About Chaumet Brand:
Being the first jeweler to arrive on now famous Place Vendôme in 1812, Chaumet jewelry has been staying an expression of traditional Parisian style ever since.
Chaumet pieces have long been a favorite with the French aristocrats. In 19th century, Joséphine Bonaparte, the Empress of the French and the first wife of Emperor Napoleon, was one of the brand's famous clients and appreciators.
Fast forward two centuries, Chaumet style is based on exploration of all things of nature. The brand itself calls it “naturalist jewelry”. The Maison's designers use symbolism of plants, opulence of gardens and delicacy of grass to permeate Chaumet jewelry creations with the energy of the wild nature.
In the modern world, the most popular Chaumet collections are the Liens, the Bee My Love and the Josephine.
Find more of our Chaumet pieces here.
About Vintage French Jewelry:
Vintage French jewelry is highly valued by jewelry experts and enthusiasts.
Since the late Renaissance, France has been established itself as one of the world trendsetters in art and fashion. A quick look at the top 5 French jewelry designers — Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Hermes, Chaumet, Chanel — describes French level of greatness even better.
What allowed France to reach such a high level in the jewelry world hierarchy? In a nutshell, it's because of the apprenticeship system. In the beginning of 1950s in France anyone at the age 14 could start learning the craft. This way French jewelers, like no others in the world, gain a substantial portion of experience at the early age. Even non-designer jewels were produced by the highly skilled masters.
Most modern jewelry is not handcrafted anymore, and mass market-oriented production is prevailing. Jewelry designs are streamlined to use as little hand labor as possible. That's why today vintage French jewelry is in such high demand.
Here is the most desirable French vintage jewelry from Nadine Krakov Collection.
About Vintage Jewelry:
Vintage jewelry is something we can talk about for days. Since the subject is that big and has multiple aspects to discuss, we’d like to focus on the most important parts of it. So, what is vintage jewelry? Why is it so appealing? And how to buy your vintage jewelry online?
In the industry, different sellers and makers have different opinions on the time period when vintage jewels were made. Here at Nadine Krakov, we consider vintage as anything being made between 50 and 100 years ago. Therefore, all jewelry produced from 1930s to 1980s is called vintage. This time frame is comprised of Art Deco, Retro and Mid-Century.
Why do we love vintage jewelry so much? It's all about the quality of the make and – of course – the look.
Vintage pieces were mostly made by hand or at least hand-finished while modern jewels are mainly cast. As the lifestyle back in the days was much slower, jewelry makers literally had more time in their hands. Skilled craftsmen honed their craft and reputation. They couldn’t allow a flimsy, poorly done piece to ruin that. Mass market jewelry didn’t exist at that time. Each little detail of a piece was executed thoughtfully and with high quality in mind.
How to shop for your vintage jewelry online? Ask questions about maker's marks and hallmarks, request a video of the piece, and show it to your jeweler. The easiest way to be confident with your purchase is to find a trustworthy, reputable seller. And if you happen to be in the Beverly Hills area, just google “vintage jewelry near me”, find Nadine Krakov Collection store and stop by for a good chat with a sip of champagne.