Veronique Gautherot, Luxury Jewelry Designer of Veronique Designs One-Of-Kind Jewelry Art to Touch Your Heart
Photo Credit: Tristan Bagoas Caron
Jewelery Designer, Veronique Gautherot was born in Paris from a Mauritanian father (West Africa) and a French mother in 1961, at a time when “ethnicity” was a silent concept. “The search for my identity, as a mixed heritage young girl, living in a mainly White French environment, has been sometimes painful. The intense need to integrate in a culture which was not fully mine was conflicting with this other side of who I was. Deep down, I was a loved but tormented child.”
Veronique entered the Academic world, and went to University for 6 years to study Psychology and French Literature. Then she went to London. Her journey to London, opened her world. Jewellery is what Veronique always considered the most significant accessory in terms of the expression of who we are essentially. “The introduction of raw materials in their natural power and the art of assembling them with harmony give birth to a unique and sensitive piece of Jewellery.” It is in London that I found the strength and the inspiration to freely create a wide range of Jewellery with carefully chosen materials. I started using shells, wood, bone, ceramic beads and then evolved in the world of stones and precious metals. I discovered different textures, different minerals, rough and polished. The more I discovered, the more excited and creative I became. Then I really found myself when I put together different materials and created a concept that became a success all over the world. A fusion between the Soul of Africa and the Parisian elegance that screams in each piece, the desperate pride. The richness of my heritage shines through the glow of a precious and timeless piece of art, as in each piece of Jewelry. My work talks to your “heart.” It not only adorns but heals and brings out the essence of the beautiful being that we all are.”
It was love that brought Veronique to Los Angeles. “This feels like a third life where I am reaching a new level. I became a member of a Lapidary Club which allowed me to learn how to cut my stones, shape them, polish them…I spent a few years at the Club, learning the lapidary skills and preparing my crystal for my jewelry making. Now my studio has been equipped with machinery which allows me to produce all my work from my own space. I design, prepare the material and create my pieces.”
“Our Jewelry has no gender. We love and respect Mother Nature and confidently bring it to you by sharing our bold creations and present you with a unique experience that will change your Life and the perception you have of yourself.”
Take us back. How did your upbringing shape you?
I was born in Paris in 1961 to a Mauritanian father and a French mother. During the 1960s, race and ethnicity were a silent concept, yet very much alive in the minds. At this age, Life at home and Life at school are very formative. Being mixed race made me find myself in an awkward situation at school where only I and another black girl were the object of curiosity. I became the joker at my own expense, trying to entertain my peers and friends, and more so, trying to fit in. My academic performance was very high, yet I was different. An absent father and a protective mother created a setup that enhanced the differences between my peers and I. At home, my Mum put me on a pedestal, told me that I was the best, no matter the challenges I could have faced due to my skin color. So being brought up in a white world, by a white mother, has shaped me in a sure way to be a French woman embracing the French values, but always reminded of my difference. This start in Life has been challenging, although at my early age, I was not aware of the impact my familial setup and my identity had on me. I have always been different, but I was also very integrated into the culture. And the pouring out of positive statements from my Mum was helping me to be confident in a world of limitations and prejudice. My confidence built up, and I became a very special woman with a constant desire to stand out and be unique. I went to University for five and a half years, and at the age of 21, my Life took a turn. My internal torment, although not clear to me at the time, began to affect my Life by distracting me from academic work to a search for identity. I had the opportunity to go to London, and my family encouraged me to travel and experience something new.
Photo Credit: Tristan Bagoas Caron
Tell us about the impact that London had on you and then your move to Los Angeles.
London became the second chapter of my Life. For 2 years I tried to recover from a tumultuous state of mind, using substance to try and masquerade my pain. Changing my Life was very challenging but in the end very rewarding once I regained sobriety.
