For the past six decades, gemologist Alexandre Reza has been one of Paris's-and indeed, the world's-most exclusive jewelers, a master artisan and purveyor of exclusive gemstones based in Place Vendôme, the heart of fashion and luxury. To experience his ornaments is to discover history reborn: the diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies of his collections have seen the most extravagant centuries and epochs, from French monarchies and Persian dynasties to the Italian Renaissance. And yet Reza's precious stones are never meant to be an antiquated homage to a prestigious past; a creator by instinct, Reza takes history as inspiration rather than for reproduction. His handcrafted pieces mix ages and eras to create something special-a «harmonization of contradictory forces,» according to historian, and longtime Reza collaborator, Arlette Seta. This monumental edition, part of Assouline's Ultimate Collection, presents more than one hundred rare pieces of Reza's creations, and includes a history of the famed gem house in archival documents and vintage photography. Stunning, hand-bound, and nestled in a linen display case, Alexandre Reza is a limited-edition title that is worthy of the most discerning collector.
Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection.
Née à Paris en 2005, la maison Messika est conçue et orchestrée par Valérie Messika, fille du célèbre diamantaire André Messika. Ses bijoux sont nouveaux, inattendus ; leur style et formes contemporaines revisitent la haute joaillerie tout en témoignant de la profonde passion de leur créatrice pour les diamants.
Ainsi, en dix ans, Valérie Messika a non seulement créé une maison de joaillerie moderne et bâti une marque internationale, mais elle a aussi fait bouger l'état d'esprit de l'univers du diamant.
En concevant des bijoux à caractère mobile et ergonomiques, qui mettent en valeur le corps des femmes, elle a su inventer un langage original pour les diamants, et imposer son style contemporain à toute une nouvelle génération en quête de modernité.
Sa réputation acquise sur une base de confiance et d'expertise lui permet aujourd'hui de passer à un nouveau chapitre de son histoire. C'est chose faite avec une collection entière de haute joailleriequi présente des pierres de toute beauté. Mouvement, fluidité sensuelle, sensation de volume sont désormais encrés dans le vocabulaire du style Messika.
Bulgari's exquisite high jewelry creations are conjured from the vibrant color, life, and light of exceptional gemstones, infused with an innate Roman sense of history, and invigorated with an audacious spirit of modernity. The very soul of the Eternal City is encapsulated in Bulgari's innate sense of classicism, sublime proportions, joyful flair and perfect geometry. Such a distinctive aesthetic is constantly infused with a fresh and a visionary drive for innovation and experimentation. Combining diamonds, precious colored stones, and even ancient coins into lavish creations with unique and exuberant color harmonies, Bulgari jewels embody the quintessence of elegant Italian design.
Boasting over 150 years of creativity and gemological expertise, the Boghossian story begins in 1868 on the Silk Route, a crossroads where merchants and artisans converged. Over the generations, the Boghossian family traveled from East to West, handing down an innate eye for exceptional gemstones and a flair for craftsmanship along with a wealth of artistic and cultural inspirations. Now based in Geneva and helmed by the fifth and sixth generations, Boghossian has evolved into one of the world's master jewelers, whose one-of-a-kind pieces regularly achieve world-record sales at auction.
Drawing on its heritage of gem knowledge and savoir faire, the Boghossian family has reimagined ancient techniques and developed new ones, such as Inlay, Kissing, Merveilles and Diaphane. Today, creative director Edmond Chin, a visionary artist known for his avant-garde creations, works alongside the Boghossian family to push the artistic and technical boundaries of high jewelry design. Together, they mine the maison's rich history to create one-of-a-kind pieces that spotlight the singular beauty of nature's rarest gemstones.
Featuring eloquent text by respected jewelry historian Vivienne Becker, this richly illustrated volume expresses the Boghossian family's legacy of adventure and expertise, of cross-cultural influences and innovations, unfolding like a silk thread connecting East and West.
Fawaz Gruosi, the inspired visionary behind Swiss jeweler de Grisogono, instinctively understands his craft. His dynamic creativity and nonconformist approach have been rejuvenating the conventions of jewelry since the brand was established in 1993 with a boutique on Geneva's rue du Rhône, where he eschewed the minimalism characteristic of the decade in favor of rich, sensual, ornate pieces. De Grisogono's first creation was a bespoke pair of pearl and diamond earrings for the Begum Salima Aga Khan, who epitomized the luxury and exclusivity that would come to define the jeweler. Since then, influential women such as Sophia Loren, Duchess Camilla of Cornwall, and Sharon Stone have donned Gruosi's glittering designs, which explore black and white diamonds, uniquely colored stones, and innovative yet classic form. But de Grisogono is about so much more: its opulent mix of Florentine and Byzantine influences, its striking gem combinations, and Gruosi's unsurpassed handcraftsmanship make it singular in the jewelry world, as the arresting images in this luxury volume attest.
Hen Charles Lewis Tiffany opened his first store in 1837 in New York City, selling fancy goods imported from Paris, he could not have imagined the visions of glamour that his name would conjure around the world. Tiffany & Co. has transformed from a modest purveyor of gift items to a globally renowned byword for luxury and romance, sublime and rare gemstones, joyful objects of love and an inimitable mix of tradition and modernity. Tiffany is a name that resonates across generations and cultures, part of the fabric of social and cultural history, an American institution gifted to the world, an emporium of escapism, a repository of dreams.
During its 185 years, Tiffany & Co. has continued to evolve creatively, embracing artistic and cultural influences, finding exciting ways to renew its rich legacy. Since the 1950s, Tiffany has brought on designers who have become iconic names, from Jean Schlumberger to Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso, ensuring that Tiffany remains dynamic and relevant to each generation. The company's design-driven dynamism honors and perpetuates the founder's pioneering spirit.
