French jewellery house Fred Jewellery held its first-ever retrospective in October at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris to honour the life and creations of founder Fred Samuel. The exhibition Fred, Joaillier Créateur depuis 1936 traces the heritage of the house since its creation in 1936, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in its diamond-studded world and explore its past, present and future, as well as the inspiring life of Fred Samuel himself. More than 450 jewels and objects were on display alongside 300 never-before-seen archival pieces, as well as jewels from private collections, which were obtained as part of an ambitious worldwide jewellery search project that began in 2019.
Fred, Joaillier Créateur depuis 1936 included 12 themed rooms that act as a sensory journey; feel the warmth of the sun, the smell of the sea, the sound of the wind. The interactive exhibition also included virtual fittings where visitors could wear and take photos in the iconic jewellery.
This event marks the first three events: Fred’s first retrospective, the jeweller’s first exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo and the first public demonstration of Soleil D’Or. The magnificent yellow diamond weighing over 100 carats appeared in public only once before disappearing into private collections.
Visitors to the exhibition could discover a replica of the ruby and diamond necklace worn in the movie Pretty Woman, as well as exquisite pieces adored by Hollywood icons and royalty; Grace Kelly’s treasure was displayed alongside pieces borrowed from Nepalese royalty.
