Welcome to Bouvier
Welcome to the new-look Bouvier website. It’s been a work in progress for some time now, so we’re especially pleased to have it up, as it were, finally. You’ll find each of the Bouvier collections newly available to explore, up close and personal.
We’re excited to be introducing a dynamic series of news posts that will keep you up to date on all that’s going on in the expanding world of Bouvier as it seeks new horizons in some of the most interesting pockets of the globe, along with new range releases, blurbs in the media, insights from bix the Bouvier poodle and more.
The new-look site is vibrant and stylish (we think!) and comes in perfect timing with several big news items for Bouvier; the launch of the Classic collection featuring all your favourite pieces; the new season Ione and Sophia ranges which combine fabulous semi-precious stones with signature Bouvier hand-cut silver and the launch of a showroom in New York City.
2012 is set to be a big year; we’re up for it, and keen to share it with you. Cheers to that, PC & RR
From the studio
From the studio
We’ve been asked by lots of BOUVIER women how we go about making our jewellery.
Well, we’ve made a little video of the birth of one of our favourite earrings … the NINA. It’s right here -
Hope you enjoy it.
From the studio
From the studio
NEWS FLASH >>
Announcing the launch of our new label – BOUVIER brides. Available exclusively through our new online shop.
The first Collection is called JASMINE …
“She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes.” – Arundhati Roy.
… and, while you’re visiting the online shop, remember to have a dig around our treasure trove.
You’ll find styles here from our early collections – statement rings and glam earrings to bold cuffs and neckwear, all in Sterling Silver and hand-made in our studio. The last of their kind, never to be repeated and only available here – a piece of BOUVIER history.
From the studio
From the studio
We’ve just launched our new Facebook page … so, all you Facebookers out there, feel free to drop by and like us (if you do!!!).
From where I sit
From where I sit – February 3rd, 2013
Dear readers, I know it’s been a very long time since my last message. I’m afraid age is beginning to catch up on me.
I’m not one to complain but I’ve been a tiny bit sick … nothing too serious, although les docteurs insisted I go to the family sanatorium in Switzerland to take the waters and recover my strength. Un petit dramatic but, having returned, I’m feeling so much better.
Merde, as if that wasn’t enough, my eyes are beginning to dim. So, once my new eyeglasses arrive, I’ll be back into the typing – full steam ahead.
I’ve been staving off the boredom of rehabilitation by flipping through the family albums. I came across this photo of my old friend Hamish. He’s a veteran star of the television scene in the United Kingdom. I think he may have even starred in his own crime series, working beside some little-known fellow actor … Robert somebody? I’m not really one for telly myself. Anyway, he paid a visit a while ago to check on my well-being.
It was wonderful to see him again. I could sit and listen to his Scottish brogue for hours … although I often have to stop myself from chuckling whenever he says, “murder” … especially after he’s downed five or six single malts!
Anyway, I can hear Rafti about to bring my afternoon medication, so I must retire to my bed. She worries when I’m up for too long … bless her.
Now, where did I put my blanket and slippers?
Until next time,
Bixi
From the studio
From the studio
This is the first sketch from our upcoming collection.
Keep your eyes peeled!
From the archives
From the archives
A festive season from ancient times.
Rafti & PC & the BOUVIER elves wish you all a very safe and wonderful Christmas.
From the studio
From the studio
Rafti was recently interviewed by Genevra Leek from VOGUE about the new BOUVIER Brides Colection, Jasmine.
You can read the full interview here …
A celebrity moment
A celebrity moment
Here’s a wonderful photo of the jazz singer and composer, Penelope Sai, from her latest album, Siana – our favourite play in the studio right now!
Did you notice her earrings? … yes, they’re our long CARA earrings. Don’t they look fantastic?
The photo was taken by Francesca Raft, and we’d like to thank her and Penelope for allowing us to use the image.
A celebrity moment
A celebrity moment
The gorgeous Mandi, founder of the ‘Find Me A Muse’ web site, was snapped wearing a pair of Cléa earrings. They really do look fabulous on her.
She penned a story about the earrings on her web site … here. Thank you Mandi for allowing us to show your photos.
From the studio
From the studio
Well, it took a while … but rafti has embraced the 21st century.
Since receiving her new camera (yes, it makes phone calls too!) in the mail, she’s been taking photos like a woman possessed. And Instagram is her new best friend.
If you’d like to follow her exploits, as well as the goings-on in the BOUVIER Studio, just search Instagram for the BOUVIERJEWELS user name.
A celebrity moment
A celebrity moment
Actually, this story is full of celebrities!
