Leather Jewelry Boxes

For thousands of fashion-conscious women around the world, there is no accessory that imparts the status and prestige of a Louis Vuitton handbag. Without even thinking twice, enthusiasts of the brand willingly hand over thousands of dollars for just one purse. The bags have graced the arms of high-profile celebrities, supermodels, and socialites as the ultimate status symbol.

What is it that sets Louis Vuitton handbags apart from the rest? Why have these extravagant accessories become so iconic in the fashion world?

For many, the appeal lies in the brand’s long and prestigious history. Louis Vuitton is one of the most enduring design houses of our time. Born in 1821, the company’s namesake designer began making the first pieces—premium luggage—and selling them in his first store in Paris, France in 1854. With many travelers frequenting cruise ships and trains, consumers gravitated to the line’s steamer bag, flat case, and the “Keepall” overnight bag that remains one of the company’s most popular travel pieces today. Vuitton went on to offer additional travel accessories, including mini trunks, carry-on bags, cosmetics cases, jewelry storage boxes, diaper bags, computer cases, and more.

When the travel pieces achieved great popularity, Louis moved on to make fine timepieces. When his son Georgie joined the company, they began producing trunks, duffels, and handbags. It was Georgie who introduced the now trademark monogrammed canvas to make it more difficult for others to replicate the Louis Vuitton handbags. 31 years after opening the first store, Louis Vuitton introduced a second store in London, with nearly 130 more worldwide locations opening throughout the 1900s. The company’s popularity, exclusivity, and prestige continued to soar over the decades.

Over the generations, the Louis Vuitton Company has demonstrated a commitment to retaining the finest designer talents. Since merging with Moet Hennessey in 1987, it has retained the services of world-famous designer Marc Jacobs, with Patrick Vuitton overseeing the design and production processes. Today, Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories generate millions of dollars in revenue each year, with the brand’s iconic reputation earning it comparisons to Prada, Fendi, and Gucci. In addition to enjoying widespread popularity throughout America, Louis Vuitton purses, wallets, and sunglasses are also in high demand throughout Korea, Japan, China, India, Africa, and a host of other countries.

Although modern innovations have been introduced to streamline the production process, Louis Vuitton’s leather artisans continue to demonstrate a meticulous attention to detail and painstaking craftsmanship in the creation of each Louis Vuitton handbag. The company adheres to its traditional apprentice system, where master leather workers train novices on the process to ensure unrivaled quality and longevity.

Popular Louis Vuitton Offerings

Over the generations, several trends have emerged as some of the label’s most popular:

• The Speedy is based on the design premise of the Keepall travel bag, but it qualifies as a Louis Vuitton handbag. Its roomy main compartment takes everything you can throw into it. Choose from four versatile styles.

• The Neverfull is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand Louis Vuitton purses. Available in three sizes, it’s offered in a variety of fabrics, colors, and patterns. Its generous proportions provide plenty of storage space without adding cumbersome bulk.

• The Noe’s innovative drawstring design took the fashion world by storm when it was introduced in 1932.

• With its whimsical oyster shell shape, the Elipse Louis Vuitton bag is available in two sizes, appealing to LV enthusiasts who are seeking a new and unique style.

Discover your own timeless style when you choose a Louis Vuitton handbag or other accessory to call your own!

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The Hermes (pronounced air mess) name has a long history of excellence and worldwide success. Well known for their designer handbags, Hermes entered the fashion world as a saddler in 1837. Originally running a harness workshop on the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris, Thiery Hermes created a legacy that would extend many generations and nearly two centuries.

Very soon after its inception, the Hermes house was already making a name for itself. In 1855, Hermes earned accolades at the Paris Exposition for first in class, and later won the First Class Medal of the 1867 Exposition Universelle. So fine were the Hermes harnesses and dressings, that coronations were often put off for the completion of these accoutrements.
Around 1880, Charles-Emile Hermes took over the business and moved the shop to a location near Palais de I’Elysee at 24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honore. It was during this time that Hermes launched the business into retail sales, and bringing up his own sons in the business, the Hermes Company became purveyors to the most elite clients in Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia, and the Americas. The first nod to the Hermes handbag came in the form of a “haut a courroies” bag, which allowed riders to carry their saddles with them.

