PARIS — Lorenz Bäumer is leaving his position as artistic director for jewelry at Louis Vuitton to focus on his eponymous brand, WWD has learned.
The jeweler opened his first store on Place Vendôme in June 2013 and is betting on increased business once the neighboring Ritz hotel reopens at the end of this year. “I’m a little overwhelmed. There comes a time when you have to choose your priorities, so I decided that it would be good to dedicate myself 100 percent to my house,” he said.
Bäumer, who previously designed for Chanel, joined Vuitton in 2008. Because of the long development process for fine jewelry, his last creations for Vuitton will be unveiled over the next few months, Bäumer said.
A spokeswoman for Louis Vuitton said Bäumer continued to collaborate on the development of the brand’s jewelry collections, but that he is no longer involved in the creation of high jewelry, which has been designed by an in-house team since the launch of the Acte V collection in July 2013.