Trends

Piece of the Week: Lydia Courteille’s Romantic Pendant

TrendsJul 28, 2023

Piece of the Week: Lydia Courteille’s Romantic Pendant

Even those jaded from BarbieCore may appreciate this pink bejeweled work of art.

Lydia Courteille morganite and pink sapphire Hercules and Omphale necklace
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying Barbie and its gargantuan marketing campaign have taken over this summer. 

BarbieCore, which roughly translates to anything pink, has proved an easy trend for jewelry designers to jump on, showcasing their works featuring pink sapphires, morganite, or pink enamel, to coincide with the Greta Gerwig film’s recent release. 

Thanks to the movie’s elaborate PR vehicle, the color pink’s ubiquity may have even the most ardent pink-a-holic feeling maxed out. 

Leave it to Lydia Courteille to interpret the shade in an entirely different way. Rather than Barbie’s Pop-meets-prep aesthetic, the French designer leans into pink’s more romantic, ethereal side, referencing Rococo, or a campy rendition of Marie Antoinette style. 

Both interpretations are maximalist love letters to the color, but Courteille’s is far more interesting. 

For the designer’s “Love Story” collection, she depicts famous lovers through the eras, both real and mythological.

These “Piece of the Week” earrings feature Hercules and the Queen of Lydia, Omphale, from Greek mythology. 

Hercules and Omphale are carved in pear-shaped morganites weighing a combined 37.38 carats and set in 18-karat white and rose gold set with 10.97 carats of pink sapphires, 0.95 carats of additional morganites, 0.42 carats of orange sapphires, and 2.01 carats of diamonds.

As the legend goes, Hercules was forced to serve Omphale for one year, which is represented by the chains encompassing the two characters. The two descend from an angel affixed to the necklace’s chain. 

The dramatic jewel is available from Lydia Courteille. Price is available upon request. 
 
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