier Leseine wishes to offer. Perle Captive is arresting, will turn heads whichever continent you live on or travel to. It is unusually unique in every way!

January 2012 - Ode to the Hummingbird by Pablo Neruda

The hummingbird in flight is a water-spark, an incandescent drip of American fire, the jungle's flaming resume, a heavenly, precise rainbow: the hummingbird is an arc, a golden thread, a green bonfire!

Oh tiny living lightning, when you hover in the air, you are a body of pollen, a feather or hot coal, I ask you: What is your substance? Perhaps during the blind age of the Deluge, within fertility's mud, when the rose crystallized in an anthracite fist, and metals matriculated each one in a secret gallery perhaps then from a wounded reptile some fragment rolled, a golden atom, the last cosmic scale, a drop of terrestrial fire took flight, suspending your splendor, your iridescent, swift sapphire.

You doze on a nut, fit into a diminutive blossom; you are an arrow, a pattern, a coat-of-arms, honey's vibrato, pollen's ray; you are so stouthearted-- the falcon with his black plumage does not daunt you: you pirouette, a light within the light, air within the air. Wrapped in your wings, you penetrate the sheath of a quivering flower, not fearing that her nuptial honey may take off your head!

From scarlet to dusty gold, to yellow flames, to the rare ashen emerald, to the orange and black velvet of our girdle gilded by sunflowers, to the sketch like amber thorns, your Epiphany, little supreme being, you are a miracle, shimmering from torrid California to Patagonia's whistling, bitter wind. You are a sun-seed, plumed fire, a miniature flag in flight, a petal of silenced nations, a syllable of buried blood, a feather of an ancient heart, submerged.

December 2011 - Life Lesson

Every company has a story. Atelier Leseine is about the story of a beautiful friendship: That of Leslie Dawson, co-founder of Ambiance Interiors and me. Nathalie had the honor to meet Leslie shortly after she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Her incredible courage, tenacity, and joy for what life is supposed to be about was contagious.

When Nathalie expressed to her friend last year her intention to go ahead and create a company, her very first words were: "You go ahead girl, be busy living your dream!". On Dec 12th, 2011, after 7 years of being busy living, Leslie left this world for another journey.

Nathalie and Leslie both shared a love for hummingbirds which played a big role in their friendship. "I remember giving a little gold hummingbird with ruby eyes for Leslie to wear during her chemo sessions, while I wore mine made of sapphire and diamonds. We named them little paco and big paco", recalls Nathalie. Leslie loved jewels, pink and red. And so it became obvious that Atelier Leseine should have a hummingbird as its logo. The bird should be pinkish-red, the color of Nathalie's favorite padparadscha sapphire.

Atelier Leseine supports the fight against breast cancer by guiding clients to a site where they can give a free mammogram to someone at no cost for them, just a few seconds of their time. Nathalie dedicates the creation of Atelier Leseine to her best friend, Leslie. Much Love.

August 2011 - Atelier Leseine Partners With Geoffrey Good

Geoffrey Good is a prolific New York jeweler who has also traveled the globe. On Madison Avenue he advanced his skills and created jewelry for the celebrated firms such as Cartier, Fred Leighton, Taffin, Verdura, Christie's & Sotherby's before founding his own workshop.

Geoffrey Good's style is most unusual by design; European, Asian & African influences are utilized with restraint and integrity, resulting in works that are both exotic and modern. Geoffrey Good's jewelry is unusually fine from every consideration and that is why Atelier Leseine decided to partner with him to create Perle Captive. His background was simply a perfect match!

July 2011 - Atelier Leseine Is Born

The company was named after Nathalie's family name. Born in Paris she spent many hours strolling by the river Seine to seek quiet and inspiration. The buildings in Paris always fascinated her. Like most people, she is in love with the structure of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is the very symbol of what was once considered a modern piece few accepted at the time and went on to become a classic! One focus of Atelier Leseine is exactly that; to create pieces with universal appeal keeping in mind the challenge of balancing modern lines with classic lines.

May 2011 - Following Her Passion

Yes, it is never too late to start living your passion! Many events along the way might often push us in different directions. If one was to stop for a moment, stay still, and listen to his core, one might finally discover what was always inside but never expressed. So is Nathalie's story.

Last May, she landed in Tahiti in search of the perfect pearls she wanted for a vision she had. Already knowing her way around, she still took time to visit a few pearl farmers, distributors to finally decide.

Her mind buzzed with design ideas as she examined all of the gorgeous Tahitian pearls with pink, green, bronze, blue and grey hues. She knew only one color would do for her vision, so she searched for a specific shade of grey. She found it!

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