Mellerio dits Meller, has reached out to couturier Alexandre Vauthier to create a new capsule collection of fine jewels, including four unique haute joaillerie pieces. The new creations by Vauthier, who is known for his sexy designs that hint more than reveal, brings his sense of sensuality to the 412-year-old jewelry house that gave him access to beautiful emeralds for his creations, the designer’s favorite stone.

Having first worked with Thierry Mugler and Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vauthier launched his eponymous brand in 2009 and earlier this year became a permanent member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, having previously shown as an invited member. He is known for incorporating a large V (for his name) into his designs, either creating a plunging neckline or slashing a skirt to reveal plenty of thigh.

For his collaboration with Mellerio, he incorporated his initial in the overall shapes of the piece or in the detail, giving them a surprising Art Deco feel. Vauthier said he found inspiration in the Mellerio archives, in particular a series of 19th-century drawings and an architectural bracelet from the 1970s.

“I’ve always had a love for beautiful stones and I’m interested in other things than fashion. I do some architecture, handbags, shoes, for me, everything is linked; it’s just another creative expression,” Vauthier told Blouin Lifestyle, adding, “I wanted to do something that interacts closely with a woman’s body, and was very fluid. I wanted to recreate an intimacy between the jewel and the woman, and not just an adornment that is a status symbol.”

The most striking design is a long, sharp, V-shaped single earring that hangs sensually down the neck but also transforms into a pendant.

“Our two maisons, although at first glance quite far apart, have immediately found common ground around our love for the métier d’art and creativity,” added Gilles Haumont, CEO of Mellerio International.