French jewellery company has designs on mainland expansion
Partners may have contrasting styles, but their pieces are at one with the customer
Corina Larpin was at a party, wearing a large flower-shaped ring set with blue sapphires, a piece she made and gave to herself as a birthday gift. A woman came up to her and offered to buy it.
"I told her she couldn't have it because I had already worn it. I said I'd make another one for her," Larpin says. But the woman insisted and wrote a cheque. The ring was sold.
Romanian-born Larpin is one-half of Stefere, a French jewellery company started in 2005 by jewellery designer Stephanie Rehault. Larpin met Rehault at a party and became her client. Six years ago, they became partners.
Rehault is younger and more conservative than Larpin, who has more of a rocker chic. The duo believe they offer a wide variety of jewellery to customers.
"We are very different, but we complement each other. We exchange ideas and build a collection together. It can take weeks to complete," says Larpin. "But recently we were able to create a collection in three days. She [Rehault] understands my craziness, but we both have to like the design."
Stefere is opening its first shop in Shenzhen this month, and will open another in Shanghai next year.
Rehault says she finds inspiration for her pieces everywhere. Hong Kong is the inspiration behind the brand's latest collection "Lines", which features wavy lines with white diamonds in necklaces, rings and earrings.
"I'm inspired by people, architecture, night markets," she says. The jewellery is made in places such as Spain, Italy, Taiwan and Hong Kong for smaller pieces. Rehault and Larpin also focus on special pieces for boutiques that carry the brand, as well as bespoke orders for private clients.
We are very different, but we complement each other. We exchange ideas and build a collection together. It can take weeks to complete
"A shop in Saint-Tropez that sells our pieces tells us what customers like about the jewellery. We have a good relationship with our clients, and we try to fulfil their requests," Larpin says. That usually means one-off designs.
Larpin travels to Hong Kong with her husband every two weeks and has a private client base here. "Hong Kong clients like feminine designs, like flowers, butterflies, big cuffs and chain bracelets," she says. The flower rings, shaped like camellias but with different coloured stones and in three sizes, have been a hit in the city. Now they're catching on in Europe as well.
Larpin says mainland clients are more conservative and prefer white diamonds and rubies - no sapphires, emeralds or black diamonds. They also like to wear big pieces.
Prices range from HK$50,000 to HK$800,000, and with women in Hong Kong constantly looking for statement pieces to wear to gala events, Larpin is kept busy.
"I have to be here to explain the piece and its versatility; for example, a brooch can also be made into a bracelet and a necklace," she says. "I have to think about clients' personalities and what they like to wear."
Among Stefere's celebrity clients is Elton John, who bought a champagne bottle necklace and a guitar design for his partner, David Furnish. Penelope Cruz bought a Coke bottle-top pendant in white gold. Rapper Sean Combs has a bullet-shaped gold pendant with diamonds.
For more information, go to stefere.com or call 2352 2488 for an appointment