It all began with our great friend and famous NY photographer, Julie Skarratt, travelling with Wynton Marsalis to photograph him at the opening of The Jazz at Lincoln Center in Doha, Qatar … a new Night Club at the St Regis Hotel.
What are the chances of seeing someone wearing your BOUVIER earrings in Doha? Quite high, apparently!
A Shazam! moment (as we call it) in an elevator brought two pairs of FES earrings together. The beautiful Samantha Cotterell, an Australian architect living and designing in Doha, Wynton and Julie made an unforgettable photo opportunity!
From the studio
From the studio
Here’s a sneaky peek-a-boo … backstage at the photo shoot for the new BOUVIER brides Collection.
The first images will be appearing in the next day or two … so stay tuned!
From the archives
From the archives
So, just how far back do the BOUVIER archives go?
Well, if you look very closely, you’ll notice that the young man is wearing a brand new pair of camel-coloured corduroy trousers. This obviously dates the image as winter, 1962.
OK, somebody wrote that on the back of the photo!
The stylish, man-about-town who drives a convertible is PC. The young lady, for the sake of privacy, is called Ann. PC and Ann were an ‘item’. Actually, her real name was Little Ann … which was a bit weird considering she was a good foot taller than PC.
Ann’s parents considered the relationship, given the obvious age difference, completely inappropriate and moved her to a ‘Finishing Off’ school in another country. At least, that’s what I was told!
Devastating.
A celebrity moment
A celebrity moment
Suzie Stanford once famously said, ”Imagination will take you everywhere.” And, in the case of BOUVIER, it has!
Suzie, pictured here at a workshop she gave at Lane Crawford in Hong Kong recently, is a designer and a BOUVIER mentor. Way back in 2003, as a store buyer, she was the first person to give BOUVIER ‘a little tickle!’ Thank you Suzie.
You can see Suzie’s work here … www.suziestanford.com.au … and the Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong are here … www.lanecrawford.com
Out and about
Out and about – September 15th, 2012
At BOUVIER, we believe that it’s all about the pattern … and it doesn’t come much better than this.
These images are of the main door of the Royal Palace in Fes, Morocco. A mixture of complex, Islamic geometry and beautifully, fine engraving.
From the studio
From the studio
Just released – two new collections for Summer, POSITANO and BARCELONA. See both of these on our Collections page.
Out and about
Out and about – August 27th, 2012
The most enticing aspect of spending time in Morocco is about ’secret discoveries’ … exploring dark laneways, finding an Aladin’s Cave full of antique, hand-stitched fabrics.
The austerity of the exterior gives way to luscious colours, textures and, in turn, emotions.
This wonderful treasure trove is owned by Abdul, who’s collections rival those of any museum. Every available container and shelf is stuffed with these amazing pieces of embroidery … each invoking the spirit of the woman who laboured long and hard to create her trouseau.
A celebrity moment
A celebrity moment
We were so lucky to have a famous actor … but more importantly, a wonderful friend … modelling our latest collections for us on our terrace in Fes.
The earrings are from the BARCELONA Collection. Check back in a day or two and see the new designs , BARCELONA and POSITANO, in our Collections section.
From where I sit
From where I sit – August 5th, 2012
Mes Amis, Bixi here!
I know it’s been a long time between vermouths and too long since my last column. I’ve spent the month since our return grappling with the story that I really wanted to write. A story about my homeland … my heartland, Paris. However, the words just won’t flow.
It’s a sadness I feel. I wanted to write about the last days of my holiday as I wandered the Boulevards, catching up on the gossip deposited around the lamp posts, contemplating the world while sitting underneath a park bench in Les Tuileries … watching children run, old men argue and lovers love.
A sadness because I saw none of this. Maybe it was the rain, I don’t know. I just couldn’t find the Paris I’ve come to love. Everywhere I wandered, I met with anger, intolerance and very sharp umbrellas. Paris was like a stranger, an unknown city. Je suis triste … but I shall not return.
Oh la la, enough of this self-indulgent nonsense. Instead, I will write about a simple man I met in an amazing city.
This man embodies the city I love now. I don’t know his name. I do know he’s a porter for a small ceramic shop. I know he has a large family and I also know that he is incredibly poor.
Try as I might, I still can’t speak his language. Yet, we communicate perfectly. He’s generous, although he has nothing to give other than generosity. He’s tolerant, inviting moi, a total outsider and stranger, to become a member of his family.
He’s old, yet still amazingly strong and agile. Although it was a bit tricky for him to lift himself out of our butterfly chairs in the courtyard! He has a wicked sense of humour even though his life is very hard. And I feel as though I’ve known him all of my life. Oui, Readers, Fes is my new home … away from Palmy, of course!