SOLD: Outstanding Multi-Gem Pendant Brooch by Frederic Boucheron, circa 1890
Boucheron Brooch
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Each piece has been hand selected and meticulously identified and graded by a Graduate Gemologist who has been awarded a degree by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Please visit our Shop's About Page about our jewelry. Sizing for all rings is an additional charge and will be determined once item is purchased. A separate invoice will be sent for all sizing and repair work.
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Frédéric Boucheron was born into a family of merchant drapers, however, from a young age he found jewelry to be his true passion. At fourteen, he acted as an apprentice under Jules Chaise, a notable jeweler whom his father was acquainted with. From observing Chaise’s work, to later taking a position on the sales floor of the well-known jewelry store Tixier-Deschamps, Boucheron developed a strong skills set and an appetite for the jewelry business.
It was a difficult start for Frédéric Boucheron when he decided to strike out on his own. Due to financial restraints, he knew he could not initially invest in large expensive stones to feature in his creations. Instead, Boucheron used his talent as a jeweler to design pieces that highlighted materials that he could afford. He worked diligently to build an inventory and never compromised on quality.
As a skilled metalworker, Boucheron set precious stones into beautifully woven gold designs of lace and ribbon. He quickly developed a unique style and a reputation as a reliable precious stone expert and craftsman. By 1858, he opened his first jewelry salon at the Palais Royal. Boucheron also began to exhibit in many international expositions, including the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago and the 1889 and 1900 Expositions Universelles in Paris. Through his great success at these exhibitions, as well as his storefront’s prominent location in the Palais Royal, Boucheron caught the eye of the most prominent European families. These relationships helped establish his firm’s impressive and enduring significance.
In 1887, in an attempt to subdue the fear of a return to royalist power, the French Crown Jewels were auctioned to the public. Frédéric Boucheron attended the sale where he acquired over thirty significant diamonds. The success of these publically acquired purchases greatly increased the demand of goods from his workshop. In 1893, the firm moved to a larger location in the Place Vendôme in order to accommodate the rapidly growing list of clientele.
Frédéric Boucheron died in 1902. His company was passed on to his children who maintained the high standards and refined craftsmanship that was of utmost importance to their father. Over the following decades the firm established boutiques around the world. Today, Boucheron has over thirty international store fronts, continuing to supply jewelry and precious stones to the world’s elite, including the most recognized royal families.
