Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** In this exclusive interview, Danish jeweler Sophie Bille Brahe discusses her creative journey, the elegance of pearls and diamonds, and the craftsmanship behind her French-named collections.
Interview with Sophie Bille Brahe, Danish Jeweler Celebrating Pearls and Diamonds
With her sublime creations bearing French names, Sophie Bille Brahe has conquered the creative sphere. Meeting.
By Héloïse Salessy
February 12, 2024
Sophie Bille Brahe is a jack-of-all-trades. With craftsmanship as the common thread in each of her creative processes, in her Copenhagen office one discovers, among other things, tables with signature curves that she designed, or immaculate Murano vases. But her signature is her jewelry. Organic creations, a true extension of her personality, celebrating diamonds and pearls. With her Lettres de Lumière, beautiful creations designed to keep loved ones close, she gives a new dimension to the very idea of personalization. True jewelry hits, the Peggy pearl necklace and the graphic Croissant de Lune diamond earring have become essentials in a jewelry box. Having just unveiled an exclusive line of pearl jewelry for MyTheresa to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Sophie Bille Brahe answered Vogue’s questionnaire from Copenhagen.
What is your first jewelry memory?
“When I was very young, we used to spend summers in Hornbæk, north of Copenhagen. I remember a day on the beach with my family. At one point, my mother realized she had lost her Cartier watch. That watch meant so much to her that my father searched for it all night. He eventually found it by the water’s edge. I think that was the first time I realized how much a piece of jewelry could mean to someone. I’ve never forgotten that moment.”
And your most precious piece of jewelry?
“It’s my classic Tennis Necklace. It goes with everything, and I know it will still be the case when I pass it on to my daughter.”
The one you never take off?
“My initial rings. I wear S, B, B on my left hand and J on my right. SBB is my name, but also S is for Snoopy, my dog, B is for Beate, my daughter, J is for Johan, my son, and Jeppe, my boyfriend! These rings symbolize everyone I love. I wear them almost every day.”
What is the story of your brand?
“When I finished my master’s at the Royal College of Art in London, I started making jewelry for myself and my friends. I didn’t have a brand at the time; I would just create a piece and sell it. That’s how it all began. The first piece of jewelry I created that was a great success is the Croissant de Lune. It’s a unique earring composed of a row of graduated diamonds delicately tracing the ear line. And it’s still one of our most requested designs. In 2011, I officially created my brand and surrounded myself with a wonderful team that helped me make it what it is today. No matter how the company evolves, I always try to keep the same values. I want to continue working with the highest quality materials to create jewelry that is new, interesting, and that I want to wear.”
How would you define your aesthetic?
“Classic with a twist. Poetic and sophisticated… The way I create jewelry is more about taking things away than adding them. I always ask myself: how simply can a pearl be shown? How purely can a diamond be displayed? I think the way pearls and diamonds are set should never distract from the material itself, unless it’s part of the story I want to tell.”
What do you find on your moodboards?
“The jewelry I create tells the story of my life. When I look at the collections I’ve designed in the past, I see my life and all the important moments, good or bad. If I had a moodboard, there would be photos of my family and friends, books I’ve read, paintings I’ve seen, or feelings I’ve had at a specific moment. My creative process always starts with a feeling. The feeling of a form, inside me, that I can see but not grasp. Then I spend some time trying to capture it. It’s mostly about letting go and trying not to think too much. Then, when I’ve created space in my mind, I can start working from that form. And I keep drawing and creating until it’s perfect.”
We work with the highest quality materials and have collaborated with loyal and trusted partners from the start. One of the brand’s core values is a commitment to sourcing responsible materials that are less harmful to our planet and communities. We work closely with our production partners to produce responsibly and promote ethical, social, environmental, and human rights practices in our supply chain. We work with 100% certified recycled gold, our diamonds are conflict-free, and we are committed to improving the transparency of the origin of all our diamonds. Pearls are hand-selected for the highest quality.
Who would you like to see wearing your jewelry?
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