It’s not exactly easy to find the René Talmon L’Armée Arts & Metier Store in the Parisian district of Marais. The studio is well hidden on the Rue Cunin Gridaine, and the designer doesn’t seem to welcome hoards of foot traffic. But those who do manage to find it are well rewarded.

Chunky silver crosses, angel’s wings, feathers or pearls held in talons as pendants; rough, braided rings and eccentric bracelets. The pieces are more over the top than discreet, the surfaces more often uneven than flat. The clientele are the sort of people who would rather get involved than watch from the sidelines. Talmon L’Armée’s materials are silver, metal, shark leather, barbed wire, polished onyx and black Tahiti pearls. Both women and men can wear most of the pieces, even if some, such as the pearls, take a strong character to pull them off. Although that just makes their statement stronger.

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