Christian Dior Parfums is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its L’Or de Vie skincare collection with a one-of-a-kind object: L’Or de Vie La Crème by Baccarat, a crystal and gold edition of its iconic cream, produced in just nine pieces worldwide.
The collection was born from the secret of the Golden Grape’s longevity, a reference to Château d’Yquem, the Bordeaux vineyard with which Dior has maintained an alliance for two decades. Of Yquem, Pierre Lurton, the estate’s president, says it offers “the most elegant way to travel through time.” Dior says L’Or de Vie draws its inspiration from that sentiment.
For the first time, the project brings together three houses, Dior, Château d’Yquem and crystal maker Baccarat, in what Dior calls a “shared pursuit of excellence.”
A decanter and a coincidence
The design starts with a piece from Yquem’s own heritage: a tasting decanter created by Baccarat in 1878 for the Universal Exhibition in Paris. It was later intended to hold vintage wines at the Russian court before joining the château’s collection. By what Dior calls “a happy coincidence,” the decanter is adorned with a cannage pattern reminiscent of the House of Dior. Baccarat has created several prestige editions of Dior perfume bottles since 1947.
The new jar is “a jewel sculpted in this crystal,” inspired by the Yquem decanter.
Made by hand, step by step
The piece was made at Baccarat’s manufacture in France, “guided at every step of its creation by the hands of artisans.” A plaster mold is first made to hold the molten crystal. Over four days, successive firings reveal the crystal’s purity and transparency. The plaster is then broken to reveal the raw piece.
In the cold workshop, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) cuts the crystal to “sculpt brilliance” and trace the grooves that structure refraction. The final touch is 20-carat gold leaf, applied by brush to each groove. Dior says the gilding, echoing the Golden Grape, “seals a twenty-year alliance” between the maison and the vineyard.
Jewel-box presentation
Each piece carries a Dior x Baccarat engraving on the reverse of its base. It comes in a case inspired by the aesthetic codes of Dior Haute Joaillerie, which “unfolds in theatrical style” on opening. The interior is lined with sunray pleating, a nod to Dior’s couture heritage.
Dior describes the creation as one that “pushes the boundaries of the exceptional,” elevating L’Or de Vie from skincare line to art form. The brand says the story “would undoubtedly have charmed Monsieur Dior, who loved twists of fate.”
