Fred, the strength of design

PRODUCED BY KYRA BRENZINGER, Editor-in-Chief

Fred Samuel was born under a lucky star which guided him throughout his life, notably with his global success, the bracelet Force 10. Let’s discover the success story of this jewelry dandy who achieved everything!

The beginnings of his passion for cultured pearls

Born in Argentina, to an Alsatian jeweler and stone merchant father, Fred Samuel left for Paris at the age of 16. He entered into an apprenticeship with Worms, the leading cultured pearl merchant in France from Mikimoto. His passion for pearls will remain a common thread in his imaginative creations such as his Bubble collection using cultured pearls to bring bubbles into our lives. He particularly likes the slightly pinkish cream color of the pearls which will become his favorite color, called “color Fred ". Moreover, he saw life in rosy terms because he was always positive, he opened his own store in 1936 at the age of 28, writing on his business card “Fred Samuel, the modern designer jeweler.”

The 1950s: the multiplication of colors and shapes

Fred Samuel is a sunny man who loves the beaches of the Côte d'Azur or Argentina. He is passionate about stones which nourish his creativity. Very quickly, he received a prestigious order from the royal couple of Nepal who ordered jewelry to match the various court saris, which he combined with multicolored sapphires and diamonds. Another characteristic of his design, the beaches he loves inspire shapes with feminine curves or are similar to pebbles.
His love for color and especially light is found today in the creations of the ring Pain de Sucre. The interchangeable stones play with all the nuances of fine stones and are faceted in the shape of the famous mountain of the city Rio.

orce 10: a wind of freedom

Created in 1966 as a tribute to the sport of sailing that Fred Samuel was particularly fond of the bracelet Force 10 has become over time the iconic collection of the house. Created from braided steel cable and adorned with a gold shackle, it symbolizes perseverance and courage. Today, the variations of this collection are endless, playing with the colors of the bracelets, but also available in rings or necklaces.

Passion for felines 

In 1976, Fred Samuel opens a boutique in Monaco and Princess Grace of Monaco presides over the inauguration evening wearing a new creation: a ring made up of two crossed legs of a panther. Today, this ring is reinterpreted in the Ombre Féline collection by Valérie Samuel, granddaughter of Fred Samuel and artistic director of the house. Fred Samuel does not stop at this figure of the black panther, but offers numerous variations of cats. These domestic felines can have funny faces or are sometimes adorned with an elegant bow tie.

The jeweler of cinema: Pretty Women 

Rubbing shoulders with movie stars thanks to her boutique in Beverly Hills, Fred Samuel plays to his strengths by creating Julia Roberts' famous ruby and diamond necklace in Garry Marshall's 1990 film Pretty Woman. Featuring a beautiful heart, the house Fred today unveils its Pretty Women collection in homage to this iconic film. Hearts have always been a shape favored by this great lover of life and playing on the colors of fine stones. 

Jewelry for chic dandies

Particularly elegant, Fred Samuel didn't just think of women in his creations. His success Force 10 is a perfect example because today, it is worn by both men and women. It is a perfectly mixed jewel which has become a real international success. In addition to bracelets, he included cufflinks in the collection Force 10, but also more traditional pieces of jewelry in gold and rubies. Essential accessories for going to the casino or attending prestigious races!

The power of diamond

The company focuses on precious stones and Fred In 1977, Samuel acquired an exceptional yellow diamond of 105.54 carats, called Soleil d'Or and presented during a press lunch in the company of actress-model Margaux Hemingway. Today, the brand belongs to the LVMH group and after so many years in the hands of collectors, the house Fred has once again acquired this extraordinary diamond. The new CEO, Charles Leung, tasked Valérie Samuel, vice-president and granddaughter of the founder, with finding the history of this diamond. Next fall, the Soleil d'Or will be unveiled during a fantastic retrospective exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo.

Find all the jewelry Fred second-hand on 58 Facettes !