Island Gems

Established in Bali in 1975, John Hardy dedicated his life to creating fine, handcrafted jewelry. Focusing on authenticity and sustainability, the company has been the go-to for jewelry connoisseurs. Caesars Player sat down with Holly Bonneville Barden, creative director for John Hardy, to hear more about the brand and new boutique at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

John Hardy is renowned for its fine craftsmanship. Explain the unique process. When John Hardy came to Bali in the 1970s he was inspired by the Island’s artisan traditions—which permeates every aspect of the brand today. All of our jewelry is crafted at our workshop in Ubud, Bali where our community of over 700 artisans are dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry using heritage techniques.

What excites you about the new Lahar collection? I was inspired by the untamed beauty and elemental forces of Bali’s volcanoes. This led to the introduction of Lahar, which means “lava” in Balinese. The collection unites molten metals and wild diamonds. We wanted to showcase their unique shape and the natural inclusions of icy stones.

How do you define luxury? Luxury is not connected to a price, but to the attention to detail. Making sure every item is unique.