“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.” – Confucius


Reza at TEFAF30

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The constant quest for perfection is a time-consuming approach – to create a piece of Reza jewellery can take 6-18 months. Olivier Reza (the head of the company and the son of Alexandre Reza) thinks that it is very important to appreciate the heritage of the House and create jewels with a contemporary “mind” – while making no compromises in terms of the highest quality. Walking through their booth at TEFAF, I witnessed this idea confirmed.

Alexandre Reza (November 1, 1922 – January 15, 2016) had strong connections with Paris – he opened a branch in Paris around 1950 and became one of the main precious stone providers for place Vendôme jewellers. He was an aficionado and an expert of coloured diamonds, Burmese and Ceylon sapphires and natural pearls. Alexandre had a unique and diverse clientele, and counted fans among members of the aristocracy and artists as well. Soon he became perhaps the greatest gem collector of modern times – he had a trained eye for exceptional stones. In 1984, he opened a salon spread out over two floors at Place Vendôme.

Not surprisingly, to underline the rarity and exclusivity of the Reza jewellery pieces, Olivier continues with just the two salons, both located in Paris. Customers are welcome by private appointments at the Place Vendôme showroom or in the recently reopened Ritz Paris.

The jewellery house is committed to maintaining an exceptional level of artistry. Alexandre Reza is a member of the Parisian Comité Vendôme, an organisation which promote brands with the “added ingredient of soul”.

 
At TEFAF Maastricht the House exhibited pieces from their heritage as well as novelties. Olivier explained that they think more in terms of individual creations than in collections.

A true showstopper was the new version of the Dune cuff; in brushed and sandblasted white gold, set with baguette diamonds, mother of pearl inlays and featuring two pear-shaped diamonds on the points of the bracelet (see the photo on the top).
On the previous version, gemstones were set between the gold rails without connecting to each other. They had different gaps between them, providing the feeling of “floating diamonds”. On the new model, mother-of-pearl marquetry completes the look.

The Collier Dentelle is a similarly outstanding piece. The necklace features an old mine emerald-cut Colombian emerald weighing 9.46 carats, a lozenge-cut Zambian emerald, 2 marquise-cut Zambian emeralds and trapeze-cut as well as brilliant-cut diamonds.

One of my favourites was the “Chandelier” white gold earring, set with princess-cut and marquise shaped diamonds and ca. 36 ct pigeon-blood rubies from Mozambique. It is slightly Art Deco inspired but still modern and easily wearable.

Alexandre Reza’s hoop earrings are set with rare ruby ‘pebbles’ from Mozambique in the most desirable pigeon’s blood colour.

Reza has pieces for gentlemen as well; the Carré Ciselé pink gold cufflinks features 21 brilliant cut diamonds, or an other sand blasted and polished pink gold version with ebony parts and set with two oval cabochon Colombian emeralds.

If you would discover more about the history of the House, please click here.

 

Photo credits: Alexandre Reza.
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