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| Caractère Essential-Chic silver ring ($600), the Essence Prodigieuse silver and wood ring ($650) and the white lacquer and silver Caractère Chic-issim Bracelet ($1,170). Photo credit: Dan King of Dan King Photography |
An affordable, versatile jewelry collection from luxury brand, Montblanc, has been available for almost a year. Created by Susie Otero, Montblanc’s managing director of Jewelry, it consists of large, oval, sculptural shapes in contrasting dark and light tones. The shapes take on a classical appearance in its execution.
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| Style expert Jen Abrams wearing the black sparkling lacquer Caractère Chic-issim pendant ($920) with the Essential-Chic silver ring ($600) and the stainless steel with black PVD finish Star Spell bangle ($600). Photo credit: Dan King of Dan King Photography |
This is an affordable collection that can be worn to work and then out for the evening without skipping a beat. This versatility is enhanced through the addition of black and white color by applying lacquer or PVC coating on some of the silver pieces. Montblanc, known for its luxury writing instruments, is traditionally a masculine brand but it is working to attract women. This line is created with both the woman self-purchaser in mind and for men to buy as a gift while shopping for writing instruments, watches or leather goods. The luxury brand loaned me 12 pieces from the collection and I tested their ability to complement a variety of circumstances. The prices of the items photographed ranged from $525 to $1,300.
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| A view from the back for the Montblanc Prodigieuse silver and maple pendant necklace ($880). Photo credit: Dan King of Dan King Photography |
Style expert Jen Abrams modeled the jewelry first at Fork restaurant with snapshots taken by me. Then we turned the photography over to a pro, Dan King of Dan King Photography. Abrams and King put the jewelry through some extreme close-ups and creative scenarios.
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| Style expert Jen Abrams and I began our day at Fork restaurant in Philadelphia where I took some pictures of her wearing Montblanc jewelry. Here, the Star Spell bangle ($600) took on the colors of the lights in the restaurant. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
Finally, my wife, Maria, wore the jewelry to her casual work environment at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for three days. I took some snapshots of her next to a Cherry Blossom tree near full bloom.
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| The Caractère Essential-Chic silver bracelet ($1,395), the Romance Beauté silver and wood ring with a thin band of gold ($840) and the Caractère Essential-chic silver ring with black sparkling lacquer ($525). Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
Abrams was attracted to the silver rings with dark wood and PVC highlights as well as the pendant necklaces. There were sterling pendants and bracelets that finished in a black or white lacquer on one side. This allowed the option of wearing them on the colored side or the silver side. Maria preferred the silver finishes. Maria also was fond of an oval pendant with the top half made of thin sterling that gradually finished in a thick maple. An interlocking silver bracelet was a favorite of Abrams and; unfortunately it arrived without the karabiner clasp. We did some improvisation to photograph it.
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| The Romance Beauté silver ring with a thin band of gold ($840). Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
The silver jewelry line is largely defined by three central themes: Romance, which uses soft, rounded forms to convey the femininity of the contemporary woman; Essence, which focuses on pure, essential shapes with an architectural dimension; and Caractère (character), which uses bold independent symbols to convey independence.
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| My wife Maria wearing the black sparkling lacquer Caractère Chic-issim pendant ($920) with the Essential-Chic silver ring ($600) and the stainless steel with black PVD finish Star Spell bangle ($600). Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
Did the jewelry keep pace with the constant changes in environment? You decide.
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| The Volupté silver and white lacquer pendant necklace finds a home on a Cherry Blossom tree ($960). Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
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| The Romance Beauté silver ring with a thin band of gold ($840). Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
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| The interior of Fork restaurant. Ellen Yin, co-owner of the stylish American bistro, was gracious enough to allow us to take photographs prior to the dinner service. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco |
