RENAISSANCE

The adventure of creation

“Like all athletes, I dreamed of the Olympic Games”

Jean-Marie Louis, born June 24, 1986 in Liège, to a Jamaican mother and a father from Liège, discovered athletics at the age of 17. Under the leadership of Roger Lespagnard and then François Gourmet, he was crowned Belgian champion over 100 meters twice (2009 and 2017).

Member of FC Liège, then of the Cercle Athlétique Brabant-Wallon (CABW) and finishing at the Seraing Club, he admits to liking the “work-pain-deliverance” sequence, which governs so much of the preparation for an athletics season. .. than the creation of an object as particular as a clock in steel and precious stones.

“I stopped running in 2020, when my training and schedule no longer fit together. I think I always had the idea of creating a beautiful object, while I was working alongside my father. To be honest, I came to imagine ten. This one, Illustro (to illuminate, to highlight), a tribute to the City of Lights and the Olympic Games which have always made my heart beat, was essential in this very special year, which is also that of the 50th anniversary of Maison Louis . I dreamed of the Olympic Games. I approach it in a different way. »

Illustration

A light object

Would the creator take precedence over the athlete, it would be in terms of artistic imagination...

Certainly, Illustro presents a structure close to that of the Eiffel Tower, and a nod to the Olympic Games, but Jean-Marie Louis unites the two, goes beyond them and makes it a true masterpiece.

If he borders the beauty's lines with 500 diamonds to show all the Parisian light, he offers her her first gold medal, built around a few 18-carat gold rings. He also revisits this untouchable Olympic logo, by opening it, modifying the size of the rings, and setting it with diamonds, to give it a more solemn touch.

The hour index, for its part, is marked by 10 marquises of 0.20 carats, which evoke as many suns. At noon, the hands point to the spire of the Eiffel Tower. Each component of this clock is unique, tailor-made and set with precious stones... Even the escapement holder, this particular part which supports the pendulum, contains a ruby.

Illustro is expected to weigh 12ct carats.

The whole is highlighted by a ring, again, rather than a bell, in a pure crystal from Val Saint Lambert cut like a diamond. The base is made of rosewood.