M. Gérard

The firm M. Gérard was founded in Paris in 1968 by Louis Gérard (Paris, 1923-2006), formerly of Van Cleef & Arpels, who opened his salon at 8 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. The new firm quickly flourished and soon became renowned for jewels set with diamonds of very high quality, mostly specimen stones. The success led to the opening of outlets in Monaco (1968), Lausanne (1972), Gstaad (1974), London (1976), Geneva (1978) and Cannes (1978). By 1975 M. Gérard was stated to be the largest exporter of fine jewels from France, a remarkable achievement against the well-established French Jewellers from across the Champs-Elysées.

In 1985 the firm was bought by a group of American investors; Louis Gérard retired, and the firm closed. Encouraged by a number of friends and clients, Louis Gerard, one of the most successful jewellers of the second half of the nineteenth century, reopened under his own name in 1987 at 16 Avenue Montaigne and in Cannes. The reopening coincided with the launch of a line of less exclusive but more wearable jewels that complemented Gérard’s traditional production of haute joaillerie. These jewels, wearable and suited to contemporary life, share with the haute joaillerie production the same superb quality of workmanship.

All jewels produced by Gérard are characterised by distinctive designs, outstanding quality of gemstones, and superb craftsmanship, which results in great suppleness and flexibility.