Dior Joaillerie
“Color is what gives jewels their worth. They light up and enhance the face. Nothing is more elegant than a black skirt and sweater worn with a sparkling multi-stoned necklace.”
—Christian Dior
Christian Dior was founded in 1947 in Paris. Dior’s first designs from the 1947 Spring/Summer collection were referred to as the “New Look.” Dior’s jewelry was designed to complement his clothing collections. By 1948, Dior opened a fashion house called, “Dior Costume Jewelry” in Germany which was inspired by nature; depictions of animals and floral motifs were common. In the 1950s, Christian Dior hired the American Mitchell Maer to produce fine jewelry for the house. His floral compositions and motifs, such as the unicorn brooches, are very rare today. In 1956, Dior collaborated with the Swarovski firm to develop the aurora borealis rhinestone with an iridescent coating that changes color depending on the angle it is viewed from. In 1998, the fashion house launched the fine jewelry division of “Dior Joaillerie.”
Victoire de Castellane was announced as the creative director. Castellane had worked for the house of Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld from 1984-1998.
About The Author
Debbie Azar is the Co-Founder and President of Gemological Science International (GSI), one of the largest gemological organizations in the world, and a distinguished leader in the global diamond and jewelry industry. As an executive with extensive knowledge of the jewelry and gem lab industries, her entrepreneurial skills and vision have helped GSI achieve rapid and continuous growth worldwide, establishing 13 leading-edge gemological facilities on four continents. She currently serves on the boards of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Responsible Jewellery Council, and Jewelers for Children, and is a member of the 24 Karat Club of New York. She has been featured in Forbes, Daily Mail, Good Morning America, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Businessweek, Fox Business, Fox5, CBS2, BOLDTV, Varney&Co, The Street, and NASDAQ, among others.
