Paris Jewellers has worked with many illustrious clients over the years, but one icon really put this family-owned brand to the test: Barbie.
Yes, that Barbie—the fashion-loving doll that millions of children have dressed and many adults consider one of their favorite toys. Mattel reached out to the Edmonton, Alberta–based jeweler and four other Canadian female-led brands to showcase fashion and beauty products inspired by Barbie dolls from the 1950s through the 1990s.
On Aug. 15, Paris Jewellers officially debuted its 47-piece Barbie collection crafted for the partnership—a total of 47 jewelry pieces, including necklaces; hoop and gemstone stud earrings; signet, toi et moi, and stacking rings; bangle and charm bracelets; and two brooches.
“Each piece was specially created to honor and reflect the Barbie dolls and the fashion of each decade,” says Paris co-owner Chau Lui. “Each decade had a distinct look, including color palettes and icons to help guide and inspire us in the design of the jewelry.”
For Lui and her team, being part of the Barbie collaboration was not only an honor but also especially gratifying, she says, because Paris’ customers had a great time both suggesting ideas for the jeweler’s designs and participating in a “Barbie Through the Decades” event.
“It’s been an absolute dream come true,” says Lui. “One of the most important things to us in our company is celebrating and sharing stories with our customers. Being able to connect with our customers and hear their stories of how Barbie has impacted them—and now to have special jewelry pieces to make these moments come to life—has been so special.”
Shoppers may find it hard to pick which decade of jewelry is the most “Barbie,” but each one is fun in its own way. For the 1950s, Paris Jewellers centered on Barbie’s famous black-and-white striped bathing suit, so the related jewelry is made with black onyx and white topaz.
The 1950s statement brooch is also inspired by Lui’s mom, Thu, who sported a brooch on the black blazer she wore every day at work when she first began making and selling jewelry after immigrating to Canada from Vietnam.
Paris went retro glam for its 1960s Barbie designs, with lots of colored gemstones, including citrine, pink topaz, and rhodolite garnet. The 1970s pieces feature sparkly gold and diamond stars.
From the 1980s comes a girly mix of pink and other bright colors set in white gold or sterling silver, as well as a double-pin gold vermeil brooch with two sunbursts linked by chains. And the 1990s bring a sharper edge, with triangles as the dominant shape and plenty of pink enamel.
The limited-edition Barbie x Paris Jewellers collection also includes special packaging in that well-known color of pink that every little girl knows and associates with the doll, Lui says.
Her favorites among the Barbie jewelry are the Mommy and Me pieces, she adds. “Growing up, I cherished my very first Barbie doll ,and I saw the same joy and imagination in my daughters when they would play with theirs,” Lui says. “This Mommy and Me collection is a heartfelt celebration of those special memories and the boned between mothers and daughters.”
Top: Chau Lui and her sister Trang Wong, the co-owners of Paris Jewellers (photos courtesy of Paris Jewellers)
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