Lady LUX

Having designed everything from furniture to movie sets, Tony Duquette – and his knack for the exotic and over-the-top – attracted an interesting list of clients. Although he passed away in 1999, his legacy continues posthumously with a limited edition jewelry line his estate created in partnership with Coach, full of pieces that exhibit his credo “more is more,” reported WWD.

Available for purchase February, Tony Duquette for Coach draws from the incredible archives of Duquette’s inspirations, which have been exploited repeatedly by museums, interior decorators, brands and more. The jewelry may be wild – it is inspired by Duquette, after all – but the prices have been kept in check: All items are less than $500.

“(I introduced Coach staff) to every nook and cranny of Tony’s world — his archives, his personal collections, his and his wife’s personal jewelry and wardrobe, and then turned them loose to do their thing with no strings attached,” Hutton Wilkinson, Duquette’s business partner of 30 years who preserved Duquette’s estate, said to WWD. “The results were amazing.”

The 20-piece collection ranges from jewel-encrusted evening purses to bangles with sunburst fastenings and floral-inspired rings, all with Duquette’s signature look. Molded in 18-karat gold-plated brass, the jewelry is bedecked with Swarovski crystals, hand-cut glass and semiprecious stones such as amethyst, rock crystal, malachite and rose quartz.

“The jeweled fish, the yellow gold plating, the massing of cabochons and faceted stones, the overscaled rings all scream ‘Duquette,’” said Wilkinson. “And a satin clutch even can be used to decorate a table top, which is exactly how Tony liked to display his pieces.”

While Coach is no stranger to collaborations, this partnership is important as it marks the American label’s largest jewelry project thus far. The endeavor is also an interesting move for Coach, as Duquette’s colorful, flashy style contrasts with Coach’s timeless appeal.

“I see Tony Duquette as an American master,” Reed Krakoff, Coach’s president and executive creative director, said. “Pairing this great, iconic American jeweler with Coach made a lot of sense. It’s always interesting to see Coach through a different lens.”

In his lifetime, Duquette drew quite a celebrity following. The Duchess of Windsor asked the designer to create jewelry for her, and Duquette beautified the estates of Mary Pickford, Elizabeth Arden, Doris Duke and J. Paul Getty. With this new collection, perhaps new faces shall be added to the list.

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