United by a love of fine fragrance and personal ritual, friends John Horner and Dugal Reid (below) launched the bespoke perfume jewellery company, Dauphine. Six years on, and drawing together the finest craftspeople in England, Dauphine creates exquisite hand-crafted bottles for some of the finest perfume in the world, designed in silver and overlaid in the purest enamels
Firstly, can you tell me a little about Dauphine?
John and I were sitting having lunch together one day and the rich culture and ritual splendour of Bali popped into the conversation. Quite by chance we began reminiscing about an era when fine perfume and personal ritual too had been intimately choreographed, and lamenting that this had sadly declined over a generation. During this chance diversion, a spark of inspiration took hold that would eventually become the world’s most luxurious and innovative flaçon à parfum.
Dauphine had to be exquisite, elegantly timeless, designed and finely engineered to perfection, if it were to complement the finest perfumes in the world. We chose to model Dauphine in sterling silver and decorate the body with traditional guilloche techniques and the purest of hand-ground enamel designs. Dauphine had also to be luxuriously usable for all occasions.
Drawing together the finest craftspeople in England, and a little over six years later, our vision is coming to fruition.
Describe a typical Dauphine customer…
Our customer is passionate about personal rituals, with a deep understanding, that for them, more than being simply gratifying, luxury needs to be truly satisfying. A bespoke Dauphine reflects the unique style and personality of the individual.
We understand our clientele have a number of favourite perfumes and so we have provided an additional three silver-capped vials within the box, to enable an exchange of perfume at will.
You place a great deal of emphasis on the ‘ritual’ of perfume. Can you explain a little about this?
We believe personal rituals are so very important in restoring our sense of balance and wellbeing. There was a time when a perfume ritual was luxuriously sensual, transporting, transforming, comforting and reassuring. We are passionate about reprising this era.
Every Dauphine is made to order and the perfume bottles are miniature works of art. Can you describe the process behind the bottles?
Each finely engineered flaçon à parfum is hand-made. Our designs employ a confluence of precision artisan guilloché and enameling techniques, combined with innovative functionality and practicality.
Our customer is passionate about personal rituals, with a deep understanding, that for them, more than being simply gratifying, luxury needs to be truly satisfying
A Dauphine is hand crafted from sterling silver, which then passes through multiple stages of precision engraving to create the desired, intricate guilloché design. This is an ancient and meticulous decorative technique that brings vibrant life and light to the surface of precious metals.
Using a mortar and pestle, a secret formula of glass, water and metal oxide is then ground by hand for many hours. The water is finally removed leaving a very fine paste that forms the basis for our hard enamel.
A fine goose feather quill is then used to apply a coat of the paste to the surface of the silver, ensuring that the entire guilloché area is covered. The Dauphine is then fired in a furnace at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, fusing the enamel to the silver and forming a layer of glass.
After cooling, the body surface is manually ground with a diamond file to restore an exact shape and surface. This whole process demands the upmost level of skill, experience and patience and is repeated time and time again, until the enamel covers the peaks and fills the valleys of each intricate guilloché pattern. When the final stages of firing are complete, the Dauphine is polished and buffed to perfection, revealing the beautiful glass smooth, translucent finish.
Why is English craftsmanship so key to your brand?
English craftsmanship is world renowned for seemingly effortless quality, style and innovation. Inspired by the highest standards of creativity, design, and service, we have throughout our lives been devotees and wanted to play our part in championing these special skills.
Can you sum up Dauphine in three words?
Bespoke timeless elegance
Even the box is hand made by a craftswoman in her studio overlooking the Thames. It’s an attention to detail that is obviously integral to your brand…
It has taken us over six years to reach this point and it is the craftspeople we have met along the way that has ensured that this journey has been so worthwhile, memorable and enjoyable. The team we have brought together share the same values and are the very best at what they do. To see them at work is a constant pleasure and inspiration and deserving of proper recognition.
What inspires your designs?
Nature in form, design and function.
Do you have a favourite perfume?
Guerlain Shalimar and the creations of Jean-Claude Ellena
Do you have any exciting new designs in the pipeline?
Beautiful and iconic flowers from around the world inspire our first designs. Chrysanthemum, Peony, Cherry blossom, Rose, Poppy and Lotus designs will complete the series. We are also working on an homage to a genius recently passed away. Prices begin at £3,000.
And finally, your everyday luxury?
Sovereign time to walk the dogs, think and not to think at all…
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