Editor’s Note
This article highlights the launch of FRED’s new high jewelry collection, exploring how the maison’s founding philosophy of spirit, challenge, and innovation continues to inspire its modern and distinctive creations.
The jewelry maison FRED possesses a unique power. The strong spirit, challenge, and innovation that founder Fred Samuel was captivated by became the maison’s philosophy, creating the most modern, unique, and beautiful jewelry. This is evident even in the Force 10 collection, best known in Korea. Inspired by the steel cables that secure yacht sails and the shackles that connect them, the jewelry conveys the message of a challenging spirit erupting from the world of the sea and navigation.
This power is contained to an even more astonishing degree in high jewelry. High jewelry, which elevates jewelry to an art form using the highest quality gemstones with rarity and symbolism, maximizes their philosophy and message. The new high jewelry collection ‘Monsieur Fred Ideal Light’, recently unveiled by FRED, also illuminates the life and philosophy of Fred Samuel, condensing his passion for light and color. From the passionate red spinel gemstone to the mysterious light of opal, the fresh green of emerald, and sapphire resembling the blue sea. The Monsieur Fred Ideal Light collection, encountered at its domestic unveiling on March 13, featured pieces each holding intense stories and emotions, embracing diverse gemstones.
Born in Argentina in 1908, Fred Samuel developed a deep affection for gemstones from a young age. He founded the jewelry maison FRED in Paris, France, in 1936, building his reputation with original designs utilizing pearls and colored stones. Designs imbued with a modern sensibility, allowing high-end gemstones and jewelry, including high jewelry, to be worn naturally in daily life, became FRED’s characteristic and strength. Furthermore, he created innovative styles not previously seen in the jewelry industry, such as combining sports and fashion.
For a jeweler, nature is a source of inspiration. Among these, light was the element Fred Samuel loved most, to the extent that he said, “I followed the path guided by light all my life.” It is well known that the beautiful light and sea of the French Riviera region where he resided became the background for the birth of several collections like Force 10 and 8°0.
The inspiration for this Monsieur Fred Ideal Light collection stems from the light of his homeland, Argentina. Valérie Samuel, Vice President and Artistic Director of FRED, who designed the collection and is the granddaughter of Fred Samuel, introduced it, saying, “For this collection, I wanted to contain the passion for creation of my grandfather and maison founder, Fred Samuel, and the memories of his childhood in Argentina, filled with a colorful feast of hues. The pieces are the beginning of a journey that transcends time to the world of light in Buenos Aires, Argentina.”
The high jewelry collection unfolds across four themes. The first theme, Blazing Audacity, is inspired by the blazing sunlight of the La Boca district in Argentina. The La Boca district is the birthplace of Argentine Tango, characterized by colorfully painted houses and buildings. The high jewelry pieces starting from the colorful hues of this place capture intense red, orange, and pink colored gemstones in the organic and geometric silhouettes that can be called FRED’s signature.
In the works of the second theme, Exalting Joy, inspired by Argentine carnival costumes, one can see the meeting of haute couture and the high jewelry world. Vice President Valérie Samuel explained that gemstones were woven like fabric to implement geometric patterns into high jewelry, similar to carnival costumes using colorful feathers, lace, and textiles. A long tie necklace set with diamonds, turquoise, and opal expressed high jewelry like fabric embroidered with gemstones. A ring using a mysterious blue and green-toned 9.34-carat tourmaline as its center stone can be separated and transformed into three parts, allowing for versatile styling.
The third theme, Bright Vitality, is inspired by the fresh nature of the Palermo Botanical Garden in Argentina and designed centered on Colombian emeralds mined from the Muzo mine. A necklace with a silhouette that wraps around the neck and gracefully descends to the collarbone uses diamonds and emeralds to show the palm trees filling the Palermo Botanical Garden. At the end, emeralds are arranged asymmetrically to express the light that illuminates the plants and modern beauty.
Monsieur Samuel’s journey of light concludes with Endless Horizon. This contains the colors and light of the blue sea and sky viewed from the Mar del Plata beach, a famous tourist spot in Buenos Aires where he first harbored a passion for the sea. Using the cable, established as a symbol of FRED, as a design motif, it expresses a journey towards strong challenge and adventure by utilizing lapis lazuli, sapphire, diamonds, etc.
Through this collection, FRED broke the mold of traditional high jewelry, adding a freer and more modern sensibility. It is also noteworthy that they emphasized genderless design, presenting styles that anyone, regardless of gender, can wear. Vincent Reynès, CEO of Maison FRED, expressed his ambition, saying, “This collection is not just jewelry but works that reinterpret the legacy of light and color left by Fred Samuel in a modern way. We will continue to present innovative designs in the future.”
Interview | Vincent Reynès, CEO of FRED
Vincent Reynès, CEO met at the domestic unveiling event for the French jewelry maison FRED’s high jewelry collection ‘Monsieur Fred Ideal Light’ on March 13, was filled with strong confidence in the Korean market.
CEO Reynès, who has built a career in the high-end jewelry and watch field for over 25 years, became the head of FRED last September. Having worked as an expert in the jewelry and watch field for a long time and visited Korea multiple times, he has a deep understanding of the Korean market. Just before taking office as CEO of FRED, he served as President and CEO of Bulgari Japan. We heard from CEO Reynès about the growth and future of FRED he will create.
You have been in the high-end jewelry and watch field for a long time. What characteristics and strengths do you think FRED possesses?
What was the first thing you did after taking office as CEO?
What kind of brand do you want to make FRED into?
Which piece from this collection should receive the most attention?
What are the major projects planned for this year?