In the same way that many hunt down souvenirs, Monique Péan scours the globe for local artisans to help in her quest for crafting eco-sensitive fine jewelry. And this season, following a trip to Macchu Picchu, she enlisted Peruvian miners in her growing band of collaborators (last season, she drew on the skills of pearl farmers in French Polynesia). “There’s a lot more color than I’ve used before,” she says of the ombré tourmaline, sliced emerald, and opal discoveries from the region, which have been expertly converted into shimmering adornments such as drop earrings, necklaces, and those signature diamond pavé rings.With their repeated hexagonal and trapezoid shapes—showcased on model and environmentalist Kyleigh Kuhn at Vogue’s exclusive preview this morning—it was easy to see how Pablo Picasso’s Cubist-era paintings could play a part, along with the geometric imagery found in Peruvian temples, constructed to reflect the light and honor their sun god, Inti, as Péan attests. Overall, it’s a beautiful offering and one which, understandably, doesn’t stray far from the look of previous seasons. As Péan explains: “We continually work around the natural rock formations we find—it’s fascinating to see what nature creates.”(vogue.com)Consistently interesting, and beautifully crafted designs.
