"I thought it was amazing," said a smiling Phoebe Dynevor. "Even my mom never wore so much jewelry growing up, so it was a very special experience for me." We are attending a dinner party at the Chateau de Saint-Maur in Saint-Tepero to celebrate the grand launch of Louis Vuitton's fine jewellery collection "Artisan at Heart".

This is the sixth fine jewelry collection designed by Louis Vuitton's artistic director of jewelry and watches Francesca Amfitheatrof, a position she has held since 2018.

Earlier in the evening, the newly engaged Dynevor wore a cream crocheted silk-wool blend dress (from Louis Vuitton Autumn/Winter 2024), a "Freedom" necklace and earrings in 18-karat white gold, platinum, diamonds and emeralds.

She was flanked by her fiance and actor Cameron Fuller and Amfitheatrof as they watched an inventive fashion show.

The models wore elaborate jewelry and jewel-encrusted gowns, which were specially created for the event by Nicolas Ghesquiere, artistic director of women's wear at Louis Vuitton.

Dynevor enthuses: "I love the way Nicolas has been empowering women. He was always looking for ways to make women stronger, to make them feel..." She paused thoughtfully, pondering the right words. "Fundamentally, his and Francesca's design is not so much about sex appeal as it is about the shaping of the armor, which aims to show individuality." A very strong personality."

Of course, playing powerful characters has gradually become Dynevor's acting calling. Since rising to fame playing Daphne in the hit series Bridgetown, produced by Shonda Rhimes and depicting the Regency era, she has moved on to the psychological thriller Fair Play.

While Dynevor admits the blockbuster Netflix hit has given her a "significant boost" in her career, she doesn't personally have any regrets about leaving at the height of the show's popularity. "I think when you're drawn to a script, like I felt about 'Fair Play,' there's a moment where you think, 'This is my next job.'" 'It's a really exciting feeling.

Yes, the style of "Fair Play" is very different from "Bridgetown," but both the script and the character Emily meant a lot to me. It's like the sum total of everything I went into acting to do. To see how people react to the new show... It's a very special moment in my career and I'm very proud of it."

For the first time in Dynevor's several years as a close friend of the Louis Vuitton house, she attended the launch of a fine jewelry collection and was able to see the pieces up close and personal the day before the show.

She opened her eyes wide and said, "There is a very large champagne pink diamond, I have never seen such a big diamond. Francesca's designs are fantastic, and listening to her talk about the collection and the source of her inspiration was amazing."

Amfitheatrof admits with a smile: "The Louis Vuitton 'Artisan' fine jewellery collection sounds a bit mysterious." She went on to explain: "However, this jewellery collection was inspired by 19th century France, when all sorts of incredible expertise exploded everywhere.

After the Revolution, the workshops were reopened, trade unions were abolished, and countless examples of French craftsmanship were developed. This is also the origin of luxury goods. Everyone went to France, eager to see the incredible craftsmanship."

At the same time, the creative chapters in this series are intended to pay tribute to the second half of the 19th century, when inventions and discoveries were constantly being made in France.

Jewellery designer Francesca Amfitheatrof said: "It's happening in science, engineering and architecture.

Paris has become the City of Light, the first city in Europe to have gas and electric lights, the centre of the world."

As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games, the clever incorporation of French elements into the collection is a fitting move. Some pieces in the collection clearly show a nod to France, such as the triumphal-themed necklace, a tribute to the Eiffel Tower.

"I've never thought of jewelry as architecture," Dynevor said, "but the architectural style of this piece was so strong that it struck me." The resonance, she admits, is also linked to one of her favorite memories of Paris.

"This may sound silly, but I didn't realize that the Eiffel Tower glowed at night. The night of my first Louis Vuitton show, I was alone in my car, driving past the Eiffel Tower.

It was just as the world was opening up again after the pandemic, and I remember looking at it and thinking, 'Ah, life is back, the Eiffel Tower is shining, it's wonderful'."

She connected that feeling to the jewelry she chose to wear tonight. "I really like the simple style of work, and I'm attracted to those pieces that have a very sophisticated design. Also, since I was wearing a neutral nude dress today, I thought emeralds would add a touch of color."

It's almost 11:30, and the night is drawing to a close. With the previously warm breeze already cooling, Dynevor wraps herself in a Louis Vuitton cashmere shawl and looks around, saying: "Everything here is amazing, isn't it? Admire the magnificent collection of fine jewellery in the vineyards of SAN Tepero..." Her eyes sparkled, and she ran her hand over the necklace and the earrings in turn. She added with a laugh: "Also, tonight is a good opportunity to observe people."