Meet Louis Vuitton’s high jewellery designer who’s making priceless pieces that are ‘actually fun to wear’

For Francesca Amfitheatrof, it’s ‘super important’ to make high jewellery that’s relevant and doesn’t look vintage

We catch up with her in Morocco as she debuts Louis Vuitton’s new Spirit high jewellery collection, showcased by Australian actress Cate Blanchett

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Francesca Amfitheatrof (left), artistic director for jewellery and watches at Louis Vuitton, and actress Chloe Grace Moretz at the unveiling of Spirit, Louis Vuitton’s latest high-jewellery collection, in Marrakesh, Morocco, in June.

Published: 4:15pm, 19 Jul 2022

Francesca Amfitheatrof is the most fabulous fashion insider you’ve never heard of. Chic, charismatic and – most importantly – far from overexposed, she is the artistic director for jewellery and watches at Louis Vuitton, the leather-goods house known for its monogrammed trunks.

While you may not have heard of Amfitheatrof, if you’re a jewellery and luxury lover, you’re likely familiar with her designs. She is the woman behind Tiffany’s signature Tiffany T and HardWear lines, and also had stints at Chanel and Fendi, where she designed jewellery under the late Karl Lagerfeld.

Born in Japan to a Russian-American father and an Italian mother who used to work for designer Valentino, Amfitheatrof had a very international upbringing. This sits very well with the DNA and ethos of Louis Vuitton, she explains in an interview in Marrakech, Morocco, where she unveiled the brand’s latest high jewellery collection in late June.

“First I’m a traveller – I’m a born traveller. It sits within me and is true to who I am,” she says. “Vuitton is an accessory and fashion brand but it focuses on beautiful objects and the idea of travel, which is about exploration, adventure and expansion, being able to go anywhere. There’s a casualness but a chicness in that. That’s how we live.”

Actress Cate Blanchett in a campaign shot for Spirit, Louis Vuitton’s latest high-jewellery collection.

Casualness and chicness may be key elements of Louis Vuitton but the pieces that Amfitheatrof debuted in Marrakech are one-of-a-kind collectibles that represent the most rarefied segment of the luxury world: high jewellery. We’re talking about unique creations made with the most precious stones in the world.