Fred, The Modern Jewellery Designer

Fred Samuel, founder of the illustrious Fred Joaillier, was a master of colored stones who seduced his clients with the stylish lifestyle of the French Riviera at its peak. Born in Buenos Aires in 1908, he was the son of a French jeweler who had immigrated to Argentina. Paris provided the backdrop for Samuel’s career and the opening of his first jewelry shop in 1936, focusing on brightly hued stones such as the extraordinary Golden Sun, a 105-carat yellow diamond. The jeweler became famous for bringing original drawings by Jean Cocteau to glittering life; news of these creations spread, and royals from Nepal began asking him for pieces to match their clothing. Samuel’s oldest son further diversified the jewelry line, fashioning a gift for his wife of braided marine cables secured to a buckle, which became the prototype for the brand’s signature Force 10 collection.