By: Natalie Johnson
This Father’s Day, there’s an opportunity to go beyond the expected. In a season where traditional gifts often fall into predictable categories—ties, tech gadgets, golf gear—there’s something deeply meaningful about offering a gift that reflects not just style, but story. Vivienne Charles, the jewelry line by artist-jeweler Elisa Gilbert, has created a collection of sculptural lapel pins that feel more than just accessories and could become cherished heirlooms in the making. These four finely crafted pieces, each rich in symbolism and artistry, offer a poetic, personal way to honor the men who’ve shaped our lives.
Vivienne Charles is a brand rooted in storytelling. Its pieces are informed by memories, landscapes, and fleeting moments of beauty that live on in the heart long after they’ve passed. The sculptural lapel pin collection carries that ethos forward with a graceful elegance. Each pin is a small, intricate world. Crafted in 14k gold and brought to life with precious stones, they are designed for men who appreciate meaningful design, depth, and thoughtful craftsmanship. Whether worn on the lapel of a summer blazer, fastened to a tie, or repurposed as a pendant, these pieces stand out with a quiet strength and artistic depth.
The Apis Verdi Pin marks the beginning of this journey. Inspired by an encounter in a lavender-drenched meadow in Provence, it captures the magic of a bee that briefly hovers near before disappearing into the sunlit purple haze. Crafted with delicately etched wings and piercing emerald eyes, Apis Verdi is a reminder of life’s unexpected moments of connection. There is something whimsical yet regal about the piece. It nods to the natural world but elevates it with preciousness. Whether pinned close to the heart or worn as a pendant on a chain, this jewel embodies the spirit of the outdoors, of memory, of pause.
From the meadows of France, the collection ventures into deeper waters with the Great Whale. This piece tells the tale of a legendary whale seen just beyond the docks of a foggy maritime village. The whale, captured in 14k yellow and white gold and adorned with a stunning array of sapphires and diamonds, emerges as both a myth and a talisman. The craftsmanship is as detailed as it is emotionally evocative. Its breaching form and swirling sapphire wake recall the freedom of open waters and the timeless pull of the horizon. This lapel pin is a tribute to those who chart their own course and understand the vastness of the world, and their place in it.
The third piece in the collection, the Moonlit Bee, takes us into the realm of night. Set in a secret garden cloaked in ivy and roses, this jewel tells the story of a bee that glows with moonstone, ruby, and diamond. There’s an enchantment to this piece that feels almost mythical, like something found in a dream or on a velvet pillow in a forgotten storybook. Its diamond-dusted wings shimmer like stars, its rubies burn like embers, and at its core, the moonstone pulses with nocturnal mystery. It is a piece for those who hold space for quiet magic, for dusk, for hidden places and whispered moments. There’s power in the calm it evokes…a nocturnal guardian you can carry with you.
Completing the collection is Celestial Serenade, a pin that reimagines a cricket, a creature of simple form and modest size, into a dazzling ode to music, myth, and luck. This troubadour is cast in 14k gold and set with two 0.50 carat diamonds, twenty 2mm emeralds, and a 3.25mm black star sapphire eye. The design is a masterstroke in contrast: delicate and striking, rooted in nature yet radiating luxury. Crickets, in many traditions, are seen as bringers of good fortune, and this piece extends that sentiment with elegant charm. Perched on a lapel, it suggests not only luck, but lyrical movement…the kind of quiet anthem for those who notice the dapper in small things.
Taken together, these four pieces offer a refreshing approach to men’s adornment. They are not overly loud or ornate, but neither are they invisible. They whisper instead of shout. Each tells a story and invites the wearer to tell their own. Whether the man receiving the gift is a collector of fine jewelry, an appreciator of narrative, or someone who simply values thoughtful craftsmanship, Vivienne Charles offers something that is as unexpected as it is timeless. This Father’s Day, consider gifting something more than an object. Consider gifting a story, a memory, a moment preserved in gold and stone. Vivienne Charles’ sculptural lapel pins are not just stylish additions to a wardrobe. They are, in the truest sense, tributes to the poetry of being alive. Learn more at viviennecharles.com.