By 1914, Charles Emile had retired, handing over the reins of the company to his sons, who renamed it Hermes Freres. They employed 80 craftsmen during this time, and also obtained exclusive rights to use the zipper in their leather goods and clothing. Throughout the 20s, Emile-Maurice remained as the sole head of the business. He had an eye toward the ever-changing future, and added an accessories line at this time. While nurturing his own sons into the family business, Hermes added a line of leather garments, the first being a zippered leather golfing jacket that was designed for the Prince of Wales. The Hermes handbag was introduced in 1922 – at the insistence of a demanding wife. Emile-Maurice’s wife complained of not having a suitable one, so her husband designed one for her. Hermes previewed his women’s couture line in Paris in 1929, following the release of the Hermes purse.

During the 1930s, Hermes produced some of his most recognized goods. The leather Sac a depeches (later renamed the Kelly bag) was introduced in 1935, and in 1937 the Hermes carre (scarves) debuted.  The 30s also celebrated Hermes’ 100th anniversary, and witnessed the entrance in the U.S. market by way of the Neiman Marcus department store in New York.

After his death in 1951, Emile-Maurice Hermes was succeeded by Robert Dumas-Hermes, his relative by marriage. Dumas-Hermes introduced the carriage and horse logo and well-known orange Hermes boxes. He was first and foremost a businessman with a mind toward marketing, and in 1956 when the new princess of Monaco was spotted carrying the Sac a depeches Hermes handbag, he promptly renamed it the Kelly Bag. The shot of Princess Grace appeared in Life magazine, and by the late 1950s, the Hermes logo reached renowned status.

The company changed hands again in 1970, when Jean Louis Dumas-Hermes took over from his father. He later launched an advertising campaign that took the discreet Hermes name from “old people’s nostalgia” to the subject of a young person’s dreams. He strengthened the marketing for the fashion house and strove for excellence. By this time, women were sporting the Kelly bag and the Constance clutch, their heads and necks adorned with Hermes’ trademark brightly colored scarves. Bold Hermes jewelry and sensuous cashmeres only added to the sense of class and luxury.

Some of the most recognized women in the world carry designer Hermes handbags. Among these are Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton, Madonna, and the Duchess of Windsor. Below are descriptions of the company’s most popular Hermes purses:

• The Kelly Bag: Typically made from crocodile, alligator, ostrich-skin, or other plain leathers, it sports a metal-tipped clasp that can be fastened with a tiny padlock. The key is often hidden in the leather and dangles close by from the handle.

• The Constance shoulder bag: This Hermes purse is a simple design, and varies only slightly from the Constance clutch. The shoulder bag offers a double strap, and both have the large H clasp.

• The Trim shoulder bag: A favorite of Jacqueline Bouvie Onasis, this Hermes handbag is an elegant favorite. It boasts a simple, single strap with a belted buckle, and a dainty chain clasp.

• The Birkin: Named after Jane Birkin, this Chanel bag offers sturdy double straps, a simplistic clasp, and comes in the traditional “envelope” style.

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If you ask today’s high-style men and women to identify one brand that exemplifies prestige, most will answer “Louis Vuitton”. Indeed, Louis Vuitton handbags have long embodied class and distinction. From celebrities to socialites to big-city professionals, hundreds of fashion-conscious consumers willingly fork over high prices for these luxury leather goods.

What is it about a Louis Vuitton purse that serves as an unmistakable status symbol? What sets these accessories apart from ordinary versions?

Many would answer that it’s the company’s rich heritage and history that makes the difference. Launched as a small leather shop in 1821, the original Louis Vuitton store specialized in crafting fine leather luggage ware. The namesake designer, Louis Vuitton, recognized a demand among prestigious travelers who wanted premium steamer bags, flat cases, and weekend bags. (Today, the classic “Keepall” overnight bag is still one of the most popular pieces in the collection.) After establishing a reputation as a purveyor of deluxe travel goods, the designer expanded his assortment to include carry-on bags, toiletry cases, small trunks, jewelry boxes, and more. He also eventually went on to create luxury watches.

With the addition of Louis’s son Georgie, the company began offering the classic trademark monogrammed canvas for their handbags and duffels. Now a universally recognizable motif, this design made it harder for imitators to copy Louis Vuitton handbags. It wasn’t until 31 years later that the second Louis Vuitton store was opened in London. Throughout the 1900s, as demand and popularity continued to soar, the designer opened another 130 store locations throughout the world. Ensuing decades saw more growth and profits.

