Fawaz Gruosi, founder of de GRISOGONO, is endowed with an exceptional feel for gems, using his imagination to exalt them. Over the years, he has succeeded in passing on his passion to a small circle of goldsmiths, gemsetters and craftsmen dedicated to this noble task.
The founding of the Geneva-based brand dates back to 1993, when its first boutique opened at 104, rue du Rhône. The brand stirs powerful reactions wherever it is displayed, and its innovations in the field of jewellery continue to surprise industry experts. de GRISOGONO has become one of the most famous names in the world of luxury.
BLACK DIAMONDS
In 1996, Fawaz Gruosi acquired an international reputation by designing jewellery set with black diamonds. It was a first in the world of high jewellery, as this variety of diamond is rarely used because of its extremely fragile nature. While the diamond industry had also neglected this stone, the jeweller made it his symbol: powerful and mysterious, black was bound to appeal to independent, selfconfidently elegant women.
The idea soon caught on as celebrities and jet-setters succumbed to its charms and the price of black diamonds sky-rocketed. This unprecedented success propelled de GRISOGONO to the forefront of the international stage. At this point, Fawaz Gruosi decided to devote himself to research on materials, shapes and processes that would stand out from the creations offered by major brands. The association of colourless diamonds and black diamonds paved the way for the use of unusual materials in the world of high jewellery.
ICY DIAMONDS
In 2000, Fawaz Gruosi launched a collection of diamond-set jewellery that he called Icy Diamonds – diamonds that display a high degree of fluorescence and are classified as “white” on the scale of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Here too, Fawaz Gruosi had got hold of a stone hitherto favoured by only a few rare collectors. And yet these milky diamonds exude a distinctive beauty: their multiple inclusions blur the light crossing through the stone, surrounding it with a misty veil that endows it with a soft, gentle and almost childlike charm.
This slightly nostalgic touch soon fired the imagination of brand aficionados and Icy Diamonds became one of the brand's star collections. Meanwhile, Fawaz Gruosi's fertile imagination continued to dream up fascinating associations of colourless diamonds combined with black diamonds or the milky-white effect of Icy diamonds.
“GALUCHAT”
Shortly afterwards, a new idea appealed to his by now captive audience: the combination of Galuchat and precious stones. As if it had floated up from the ocean depths, Galuchat – taken from sharkskin or “shagreen” stingray skin – owes its name to the appointed leather master-craftsman of Louis XV, who was the first in France to use this exotic leather to clothe the most precious objects. In 2003, driven by a constant need for renewed creativity, Fawaz Gruosi discovered this distinctive material – much favoured by interior designers at the time – and thought about using it to adorn the bodies of refined women.
A number of remarkable, sparkling necklaces, bracelets and earrings were therefore fashioned in this distinctively-textured leather, and adorned with diamonds, emeralds and other precious stones. Their immediate and yet astonishing success has since inspired many other players in the luxury industry. At the same time, de GRISOGONO launched the first line of jewellery that was only distributed in its own subsidiaries, such as New York, Paris and St. Moritz boutiques.
BROWNY BROWN GOLD
In 2005, Fawaz Gruosi once again proved his ability to keep one step ahead of trends by inventing a new gold colour, Browny Brown Gold. This makes a perfect match for diamond-set jewellery, whether in warm shades ranging from yellow to chestnut brown, or in models intended for wider-scale production, featuring combinations of gold in various colours. This is no easy task: while producing gold in different hues is a well-known technique, it is extremely hard to achieve the right shade. Using the recognised principle of PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), Fawaz Gruosi has succeeded in creating a sensual shade of chestnut brown that suffuses the precious metal. Delicious like caramel, sweet like suntanned skin, this shade surrounds the most precious stones in an atmosphere that radiates happiness.
EXCEPTIONAL ART
Each creation by Fawaz Gruosi, whether interpreted in collections or in one-of-a-kind high-jewellery models, is made using stone-setting techniques that seek perfection in details. Earrings composed of tumbling briolette-cut diamonds cascade like silk veils. Imposing multicoloured necklaces, exalted both by the warm light of the cabochon and by sparkling precious stones, radiate contrasts that are sheer visual delight: de GRISOGONO's high jewellery collection is as unexpected as the work of a great contemporary artist. A world which plays on light and a stunning variety of materials give rise to exquisite and enchanting harmony.
de GRISOGONO reveals unrivalled expertise in the technique of setting. The jewellery brand has undeniably shown its prowess in this particularly intricate skill and this year again demonstrates its proficiency in the art of combining creativity and expert craftsmanship. The top craftsmen in the brand's jewellery department give flawless expression to the designs of Fawaz Gruosi. A work of patience and precision renowned the world over by connoisseurs and which is never marred by the slightest error. By making light of the difficulties and focusing on the details which make all the difference, de GRISOGONO has created for itself an unrivalled position in the world of High Jewellery, as a brand of unfailing originality in its blend of elegance and creativity.
Today, the de GRISOGONO Company has one of the world's best-qualified teams of jewellery craftsmen, capable of giving concrete expression to Fawaz Gruosi's ideas by creating jewellery characterised by the perfect harmony of shapes and dimensions.
This dream jewellery is currently on display in the showcases of de GRISOGONO boutiques around the world. The dream is reborn each time admirers allow themselves to succumb to the creativity and the magic of de GRISOGONO's jewellery, genuine works of art that combine classic craftsmanship and precious stones with innovative materials and techniques.
