About French Jewelry
Vintage French jewelry is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic excellence. French jewelers have a long history of mastering intricate techniques, such as filigree, enameling, and stone setting, resulting in pieces of top-notch quality and beauty.
Timeless jewelry designs created in France transcend fashion trends. The use of classic motifs and harmonious proportions ensures that vintage French jewelry remains relevant across generations. What made France a powerhouse in the world of jewelry? It all comes down to the apprenticeship system. Back in the 1950s, French teens as young as 14 could start learning the trade. This early start gave French jewelers a unique edge, allowing them to amass a wealth of experience from a young age. As a result, even the non-designer pieces were crafted by highly skilled artisans.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, French jewelry was heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. Between 1920s and 1930s, the Art Deco movement took over, influencing French jewelry with its geometric shapes, bold colors, and symmetrical designs.
France is home to several prestigious jewelry houses that have made significant contributions to the world of vintage jewelry. Notable names include Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Boucheron, each with its unique style and heritage.
Coco Chanel made a significant impact on the world of jewelry with her costume jewelry designs. Her use of faux pearls, glass, and other non-traditional materials revolutionized fashion jewelry.
Whether you’re interested in the elegance of Art Deco or the organic forms of Art Nouveau, there’s a wide range of vintage French jewelry styles to explore and appreciate.
Today, the jewelry industry has moved away from this hands-on tradition, with mass-market production taking over. The focus is on efficiency, and jewelry designs are often engineered to minimize the need for manual labor. That’s why today vintage French jewelry is in such high demand. Here, at Nadine Krakov Collection, we offer the most desirable vintage jewelry online made by French experts.
About Coral Jewelry
Once considered as a plant, coral acquired the nickname “garden of the sea”. In fact, coral is a branch forming microscopic species called the coral polyp. It grows in the ocean and forms massive colonies.
In different cultures wearing coral has different meanings. In Slavic countries coral beads were a part of the national costumes. The ancient Romans believed coral protected their kids from danger. Same in Italy, where in the beginning of 20th century coral jewelry was believed to be an anti-evil eye protection. Today coral is worn as a chic accessory with meaning and admired for its exceptional natural beauty. The silky texture and a variety of colors attract jewelry lovers all over the world.
The value of vintage coral jewelry appreciates over time. Some coral jewels have historical or cultural significance, making it more desirable to collectors. Coral is beloved by the movie stars due to its bright and vibrant colors. Once worn for the red-carpet event, coral jewelry comes back to fashion. As you can see here, among our coral pieces we have truly intricate ones. The skill and artistry involved in creating these pieces also add to their value.
Coral value is also based on size, cut, color and polish. Generally, there is red coral, light and deep pink coral, and orange coral. Other colors such as brown, gold and even blue are more exotic. They are shown in conchiolin corals that grow not as branches but as concentric circles.
Mediterranean red coral is the most valuable due to its deep red color. It is harvested as deep as 200 meters in the sea. If you are looking for a classic Italian Cornicello color, then Mediterranean is your choice.
Pink coral is dense and covers the whole spectrum of hues, from close-to-white, pale pink to salmon red. It is mostly found near Japan. Due to its glassy, hard texture, pink coral is great for engraving.
Black coral is not truly black but rather very dark brown or nearly black. It is often polished to a high shine and can create striking, dramatic jewelry pieces.
Blue coral, also known as “Heliopora,” is a rare type of coral with a blue to blue-green coloration. It is used less frequently in jewelry but can be quite unique.