Today Tiffany continues to bring fantasy to its annual high jewelry collections, while also speaking to new generations through original collections that offer personal self-expression, so much part of Charles Lewis Tiffany's original concept. The beat goes on, the pulse of New York and of creativity, the quest for modernity and originality intertwined with reverence for Tiffany's great heritage.
Conceived as the catalog to accompany the exhibition Vision and Virtuosity at the Saatchi Gallery in London, this volume encapsulates all the romance and heritage of this world-famous American icon, highlighting Tiffany's creative inspirations, witty advertisements and window displays, Blue Book jewel collections and diamond expertise, plus the stories behind the blue box, the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's and the fabulous yellow Tiffany Diamond.
This slipcase volume is filled with striking images of Aldo Cipullo's modern jewelry designs, which are both iconic and universal, intimate yet also intensely personal, contemporary and timeless. Punctuated with Cipullo family photos and fond anecdotes from Aldo's friends, Cipullo: Making Jewelry Modern unfolds the story of one of the most innovative and, until now, enigmatic talents of modern jewelry history.
Since its establishment in Milan in 1919 by Mario Buccellati, a jeweler's apprentice, the famed Italian jewelry house has developed and perfected its unique goldsmithing techniques over a century. Buccellati quickly became one of Italy's most respected jewelers, with prestigious clientele including the famous dandy and poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, the royal families of Italy, Spain and Egypt, the Pope and cardinals of Rome, and international celebrities.
Blending traditional handcraftsmanship with modern creativity for four generations, Buccellati has cultivated a singular stylistic identity. Reflecting styles from ancient Greece to the Italian Renaissance, Buccellati crafts innovative jewels and objets d'art with a rich textural quality, employing its signature engraving and chiseling techniques in precious metals set with dazzling gemstones for an extraordinary effect.
Featuring deeply researched text filled with historical insights, this volume unfolds the story of four generations of Buccellati's trademark imaginative inspiration and fine craftsmanship, executed with intricate hand engraving and a refined aesthetic sensibility, exuding a timeless elegance that brings tradition into the modern world.
In this magnificent collection of the most spectacular jewels of the twentieth century, fine jewelry historian Vivienne Becker selects the quintessential bijoux that represent the milestones of jewelry design of the last one hundred years. From Art Nouveau to the brink of the new millennium, Becker's selections range from the Wiener Werkstätte and Tiffany Studios, Egyptian-inspired Art Deco masterpieces by Cartier and midcentury designs by Verdura for Chanel, exquisite creations by DeBeers, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Graff, to modern designs from a new generation of innovative artists. A new addition to Assouline's Ultimate Collection, this beautiful volume is a must-have for fine jewelry collectors and lovers of precious objects. Sparkling with stunning photography, this hand-bound luxury limited edition features hand-tipped images and is presented in a linen clamshell case.
Fondé en 1780, Chaumet est l'un des bijoux de la place royale Vendôme, épicentre de la haute joaillerie parisienne. Après la Révolution, Marie-Étienne Nitot puis son fils François-Regnault deviennent les joailliers officiels de l'empereur Napoléon Ier et de l'impératrice Joséphine, fondant ainsi la firme qui allait être connue sous le nom de Chaumet. En 1812, Nitot fils fit l'acquisition d'un hôtel particulier sur la place Vendôme, devenant le premier bijoutier à s'y installer.
Malgré les révolutions, les vicissitudes économiques et les deux guerres mondiales, Chaumet a toujours joui de la faveur des grands noms de l'aristocratie européenne, tout en étendant son empire dans un marché international du luxe en plein essor, recrutant de nouveaux clients parmi les entrepreneurs internationaux, les stars de la jet-set, les personnalités politiques et artistiques. Au XXIe siècle, la maison Chaumet continue à concilier innovation et tradition, mettant son irréprochable service et son incomparable savoir-faire technique au service de créations qui sont l'incarnation même de la sophistication parisienne.
Aujourd'hui, après plus de deux siècles, Chaumet est toujours solidement enraciné place Vendôme, au coeur du luxe parisien. Ces trois volumes de la collection Mémoires, réunis en coffret, distillent avec élégance l'essence de deux siècles d'histoire et de création artistique chez Chaumet :
Vendôme, berceau d'une légende.
En 1812, Chaumet est le premier joaillier à s'installer place Vendôme. Aujourd'hui, le splendide hôtel particulier de la maison abrite le siège, les studios de création, les ateliers, d'impressionnantes archives et les salons historiques, dont le nouveau Musée éphémère, qui propose des expositions temporaires thématiques, ainsi que le Salon des diadèmes où sont présentées plus de 500 maquettes très détaillées en maillechort des plus beaux diadèmes créés depuis 1780.
L'art du diadème.
Le diadème est au coeur de l'histoire de Chaumet, le symbole de sa longue histoire de fournisseur d'exquis bijoux aux têtes couronnées, et l'intarissable source d'inspiration de son expertise technique et artistique. À chaque époque, depuis les premiers et somptueux diadèmes créés pour l'impératrice Joséphine, Chaumet a constamment réinventé ce bijou né dans l'Antiquité.
La nature de Chaumet.
Joaillier officiel de Napoléon Ier, Chaumet a choisi le thème romantique de la flore et de la faune comme pierre angulaire de ses créations, immortalisant des feuilles, des fleurs et des insectes dans de précieux ornements de corsage et d'étincelants bijoux de tête. Cette source d'inspiration éphémère est devenue la signature de la maison, reliant le passé, présent et le futur de la marque.
