Love.
Is it kindness? Is it a celebration? An acknowledgement? Does it mean passion? Gratitude?
Or is it a never-ending story?
What does your mind’s eye see when you hear “Love?”
A couple, hand in hand, quietly strolling? A mother and child? A man with his family? Two best friends for life strolling on a beach talking? Joyous good news? Perhaps in a letter from far away?
Love…
A feeling deep inside. Warmth… safety… light. No limits, growing ever stronger. A flame that can never die.
Love… it is all of these. Yet it is more. Always more…
French Poet Rosemonde Gérard
When designer Nathalie Leseine created her new charm, Ode to Love, her first inspiration came from a French poet Rosemonde Gérard who wrote to her husband Edmond in 1889 “The Eternal Song”. The poem became renowned for a couplet:
Car, vois-tu, chaque jour je t’aime davantage,
Aujourd’hui plus qu’hier et bien moins que demain.
For, you see, each day I love you more,
Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.
A pendant was first made in 1907. In Leseine’s modern interpretation, Gérard’s eloquent expression
Je t'aime… plus qu’hier… moins que demain
I love you… more than yesterday… less than tomorrow
appears laser engraved on both sides of the new charm. Like love itself, the charm takes the shape of the circle with inlayed diamonds and rubies to say,
“Je t'aime… + qu’hier… - que demain”
Leseine’s affinity for contrasting lines is evident in her design. She uses the play of square princess cut diamonds channel set around a circle to give a modern vibe to the piece. Choosing to inlay the ‘plus’ and ‘minus’ signs, with princess cut gemstones, adds simplicity.
By incorporating these features, the charm embodies the simple sophistication and timeless elegance for which Leseine is known.
Leseine named her new piece Ode to Love because it embodies not only romantic love, but love in all its facets. The love for your mother, for your children, your sister, your best friend for life, even the place you first declared your love. Or it can be a symbol of the celebration of loving life when you’ve conquered its challenges.
Ode to Love is dedicated to Love.
Love… always growing… always more. Just as every day builds memories, Ode to Love will become a cherished heirloom over the years.
