Fan Club: Lene Vibe

Megan Thorne praises the witty, enchanting designs of Lene Vibe.

BY BETH BERNSTEIN

Published in the September-October 2013 issue

Danish designer and goldsmith Lene Vibe’s collection, called Vibe’s, offers an edgy take on the childhood memories of fairies, exotic flowers and the creatures one might find in the most enchanting of tales. She translates this with elegance and wit into wearable one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry in which the golden, magical motifs are surrounded by sumptuous handpicked South Sea, keshi and freshwater pearls, as well as antique and rough-cut natural colored diamonds. Vibe started as an apprentice at Georg Jensen in 1995, and in 2002, she opened her own store and wholesaling business in Copenhagen. Her work is sold throughout the U.S. by fine retailers, and she has recently expanded the collection to include colored gemstones.

MEGAN THORNE ON LENE VIBE

“FROM THE MINUTE I SAW one of Lene’s pieces, I was awestruck. It was a pearl ring with the most delicate three-dimensional floral motif, and as I looked at it from different angles, I kept discovering new things: A snail climbing up the side, a diamond bezel underneath with a mix of white and yellow gold in the tiniest of flowers. The combination of the metalsmithing and detail and the wearability of it was something that only a true artist could accomplish.”

“Lene’s talent and rare ability come through in each and every piece she designs.” “I particularly love the way she offers an irreverent and witty take on feminine pieces. Her pieces are pretty but are the opposite of girly or sweet. Their beauty lies in the unexpected, like mixing skulls and guns with intricate flowers, snails, leaves and thorns. It is this juxtaposition that gives her pieces their distinctive character.”

“I didn’t meet Lene until about a year after I began seeing her pieces. After meeting her and getting to know how lovely, straightforward and charming a person she is, her jewelry became even more special, if that could be possible.”

“Working with different types of pearls and imbuing them with something that felt so new, original and modern is yet another part of Lene’s sensibilities that sets her apart and has created a unique identity for her as a designer.” “I also admire the way she can take both classic materials, such as pearls, and materials that are more on-trend, such as rough and rose cut diamonds, and never waver from her vision or perspective. Yet, with that said, when a customer puts on one of her pieces, it becomes about them and their style. As clear as her vision is, there is a subtlety that allows the wearer to tell their own story.”

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ABOUT MEGAN THORNE: Megan Thorne’s jewelry has become synonymous with feminine designs that recall the delicacy and graceful fluidity of her first career as a fashion designer. After discovering and mastering the art of metalsmithing, Thorne launched her jewelry collection in 2007. Her intimate knowledge of working hands-on with each piece — from the model through fabrication and finishing and setting each style — has created a loyal following among retailers and consumers alike. Thorne’s bridal line has emerged as the go-to collection for today’s women who desire engagement and wedding rings that exude the character, presence and fine details of heirloom pieces, while also allowing the wearer’s personality to shine through.