Unrivaled designer talent has always been a critical part of Louis Vuitton’s strategy. After a merger with renowned designer Moet Hennessey in the late 1980s, Louis Vuitton enlisted the talented services of elite designer Marc Jacobs. Production and design continued to fall under the supervisory umbrella of Patrick Vuitton. As we approach the second decade of the new millennium, Louis Vuitton purses, wallets, sunglasses, and luggage continue to generate millions of dollars in revenue each year. Many compare this prestigious design company to the likes of Prada, Gucci, and Fendi. Their fine leather ware is popular not only throughout the United States, but also in India, Japan, Korea, China, and Africa.

In spite of the latest technologies and efficiencies, all Louis Vuitton artisans continue to craft each item by hand with a remarkable attention to detail. Today, the original apprentice system is still used to train new leather workers. Painstaking craftsmanship and rigorous quality assurance techniques ensure that each handbag and wallet will serve beautifully for decades to come.

Top Picks for Louis Vuitton Consumers

Over the years, some of the designer’s classic offerings continue to enjoy steady demand:

• If you’re looking for a substantially sized, versatile bag that will travel anywhere, look no further than the Keepall-inspired Speedy bag. Four high-design styles are available, all with spacious main compartments.

• Combining iconic style and everyday function, the roomy Neverfull is one of the most popular Louis Vuitton handbags. An array of colors, patterns, and fabrics are available in three different sizes. Oversized dimensions accommodate all of your everyday essentials, while remaining sleek.

• Introduced in 1932, the ever-stylish Noe handbag boasts an attractive drawstring closure.

• For something with a little whimsy, the oyster shell shape of the Elipse Louis Vuitton handbag is sure to delight. Choose from two sizes in this unique accessory.

The first time you carry your own Louis Vuitton handbag, you’ll understand why the iconic fashion house has enjoyed such longtime acclaim!

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Jewelry boxes are more than mere places to store jewelry. For centuries jewelry boxes have been treasured gift items, and they have been particularly prized as heirloom gifts as well. Let’s take a look at the history of the jewelry box and also consider its role as an heirloom gift.

The best jewelry boxes have been passed down for generations. These boxes are considered valuable not only because of the jewelry stored in them but also for the memories that they symbolize and in many case, for the beautiful workmanship of the boxes themselves.

How far back do jewelry boxes go? Jewelry has been worn by humans since the Stone Age and jewelry boxes have been around since the ancient era. Jewelry boxes were originally known as “jewel caskets.” The early jewel caskets were made out of metal, and finished with gold, silver, copper and ivory. They were valuable items, in themselves, even without the jewelry inside them.

Prior to our modern, industrialized era jewelry boxes were hand-made by craftsman and each one was unique. When the techniques of mass production were adopted, then jewelry boxes, like other metal items, could be produced in industrial quantities. The boxes became affordable for a growing middle class that was starting to get a taste for luxurious products.

In the first years of the 20th Century American women yearned for the fashions of the world’s big cities and were able to get fulfillment of this wish in the popular mail order catalogs of the day. Jewelry boxes became a popular “fashion” purchase in the mail order trade. Jewelry stores also carried the boxes as well.

The increase in international travel that took place in the 20th Century also contributed to another use of the jewelry box; the boxes were bought as souvenirs of the exotic places that their owners had visited.

The tradition of giving jewelry boxes as heirlooms has gone on for centuries and it is still going on today. Many consider a jewelry box as a place where they can store a lifetime of jewelry received from their loved ones and then pass it on to the next generation.

Heirloom jewelry boxes are given on a number of occasions during the year, and they include Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, engagements and graduations. Gift holidays, like Christmas, and other “milestone” dates are times when jewelry and jewelry boxes are given to “mark” the occasion.

The earliest jewelry boxes or jewelry caskets were made of metal and were built to hold small trinkets, but modern boxes have grown in size, use other materials and serve a variety of purposes. Jewelry boxes today are crafted from wood, leather, and fabric. They are used for the storage and presentation of individual jewelry items, such as engagement rings,pearl necklaces and other pieces of jewelry, including rare heirlooms. Larger wood jewelry chests and floor standing armoires are used for the storage of entire jewelry collections.

Wood jewelry boxes are the most popular when it comes to heirloom gifts. Reed and Barton is a popular maker of heirloom jewelry boxes and I personally use a mahogany Reed & Barton jewelry chest that belonged to my husband’s grandmother.

Another quality manufacturer of jewelry boxes is Constantine. They construct their boxes solely by hand and take as much as 20 days to complete a single box. Their boxes are crafted from exotic hardwoods and are lined with specially treated anti-tarnish fabrics. They make exceptional gifts for Christmas and other important occasions.

If you are want to hold your jewelry beautifully and preserve the memories associated with the jewelry, you should consider getting a jewelry box.