Out Of Bounds

Playfulness and elegance permeate Herms new Enchainements Libres high jewellery collection, discovers charmian leong

CHAINS ARE, BY nature and purpose, supposed to be tough, heavy and brawny. But in the hands of Pierre Hardy, creative director of Hermès jewellery, that image has been transformed into a leitmotif that is light, playful and glamorous in the new Enchainements Libres collection. Inspired by Hermès’ origins as a harness maker and saddler, the curb chain, saddle chain, anchor chain link and toggle clasp have been reimagined in precious metals and stones and even titanium for a series of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings.

“Metal might seem to be the most hostile of materials, but the challenge for me was to find its point of fusion with the human body, to find flexibility, ergonomics, sensuality,” he says. “When I’m designing I forget how precious or rare the metal might be; everything stems from shape.”