BOUCHERON, PARIS BY ANDRE VASSORT 18 KT GOLD RING WITH 3.51 Ctw IN VS DIAMONDS & CORAL
EXCEPTIONAL AND HISTORICAL RING MADE BY ANDRE VASSORT FOR BOUCHERON PARIS.
TOTALLY HAND CRAFTED IN 18 KARAT YELLOW GOLD. REALIZED AROUND THE 1955 AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST PIECES MADE BY THE ATELIER VASSORT FOR BOUCHERON.
FEATURING IN THE CENTER A FLUTED ALMOND CARVING OF A PINK CORAL WITH A MEASURE OF 15.6 mm BY 10.6 mm. SURROUNDED BY 36 FRENCH BEZEL SET OF ROUND BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS, 3.51 Ctw, ALL GEMSTONES ARE CALIBRATED, F/G, VS-1/VS-2.
Little is known about the French jeweler André Vassort, which is so often the case with the craftsmen and workshops behind the famous Maisons of the Place Vendôme. All around Paris, tucked away in discreet buildings, skilled and highly creative master craftsmen work anonymously for their high profile clients.
One such building was 34 Rue Sainte Anne, where André Vassort set up his workshop, Atelier Vassort, registering his business and maker’s mark in December 1955. He quickly became one of the most recognized and sought after manufacturers of high quality French jewelry in the mid 20th Century. Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Mauboussin, amongst others, trusted him not only with creating their own fine jewels but also with special commissions for clients. Frequently these clients would include Royalty of both the West and East as well as Hollywood legends. A particular creation of note is the spectacular emerald, ruby, pearl and diamond crown made on behalf of Van Cleef & Arpels for the coronation of Empress Farah of Iran.
He specialized in working with gold and drawing out warmth, movement and texture from the metal but also worked in platinum and across the board in terms of gemstones. His workshop grew to be one of the largest in Paris and alongside his loyal and experienced craftsmen he also employed apprentices. One of these recalls starting at the bench at just 17 years old and spending years learning from experts ‘in the pure artistic tradition’. Much of his jewelry would never have been marked so will remain ‘unknown’ to all except those who made it. However sometimes his mark appears alongside the signature of one of his famous client’s and occasionally it is seen on its own. When Louis Gérard left Van Cleef & Arpels to start his own company M. Gérard in 1968, he chose to use his former employer’s workshop to create his jewelry. Over the next twenty years, Andre Vassort would produce some spectacular jewels for Gérard whose pieces are often noted for their superb manufacture.
The Atelier closed in the early 1990’s but not before establishing itself as one of the most important manufacturers of French jewelry of the mid-late 20th Century. Whether you see it on a Boucheron bracelet, a Van Cleef & Arpels sautoir or a pair of Vassort ear clips, the mark of André Vassort is a mark of quality craftsmanship and fine jewelry. Maker Biography Reference from HANCOCKS Jewelers London.
THIS RARE RING HAVE A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 10.43 GRAMS AND HAVE A MEASUREMENTS OF 29.5 mm BY 20 mm. STAMPED WITH THE HALL MARKS "BOUCHERON OR .750 51.195" "ANDRE VASSORT CACHET (AV)" BESIDE THE FRENCH EAGLE HEAD MARK FOR THE GUARANTY OF THE GOLD. THE ACTUAL SIZE IS 5.25, SIZE ABLE.
INVENTORY REF: R0000SCOE/.2507
