/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45354956/racked_placeholder.4.0.jpg)
Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
We're dedicating this week to the kind of fantastical shopping that most of us only get to experience in dreams. Taking a page from casino parlance, we'll be talking a lot about "whales," those big spenders who feel perfectly comfortable dropping tens of thousands of dollars every night on roulette, or, in our case, on Cartier, caviar facials, and Chanel. Welcome to Whale Week 2013.
A Kis Um ring from the Fall lookbook, shot by Sarah Winchester; Image via Louis
There are many reasons to stop by Louis for goods of the utmost quality from emerging international designers, but one that really draws our attention is the jewelry department. It's one of the two places nationwide to buy one-offs from Korean designer Kis Um, sold at both the waterfront flagship and the Mandarin Oriental outpost. Suel, a fellow Korean jeweler, is also stocked at Louis among equally ornate pieces from Lisa Stein's Deux Filles collection and celebrity-favorite Anita Ko.
Bracelets via Kis Um
First, let's look at the glamorous rock and roll inspired Kis Um inventory. We're told that these pieces are all handcrafted and extremely detailed, especially some dragon necklaces that took months to complete. The ferocious bangles pictured here show how exquisite his work is.
Touching on Suel, a pair of breathtaking earrings boasts 18k blackened yellow gold with 4.9 carat icy diamond flats and 1.68 carat diamond rounds. But to snap up this one of a kind style, shoppers need lots of bills—precisely $19,660 of them. Quit your drooling though, because there is more glitz to behold...
With a lower price tag, but still well beyond the average budget, comes Lisa Stein's Deux Filles line of diamond detailed pendants and equally lavish chains. Her statement making piece is an edgy "wisdom sword" pendant, made of 18k gold and diamonds and priced at $9000. That's just the pendant though; if you want an accompanying chain, prepare to shell out another $3400 on a coordinating white gold and white topaz double chain.
Sure, these designers are more obscure than some of the ubiquitous brand names, but that's the charm of an industry leading retailer like Louis. At 60 Northern Avenue, craftsmanship reigns supreme. Now, who wants to split a Powerball ticket?
· 18 Stores to Spend It All When You Have Money to Burn [Racked Boston]
· 38 Essential Boston Shopping Experiences, Winter 2013 [Racked Boston]
· All Whale Week coverage [Racked Boston]
· Louis [Official Site]