PARIS — High-jewelry designer Lorenz Bäumer has teamed up with Baccarat to produce a line of fine jewelry with crystal hearts and stars, as the crystal house gears up to expand its presence abroad, armed with fresh financial backing from a new owner.
Called Étoile de mon Coeur, or “Star of my Heart,” the line offers a range of necklaces, earrings and chunky rings with heart and star motifs, with prices ranging from 250 euros to 450 euros.
The collection, which features six models and a restricted color palette, is meant as a personal offer with hidden messages destined for a loved one — a mother, a friend or a partner, for example. “Deep down, we each have someone important that speaks to us,” said Bäumer.
He played with the cut of the crystals, which came in black, purple, clear or light blue, carving several faces into the prominent crystal hearts of the rings. These he set on engraving to catch the light, using techniques dating back to the 18th century.
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“I worked on an unusual and interesting cut, which is the job of a high jeweler,” said Bäumer, gently tilting a ring to show the light.
The collection comes on the heels of the finalization of the purchase of Baccarat by Chinese fund Fortune Fountain Capital. The group bought an 88.8 percent stake in the historic crystal company last month, sealing a deal that had been in the works for more than a year.
“The idea is to push the expansion of Baccarat as a luxury brand. Even if we have a global base, in reality, we have a footprint that is fairly modest,” said Daniela Riccardi, chief executive officer of the house.
The house, known for its Cristal Room restaurant in the heart of the tony 16th arrondissement in Paris, also plans to increase its hospitality offer, she added.