Tribute to Jean Vendôme at the show "Un bijou pour Noël"

A great man passed away this summer leaving a great void: Jean Vendôme, father of contemporary jewelry for some, most certainly a genius for many, lover of gems and materials without a doubt.

The show for artisan jewelers Un bijou pour Noël will pay him homage from the 17th until the 20th of November 2017 at the Hotel de l’Industrie in Saint-Germain-des-Près. A retrospective conference is will be held to present his work consisting of over 30,000 pieces spanning over a 50 year career Sunday 19th of November 2017 at 15h (number of seats limited, registration is mandatory on contact@saintgermain-events.com with full contact details).

Collectors, amateurs and fans will be able to admire his greatest pieces thanks to his son, Thierry Vendôme, who has brought together an incredible collection in partnership with the auction house MILLON. It is the occasion to discover or rediscover the works of Jean Vendome through his drawings, photos and self crafted jewels, such as with the impressive necklace that will be auctioned by MILLON on Monday 4th of December at 14h.

Jean Vendôme, father of contemporary jewelry

Born April 18th 1930 Jean Tuhdarian, known as Jean Vendome, he initiated his schooling at the age of 13 and starting the 1970s cumulated prizes and awards, projecting him on an international career.

Working gold differently, using a more raw material, searching for rare gems, playing with light, Jean Vendome has been animated his whole life by a relentless quest for the "golden nugget" and the excellence of creating unique jewels

A lover of raw gold and gems, this ingenious designer and sculptor has always been inspired by his environment, his travels and current events to create extremely innovative jewelry lines - well ahead of his time.

With Jean Vendome, the stone is always the starting point for designing a jewel, this is what makes it so unique. Anxious to enable the stone reflect itself on the body of a woman by playing with it's light and transparency, he wanted to be able to feel the transparence like a journey through the stone. Nothing is more beautiful for a gemologist than to be able to spend a life time traveling through the transparence of a stone and to appreciate it's inclusions, more often than not it's tiny details invisible to the naked eye.

All of Jean Vendome's collections are interesting and relevant: Pépite, Boréale, la bague Tour, Survol, Z, Nocture, Croix, Cosmos, Florilège, América, S, Flèche, Huit, Vitrail, Trafic, Nénuphar, Cinétique, Erotiques, Air et Terre, Bulles et Boules, Cygne, Cravate, Plume, Boule, Ferret, Compact, Amarre, Echelle, Vice Versa, Pont, Reflet, Miroir, Coussin, Vague, Bolduc, Cheville, Cache Cache…

We don't really know what to choose amongst his creations. Even though the "Couple" rings has a very particular resonance since it is the reflection of the relationship he created with Nelly Vendôme and symbolic of eternal love. The perfect balance between yellow and gray gold, the rock crystal symbolizing the purity of his wife and the green tourmaline representing him, the two connected by a line of diamonds; the eternal link of their love... the perfect equilibrium.

In his boutique located 352 Rue Saint Honoré, Jean Vendome has created, fabricated and made us dream. It is less known, but he also designed and crafted a number of very interesting and innovative academician swords including that of Roger Caillois which is currently at the Natural History Museum of Lyon.

Paying tribute to him during the "Un Bijou Pour Noël" show will allow his work to be known to a generation that has certainly drawn strong inspiration from him, despite themselves.

Jean Vendôme featured at "Un Bijou Pour Noël"

At the occasion of the show Un bijou pour Noël, Thierry Vendome, himself also a goldsmith, will speak for an exceptional conference on Sunday November 19th at 15h to pay homage to his father (number of seats limited, registration is mandatory on contact@saintgermain-events.com with full contact details).

The annual show Mes Créateurs Joailliers has changed it's name for it's fourth edition and has become Un Bijou Pour Noël. Still maintaining four spectacular days dedicated to the jewelry crafts and creation at the Hôtel Particulier, 4 Place de l’Industrie at Saint-Germain-des-Près.

Come discover or re-discover jewelry designers and makers; fall for a unique piece of jewelry or have one made bespoke. This show is the absolute Parisian rendez-vous of lovers of jewelry, gemstones, unique pieces, originality and skilled craftsmanship.