Feline Shadow of Fred, Princess Grace of Monaco's favorite jewel

To each era its legend, to each maison its emblem. On the edge of jewelry art, Fred has managed to inscribe the elegance of the feline in his signature with Feline Shadow, revealed by the sovereign grace of Grace of Monaco.

Feline Shadow of Fred : between history and legend

In the 60s, the famous jeweler Fred Samuel, founder of the Maison Fred, imagines a jewel of unprecedented refinement: two intertwined feline paws, reaching for softness and strength. This infinitely supple design evokes the grace, protection and power of the animal without depicting its entire silhouette : a subtle tribute to the elegance and mystery of felines, dear to the designer. The collection is immediately noticed by connoisseurs, but it is Princess Grace Kelly, became Grace of Monaco, which made her a jewelry icon.

Princess Grace and her attachment to Cat Shadow Fred

Grace of Monaco, famous actress turned princess, was known for choosing her jewelry with remarkable precision. She first encountered the Ombre Féline collection at the store's opening. Fred in the principality in 1976. At this second-hand, she wears her own ring on her finger with the image of a Panthère, that she offered herself in the strictest secrecy. She confides to Fred Samuel that: "It's a piece of jewelry that I love and that never leaves me.". This testimony, transcribed in the jeweler's memoirs, attests to the intimate and sincere bond between the princess and her Feline Shadow ring, which quickly becomes as much an intimate talisman as a ceremonial accessory, a symbol of his elegance, his independence and his sunny personality.

The collection continues to influence modern collections, feeding the imagination of the Maison Fred and recalling that a jewel, when it meets a muse of its own, becomes more than just an ornament: an eternal symbol.

Feline shadow, the choice of a symbol at Fred : the strength and grace of the feline

The feline motif is no coincidence. Behind this silhouette lies a whole symbolism: elegance, mystery, grace, but also courage and independence. 

In the universe of the jewelry, the panther occupies a very special place. Since the 20th century, it has become one of the most sought-after and celebrated emblems, especially since the big houses such as Fred Or Cartier are more to interpret it in their collections, whether in a stylized or realistic way, the panther always stands out as a totem of elegance and character. 

At the house of Fred, L'Ombre Féline is part of this prestigious continuity, but brings its own resonance, marked by gentleness and balance. For Grace of Monaco, whose public presence was always imbued with dignity, Ombre Féline represented a form of balance between its apparent delicacy and its inner strength. 

Technical description of the Feline Shadow: gold, diamonds and black enamel

The Ombre Féline collection includes rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brooches. The most popular pieces represent two crossed and stylized feline paws, fashioned in yellow gold and enriched with black enamel in spotted patterns evoking the coat of the panther, or conversely, a black enamel background with gold openwork.

Other intermediate models take up the initial form of the jewel and are entirely paved with diamonds, for a more symbolic than representative representation.

Finally, some high-end editions represent the animal in its integrity, always with a combination of yellow gold and black enamel on the body, as well as the head set with diamonds and/or emeralds to evoke the eyes of the feline.

Reissues and contemporary collections of the Ombre féline collection by Fred

Under the leadership of Valérie Samuel, granddaughter of the creator and artistic director of the maison, Ombre Féline is reissued in 2019 in a ten-piece collection that reconnects with the original power of the design while expanding the range: rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, varying the finishes with black lacquer, diamonds, black spinels, polished or textured yellow gold. This reissue marks a true tribute to the muse of the collection, Princess Grace, and perpetuates the solar and protective spirit of the jewel.

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Fred, the power of design
Cartier VS Fred : the duel of the Jeweled Panthers