SEA BREEZE is my first foray into offering you a jewellery that has a very personal story and a deep connection to my roots. It is part of Rebellion, for its cool and chic nautical feel.
At the heart of this jewellery capsule collection is a celebration of my home region of Normandie, North West of France, and more specifically of its coastline.
Normandie has a long and rich history, filled with abundant nature, historical cities and vast golden sandy beaches. There is so much I could say about Normandie, its illustrious past, its legacy and influence that extend well beyond the French territory, through architecture, the arts, and the political and legal system. However, with SEA BREEZE, I have deliberately chosen to focus on one aspect, its seashore.
Why the name ‘SEA BREEZE‘?
Because it encapsulates the essence of the summers by the sea I have spent there every year ever since I was born. A family tradition that goes back 3 generations! An absolute treat, always eagerly anticipated by all of us.
Oh the feeling of freedom, the promise of exciting adventures, the long evenings as the sun sets in the sea … but the very first thing that unmistakably tells you have arrived is not the sea itself! It is actually that sea air on your face and hair. It instantly fills all your senses. Then it is the sight of the sea, majestic and glistening, and finally the warm soft sand between your toes… ecstatic!
With SEA BREEZE, I am taking you there with me.
Who will SEA BREEZE appeal to?
You are a discerning collector at heart. Hand-picked souvenirs from places you have visited, mementos of happy moments and people you have shared them with, all of those are life-long cherished treasures that transport you right back to that time and place.
SEA BREEZE is exactly that, a little time capsule full of charm and nostalgia. Its powerful story-telling is compelling and relatable as it is universal and timeless. It is childhood memories for grown-ups.
Costal foraging and beach combing have been part of the local Normand daily life for as long as one can remember. Initially for economic reasons, these activities have evolved to include more scientific and artistic pursuits. The Victorians in particular took shell collecting to another level.
SEA BREEZE is my take on a very Victorian quest. But it is also more than that.
It is also about capturing a fleeting moment, an impression. Each piece of the SEA BREEZE collection is effectively a little homage to the birthplace of Impressionism.
I have purposefully chosen shell pieces that have been shaped by the sea. Beautifully imperfect yet incredibly attractive, they are a reminder of time passing, of eternity. And the gemstones have been simply tumbled smooth, to complement the narrative.
With the LUCIE pendant necklace eg, the fabulous yellow tourmaline recalls the sand sparkling in the sunshine.
Or the purple tourmalines from the JEANNE earrings evoke those ever-changing and sometimes tumultuous skies that have inspired the Impressionists.
SEA BREEZE is more than yet another shell jewellery collection
Fabulous to wear all summer and beyond, it will appeal to those who are looking for something completely unique with a compelling story, and who also want wearability and convenience.
That is why most pieces are not only fabulous one-offs, they are also modular and transformable.
Versatile and unique, that’s Essemgé’s signature style and my contribution to a hopefully less stressful lifestyle. Because I find that versatility is such a precious thing to have at one’s fingertips. Life is complicated enough, and looks should not mean compromising on comfort.
Take the JEANNE pendant necklace eg. You have 2 lengths to choose from and you can also remove the gemstone to wear only the silver seashell pendant. That is 4 combinations in just 1 necklace.
Note also the fastening, a t-bar clasp finished with a delicate pearl. Not only is it pretty, it is also practical as it prevents the pendant from inadvertently falling off the chain. Because it is those little details that make the difference.
You will have the same with the earrings. From studs to dangles or cocktail earrings, they will effortlessly adapt to the circumstances, your mood or your outfit.
The making process
First I need to start with a confession. SEA BREEZE has been a long time in the making. Only now have I felt the time was ripe to turn it into reality. I had a taster with some commission pieces where I mixed actual shells and seaglass with silver. You can have a glimpse here. And that gave me the impulse.
For this collection, the first step was deciding which shell fragments would make the cut. Once that was done the rest of the making process went relatively smoothly.
So the next step was to make detailed moulds of the shells to capture their unique organic shapes. I then carefully made delicate masters in wax, and got them casted in precious metal using the ancient technique of lost wax casting. After I forensically polished each silver shell so that it is as beautiful on the back as the front, with a contrasting smooth texture.
Quickly passing on the various stages of soldering, pickling, filing and again polishing,
one of the last steps was to add a little extra detail.
The most eagle-eyed will have noticed I am sure. The tiny Essemgé signature motif that I have added exclusively to each piece of the SEA BREEZE collection. It is the ‘Graphic Rose‘! So, now you know and have yet another reason to quickly get your very own.
I have really enjoyed creating each piece, and took a lot of pleasure at seeing them coming alive and looking as I had envisioned them. I hope that comes across in the result and that you too will fall in love with the collection.
Channel your inner child guilt free, Happy SEA BREEZE !
