Cover Fred’s Monsieur Fred Ideal Light High Jewellery collection (Photo: Fred)
Fred’s Monsieur Fred Ideal Light High Jewellery collection (Photo: Fred)
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Fred introduces the Monsieur Fred Ideal Light High Jewellery collection as a dazzling celebration of Argentina’s vibrant energy, cultural richness, and luminous beauty that fuelled its founder’s creative spirit
A little while ago, jewellery maison Fred paid homage to its founder, Fred Samuel, with a summer campaign titled, ‘The Sunshine Jeweller’—a moniker he was affectionately known by for his infinite joie de vivre, now transcended into a legacy that shines through the maison’s creations.
Delving deeper into its founder’s vision, Fred presents the Monsieur Fred Ideal Light High Jewellery collection in a quest to uncover what Samuel referred to as the “ideal light,” a concept deeply rooted in his childhood memories in Argentina that ignited a lifelong passion for luminosity in all its forms.
Gouache illustration of Monsieur Fred Ideal Light Blazing Audacity transformable long necklace
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The collection takes us on a journey through the sun-drenched landscapes of Argentina in four exquisite sets, each capturing the very soul of Samuel’s most cherished locations, from La Boca’s effervescent spirit to Montserrat’s dazzling exuberance, the tranquil oasis of Palermo's botanical garden to the majestic blues of Mar del Plata.
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Above The toi et moi ring in this set is a particular standout, its bold design uniting a vivid-orange spessartite garnet with a cushion-cut red spinel, surrounded by an openwork of baguette-cut spinels and garnets.
Above Crafted from luxurious white gold, the Blazing Audacity necklace features brilliant-cut diamonds and red spinel pearls that seem to dance in the light, capturing the radiant energy of Argentina that has profoundly influenced Fred Samuel
The toi et moi ring in this set is a particular standout, its bold design uniting a vivid-orange spessartite garnet with a cushion-cut red spinel, surrounded by an openwork of baguette-cut spinels and garnets.
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The Blazing Audacity set transports us to the vibrant neighbourhood of La Boca for our first stop, the birthplace of tango and a kaleidoscope of Argentine light and warmth, where the streets are constantly brimming with life from the sounds of music, the youthful laughter, and the technicolour houses painted in every hue imaginable. Composed of five bold pieces, this set embodies the area’s vivacious charm with a striking array of red, pink, and orange gemstones enriched with diamonds.
The maison’s artisanal mastery on transformability and versatility pervades the collection, showcased in the first of many multifaceted pieces in this gemological odyssey—a transformable necklace featuring a magnificent oval red spinel, complemented by a detachable bracelet adorned with mandarin garnet and rubellites. Accompanying the necklace is pair of earrings adorned with cascading, asymmetrical gems that mirror the spontaneous rhythm of tango dancers, as well as two rings that reflect the neighbourhood’s colourful façades.
Above The Exalting Joy set includes an exquisite three-in-one ring, featuring a 9.40-carat cushion-cut tourmaline as its centerpiece
Above The choker necklace in this set flaunts a hypnotic, shimmering effect with its intricate pattern of diamonds and opal-turquoise doublets. The 16.96-carat Australian opal at the center of the Exalting Joy choker necklace is a spectacle in itself, its play of colour shifting constantly with movement and light
The Exalting Joy set includes an exquisite three-in-one ring, featuring a 9.40-carat cushion-cut tourmaline as its centerpiece
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The journey continues to Montserrat, Buenos Aires’ oldest district, where the collection draws inspiration from the district’s annual carnival for the Exalting Joy set. Featuring three pieces, we see the maison’s technical prowess and exceptional artisanship on full display, showcasing a mesmerising play of colour through the innovative use of doublets—a combination of white opal and turquoise that results in a hypnotic hue dubbed “Opalazur.” These pieces are marvels of versatility, offering multiple wearing options to suit every mood and occasion.
Above The pieces in the Bright Vitality set are characterised by their fluid, organic forms, mimicking the grace of palm trees swaying in the breeze
The pieces in the Bright Vitality set are characterised by their fluid, organic forms, mimicking the grace of palm trees swaying in the breeze
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From the bustling energy of city streets, the Bright Vitality set whisks us away to Palermo’s botanical garden. Here, the collection takes on a more organic character with flowing lines and verdant hues that mimic the garden's lush greenery. These pieces, crafted with precious Muzo emeralds from Colombia, emulate the interplay of sunlight through leaves with their vivid green depths. Each piece evokes a fluid grace, their diamond-set “leaves” seeming to sway with an invisible breeze.
Above Complementing the necklace is a matching bracelet that wraps around the wrist like a gentle wave
Complementing the necklace is a matching bracelet that wraps around the wrist like a gentle wave
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Our final destination is the coastal city of Mar del Plata, where young Fred Samuel's lifelong love affair with the sea began. The Endless Horizon set brings the maritime magic to life in the most sublime fashion. Deep blue sapphires and lapis lazuli are reminiscent of the varied hues of the sea, punctuated by the brilliance of white diamonds, much like the way sunlight breaks through clouds to illuminate the ocean surface.
Of course, the set includes Fred’s iconic cable, featuring a lasso necklace that juxtaposes a braided white gold rope on one side and a spiraled combination of lapis lazuli and diamonds on the other. The dual-sided necklace is united by an adjustable ring set with a breathtaking pear-cut Ceylon sapphire, which can be removed to split the cables into two separate necklaces.
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Above This set also includes a cocktail ring that offers a fresh interpretation of the cable design, as well as a second ring featuring the Fred Hero Cut diamond
Above The use of glyptic, an ancient art form involving the carving of gemstones, transforms the ring into a work of art with impeccable craftsmanship
This set also includes a cocktail ring that offers a fresh interpretation of the cable design, as well as a second ring featuring the Fred Hero Cut diamond
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Additionally, the Endless Horizon set introduces a new interpretation of the maison’s signature cable with a cocktail ring. In this piece, alternating segments of cable-like lapis lazuli and rock crystal, masterfully worked in the art of glyptic, encircle a cushion-cut Royal Blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
From the fiery warmth of spinels to the otherworldly glow of opals, each gem tells a part of Samuel's story, a crystallised moment of joy, reflecting a facet of his “ideal light.” The collection's focus on transformability takes after the dynamic nature of light itself, constantly changing, always revealing new perspectives of beauty. Through these creations, Fred invites us to not merely admire their radiance, but to experience them—to feel the warmth of the Argentine sun on our skin, to hear the rhythms of tango in our hearts, to taste the salt of the sea air on our lips.
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Credits
Images: Fred
About
Phyll Wu is the Style Writer of Tatler Malaysia. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she's an avid fashion geek who loves all things beauty, pop-culture, and film.
