Bijoux Francoise Montague

Originally founded in the late 1940’s, Françoise Montague took over the De Saurma jewelry workshop, which was started by her mother in 1945. Within a few years she developed a reputation for designing fashionable costume jewelry which combined innovative classic styles. The atelier quickly became appreciated for its classicism and consistency in its couture style, including its collarette necklaces comprised of enamel and Bohemian crystal beads as well as their chic clip on earrings.

Françoise Montague soon became featured in major fashion magazines and the began to attract the attention of several major French boutique’s and fashion houses including Nina Ricci and Frank et Fils. As the company began to expand in the fifties and early sixties, it moved from the French market to Europe, the United States and Asia.

In 1978 a young designer named Marion Stern learned that Françoise Montague was looking for a protégé to take over the firm. Encouraged by her father, who himself was in the jewelry business, Marion (then only 20 years old) took over the company and has since raised the brand Françoise Montague to the next level.

Madame Stern still creates and manufactures her high end (couture) pieces in her atelier in Paris. Her collections maintain the classic Francoise Montague aesthetic, blend the old with the new, while maintaining impeccable craftsmanship that is only French.

We are pleased to offer a unique selection of Francoise Montague Bijoux. For inquiries please contact us.

"Bijoux de Fantaisie" Isabel Canovas

One of the European designers we are fascinated by is Isabel Canovas. Isabel was born in Paris in 1945. Her Spanish father Blas Canovas, was a couture textile designer, it's not a surprise couture was in her dna. Her career began as a designer for Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton from the early 1970's to 1980, in 1982 when she opened her own luxury accessories company with three locations Paris, New York and Madrid. For ten years she created limited series of fashion accessories which created a new standard and help mold European fashion, specially bijoux de fantaisie (costume jewelry). Her creations were whimsical, elaborate and constructed using the best materials France had to offer.

A true visionary, Isabel captured the attention of Vogue, Figaro Madame and The New York Times Magazine. Her  revolutionary collections were inspired by her travels (Africa, Russia, Spain and Venice) and also incorporated animals, fruit and vegetables, flowers and the circus. Unfortunately, after building an international clientele for ten years, Isabel closed her boutiques in the early 1990's. Her vision and talent opened the doors to other designers such as; Maud Frizon, Paloma Picasso, Frances Patiky Stein and Dominique Aurientis. Today, her pieces are highly collectible due to the scarcity, quality and craftsmanship.  A bold French look, which make women look French.

(Gallery24Jewelry offers a large selection of Isabel Canovas, for inquiries please contact us)