Charlotte B. invites us to discover her sparkling universe
The young Monegasque resident launched her brand just two years ago. Today, it is exhibited in the prestigious Sotheby’s gallery.
” Romantic and rock’n roll. This is Charlotte Barbotin, alias Charlotte B. A bubbly, smiling and dynamic young woman, who has decided to embark on the great and beautiful adventure of gemology and jewelry creation. Alone, but full of motivation, she was founded in a start-up in Monaco, barely two years ago: Charlotte B. Jewelry.
After starting her career with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton in New York and Prada in Paris, this 37-year-old Monegasque resident completed her impressive CV with studies in luxury management.
” I grew up in the concept store of my mother, who was a clothing designer, and who passed on to me the taste for creation and beautiful things. From a very young age, I have always been supplied by my mother’s jewellery. It made me want to study this wonderful world of gemstones. I followed a course as a gemologist and I am now a graduate of the National Institute of Gemmology in Paris and of the European Federation for Education in Gemmology (FEEG).
I immediately wanted to travel the world to the most unusual places, in search of stones that all have a story. For me, it has always been important to feel the energy of each stone that I have chosen. You cannot feel all these emotions in the cozy salons of merchants in Europe. I like to go directly into the mines and favor human contact with everyone who is busy around these places full of history and culture. I choose stones to allow me to feel something strong and that manages to seduce me. A stone is above all an emotion. »
Trips ” Indiana Jones style », where the young woman also discovers the art of negotiation. ” During my first trip to Sri Lanka, I mostly observed. I didn’t dare, I didn’t want to rush. I always thought that the next stone would be even more beautiful. “And for good reason: there are several mines and markets dotted throughout the country, which you have to browse” and not always in ideal conditions. »
” It is then up to me to take my magnifying glass, my inspector’s tools, to observe the stone, then I am offered a price, she explains. I see what I like, what I don’t like, I cite all the faults of the stone that I see… »
More than 6,000 stones photographed
” During my travels I examine between 5,000 and 6,000 stones offered to me either by merchants or by mine owners, Charlotte continues. Once a stone attracts me, I have to use my gemological tools (magnifying glass, refractometer, UV lamp, etc.) to define the quality and value of the stone. »
And when Charlotte selects a stone, the negotiation ball begins: “ my offer will depend on color, size, cut, proportions and if it has been processed. Some sheated to accentuate its color. For example, some rubies have a tint of blue, and they are heated to remove the blue. On note about some inclusions. A heated stone does not have the same value as a completely natural stone. With experience, I have learned to decipher the right shade of the stones that I bring back, because the light in Europe is very different from that of the countries of origin. The luminosity of the stones will therefore be different from one country to another. »
For Charlotte, these trips are always adventures, because the environment is essentially male and with very different local customs: “As a woman, I often had to face a few bluffs. On my first trip, I was only with male colleagues. Nobody calculated me. No stones were presented to me. At some point, I told myself that I had to do something to get noticed. I took a stone, offered a price and offered myself. I bought small paving stones, to make them understand that I was there. It had a domino effect: the others were taking too long, so the merchants all came to me “, she says, laughing.
It has been pointed out to me that my collections do not always follow the same guiding line. Of course ! But a woman is not just simple: she is complex, with many facets.
In the end, of the 6,000 luminous stones by Charlotte, only 40 left with her. Stones chosen according to market trends, but also and above all for their shape, or the way they were cut. ” Sometimes I see very beautiful stones, but they are badly cutregret the young woman. If a stone is badly cut, on a loss of color. The luminosity of the stone will not be optimal. »
Very important points for Charlotte, who always sees further than the simple stone. The young woman is not only a gemologist: she is also a jewelry designer.
” I want to give life to the stones that I bring back and continuity to their history. Story that will depend on each client who chooses my jewel. It has been pointed out to me that my collections do not always follow the same guiding line. Of course ! But a woman is not just simple: she is complex, with many facets.(…) I don’t make industrial jewelry, but limited and timeless collections, I can afford to choose stones that speak to me, so I have a crush. All stones have a story “, she specifies.
Stories that can be found in the superb jewelry collections that Charlotte creates in her studio, and which she is currently exhibiting at the prestigious Sotheby’s house in Monaco.
Jewelry according to the mood
Against the background of Vivaldi or Mozart, her eyes shining with excitement, Charlotte takes us from window to window, to present her creations to us: “ this collection, I baptized it “La Notte”, because it reminds me of the magnificent starry sky that I saw one evening in Argentina… I designed this necklace thinking of one of my dresses, for which I can’t find matching jewellery… This emerald, I bought it in Ethiopia, it’s quite rare… This cherry red ruby, I fell in love with it, whereas I’m not very ruby at first… The “Versailles” necklace is inspired by my love for French gardens: I can imagine two crazy lovers running, catching up around a fountain and the man snatching necklace… »
If Charlotte’s stones, shapes and whims follow one another, elegance and delicacy remain intact. ” I wanted to create jewelry that was simple to put on, but still elegant. You may want to be romantic one day, rock’n roll the next… but you always want to stay glamorous. I want my jewelry to provoke emotions, that we have fun with them and that we can experience them at any time. “, she summarizes.
An exhibition to discover until the end of January
And when she looks back, Charlotte struggles to realize how far she has come. The young woman also had a lot of trouble realizing that Sotheby’s offered her to exhibit her creations.
” At first I didn’t realize, I did not reacted, she confides, laughing. In the life of an entrepreneur, there are many mountains to climb. It’s a big house, I had to live up to it. As C’is my bountyera exhibition, I should not be mistaken. (…) We had set a date, I had two months to create all my pieces.those. »
A tall order, but Charlotte rose to it. The young woman even offered weekly workshops to gallery clients, to show them the facets of the gemologist’s profession. Her jewels available to order, meanwhile, will remain at Sotheby’s until the end of January.
After that, Charlotte will go on the road again, “ in search of new treasures. » « Traveling can give you lots of ideas. Maybe there will be new creations “, she slips.
Dreams and projects follow one another…” By planning, we allow ourselves to dream she concluded. Some ambitions still remain secret for the moment and there is no doubt that the result will be brilliant. Like the stones, of course, but also the designer.