Belt with Coco Chanel-inspired Brass Buckle

Hand-cut 3 mm brass, silver‑soldered, gold-plated, with striped flint inlay

This belt is built around a hand-formed brass buckle that references early Coco Chanel aesthetics. The buckle is cut from 3-millimeter brass sheet, shaped manually, silver‑soldered and refined through repeated cycles of filing and finishing. The surface is plated with Italian 23-carat gold, creating a clear reflective plane that emphasizes the mass and geometry of the form.

A selected plate of striped flint forms the central element of the buckle. Its layered mineral structure introduces a geological counterpoint to the polished metal. Each fragment of this stone carries a different rhythm of bands, making every buckle a singular object. The orientation and scale of the pattern were matched to the proportions of the brass frame to maintain compositional balance.

The design includes a stylized Coco Chanel motif, created as a personal homage to the clarity and discipline of early Chanel forms, which have long been a source of inspiration in the atelier. The motif is integrated into the structure rather than applied as decoration, allowing the buckle to read as a unified sculptural object.

The belt is completed with a strap made from selected natural black leather with a matte sheen. Its simplicity allows the buckle to remain the focal point while maintaining a balanced, architectural silhouette.

For this buckle, a custom dark‑green wooden case was made. The hinges and clasps, shaped and gilded by hand, are part of the composition rather than accessories. The interior is lined with satin to protect both the gilded surfaces and the stone inlay.

This piece belongs to a series in which functional accessories are approached as sculptural studies. The buckle examines proportion, material contrast and the meeting point between classical craft and contemporary fashion.

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