For Gaia Repossi, Architecture and Jewelry Go Hand-In-Hand

It was a dream come true to have Rem Koolhaas spearhead the redesign of Gaia Repossi’s flagship store on Place Vendôme, which officially reopened during couture week in Paris. “Rem’s work from the early 90’s is a huge inspiration,” the designer noted, “especially his residential projects, like Villa Dall’Ava in Saint-Cloud, where we shot our last look book with Juergen Teller.” In the look book, Julia Nobis wears earrings from the staple collection, and the linear jewelry seems right at home against the stark concrete block walls.

In a similar way, the jewelry that is for sale in the new shop is very much one with the design of the building itself. For instance, Repossi explained, “the new Lateral high end emerald cut diamond earrings that twist along their structure, which is a little like the billboard (the flipping panel window) on the ground floor. I had that idea for a long time, and that took a lot of time to develop.” The Brutalist movement has long inspired Repossi, and one sees elements of that influence throughout the shop.

Tribes Fashion girls, French girls, girls who love sculptural jewelry.

Fans of the brand Major actresses like Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett, indie girls like Clémence Poésy and Chloë Sevigny, and artist Cindy Sherman.

The mix Classic designsfrom Repossi that we’ve come to know and love, like the Berbere rings and earrings and the simple and clean rings from the Antifer collection. For the store re-opening, Repossi created a Serti Sur Vide capsule collection, featuring pink and blue diamonds, which are “similar to the tinted mirrors and windows from the basement and the second floor,” Repossi noted.

Best sellers The White Noise collection, inspired by the Brutalist and Purist architecture movements. The curving lines of these rings can be found on many an It girl’s finger.

Design The new store’s concept combines architecture and display, creating a new way to shop and interact with jewelry. It is further broken down into three levels based upon the idea that one shops for jewelry at three different speeds – fast, slow, and very slow. The ground floor is for fast purchases, the idea that you can come in off the street and find a little something to take home with you. The first floor is the gallery, where the full range of Repossi jewelry is on display, and the basement is the salon, where private clients can discuss specialty and one of a kind pieces.

Pièce de résistance The much-talked about staircase, half of which is a solid mass rising from the basement to the ground floor, and the top half is suspended metal.

Prices Pieces start at $600 and custom pieces and one-of-a-kinds are price upon request.

Location 6 Place Vendôme, 75001 Paris.

For those who prefer to shop from home Repossi.com or + 33 1 42 96 42 34