During the next few years, I found myself inspired by jewelry making, which I took on with my friend at the time. The frustration in finding interesting Jewelry for myself rose, and I decided to do something about it. I started buying and selling statement jewelry, and then my friend and I would dismantle necklaces and make our own. We would also purchase beads and get to work. Eventually, my friend left London, and my Mum and I were actively working towards a new business. We would set up at Craft markets, Exhibitions, Trade Shows… And our styles were getting popular. One day, a jeweler friend introduced me to crystals and where to get them. I have been immersed in this new world up until today, where I purchase high end material from top suppliers and create unique and striking designs. One day, I was in my studio in London, playing with my crystals and beads, and I had a profound moment of inspiration. I tried adding the bold pieces of crystal to the Bakelite discs, and it worked. It was the birth of a timeless and powerful collection called the Khamasin Collection. Those pieces were and still are in demand. Beside other collections, Khamasin collection has been and is the definition of my brand. Then Love brought me to Los Angeles, the third chapter of my Life, where I not only introduced my work to America for the first time but also learned how to cut and polish crystals myself. Joining a Lapidary club broadened my creativity beyond the limitations of using material that was already cut. I could now cut and shape my crystals, which gave me more space and choices to create. I became more versatile as creativity has no limits. I would also meet like-minded people willing to share their knowledge, so I learned a lot. The next big thing is that someone I met at the Lapidary Club has recently helped me to set up a lapidary space next to my studio, so I now have the machinery I need to work on my crystals. I strengthened my brand, which evolved into a luxury and lifestyle brand. We’re about to update the look of our brand. Stay tuned!
Your jewelry is described as “Unique Healing Jewelry that speaks to your Heart.” How do you choose your materials?
“Unique Jewelry that speaks to your Heart”. My jewelry touches the Soul. During my years in jewelry making, I experienced a lot of unusual reactions from people coming in contact with my work. It seems as if some of my pieces bring out some strong emotions from some people and it manifests through sounds, tears, words, silence….. Those moments are priceless and such a testimony to the power of my jewelry. I carefully curate each piece of crystal or element I use. Sustainability is a very important feature in my choice of material. The grade, the depth in color, the substantiality of texture, the sparkle of certain crystals, the quality I am seeking to create an exclusive piece of jewelry are essential. I believe in simplicity and class. Instead of focusing on excessive ornamentation, I choose a minimalist approach with a high-quality centerpiece held by a subtle set of antique bakelite discs made in Africa as well as old coconut discs. I have also developed in LA the silversmithing skills which I acquired in London (Silversmithing course) and decided to explore them during the Pandemic in 2019. I now incorporate the metal work with some of my pieces and also create big rings for ring lovers. My rings are exceptionally big by their sizes, shapes and exquisite crystals. Bold, we have no fear to create the unthinkable and develop a new aesthetic, a new eye for accessories. I also focus on the healing power of each crystal which adds a new dimension to my work.
Your fusion between the Soul of Africa and the Parisian elegance screams in each One-Of-A-Kind piece. How are your pieces a reflection of you?
My jewelry is a fusion between the Soul of Africa and the Parisian elegance that screams in each piece, the desperate pride. The richness of my heritage shines through the glow of a precious and timeless piece of Art, as in each piece of Jewelry. In that sense, my jewelry is a reflection of who I am, the product of two cultures with a rebellious mind constantly challenging the norm. Khamsasin collection is the essence of Nature and glamor with the African touch.
You work with Celebrities and Power Women. Tell us about a few of your power pieces.
My big Khamasin pieces are bold and classy. I achieve harmony by matching materials, colors to create a bold esthetic and a way of distinguishing ourselves from others through powerful accessories. Bright crystal colors, high shine, imposing shapes and textures and high vibrations are the main criteria for choosing my crystals then I get them ready for a piece of jewelry.
The end product is one of the most rewarding stages in the making of my jewelry : REGAL for a woman/man of integrity, POTENT for a person of substance, IMPRESSIVE for someone pursuing beauty, HEALING for an open mind.
What statement does your jewelry make?
My very big Clear Quartz with large coconut discs is a very powerful piece. I also made a few in that style with Carnelian, Tourmaline in Quartz…, Black Tourmaline….
Those pieces display the ultimate power and the pride and confidence which are attractive, sensual and captivating. The big rings are also the representation of a bold and loud spirit. Unapologetically making a statement and striving through Life with a steady flow and pure self-love.
Share your vision for Veronique Designs.
My vision for the future is for my brand to become highly influential by spreading this new concept challenging the conventional understanding of jewelry, small and delicate, gold, diamond… I want to educate people about the well-being aspect of wearing natural materials such as crystals and using jewellery to channel essence, depth, sensuality, power…. often dormant and suppressed.
I would ban any material who I know are not ethically sourced like diamonds.
Integrity and Genuineness are key words.
My vision for the future is to see the rise of my brand as a pioneer of a new concept of Jewelry. I see my pieces on the Red Carpet, on different influential celebrities and worn by all.
Veronique is in the process of rebranding. She will launch a new website in August, you can view her One-Of-Kind pieces or request a custom design here:
