The precious collectible glass paste jewels of the French Maison Gripoix.
The Gripoix boutique is located in Paris. It can be a bijou precious and refined like a piece of fine jewelry? The answer lies precisely in the production of Gripoix, which has now just moved its new workshop, studio, showroom and boutique to Rue d’Aboukir. Established in 1890, the Maison is one of the oldest in France. The artisans of Gripoix were among the first to use the technique of glazing of glass paste.
The company’s production closely resembles haute couture craftsmanship, so much so that they have produced extraordinary pieces for brands such as Chanel, Lanvin, Paul Poiret, Valore, Givenchy, and Yves Saint-Laurent. But the Maison, directed by Marie Keslassy, is particularly famous for developing pearl sheening, a technique that perfectly imitates cultured pearls.
Gripoix jewelry is made of glass paste (cast glass) set in gold-plated metal. The technique was originally developed by Augustine Gripoix in 1869. The Maison is especially famous for its collaboration with Chanel starting in the 1920s. Its jewelry features vibrant colors, often with intricate designs. Although made of glass, the pieces are quite durable and luminous: some believe they are made of real gemstones and pearls.
