Dinh Van, 50 years of free spirited and timeless creation

The jewelry brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a host of festivities and special collections. Highly respected around the world, Dinh Van succeeded in making a place for itself in the world of jewelry design thanks to a very personal style that ignored traditional rules and conventions of this art to create unique and timeless pieces. Here's a look back at five decades of strikingly original design.

Founded by Jean Dinh Van, an artisan jeweler, in 1965, the eponymous French brand rose to prominence in just a few years, standing out from other brands in the industry with a specific style, unique for its era and completely unlike anything that had come before it. Critically acclaimed by the media and the profession itself, Jean Dinh Van was beloved by for bringing a breath of fresh air into the world of jewelry.

Timeless jewels

Jean Dinh Van's creative genius comes in part from his drive to invent his own style, a far cry from the traditional rules of jewelry. So long flowers, bestiaries and other symbolic motifs associated with the jewelry of the time. Instead, the French brand decided to transform everyday objects into jewelry.

From handcuffs to locks, thumbtacks to razorblades, the most common objects would become exceptional jewels. These collections became iconic and are still presented by Dinh Van.

Anniversary collections

And it is these very iconic collections that are being revisited for the luxury brand's 50th anniversary. Dinh Van's first success, the "2 Perles" ring created in 1967 for Pierre Cardin, shocked the industry with its unique design that included a square jewel made of yellow gold with two differently colored pearls in the center. This revolutionary piece catapulted the brand to success, and in 2003, it joined the collections of the Decorative Arts Museum of Paris in the gallery of contemporary jewelry.

To celebrate its half century in the business, the brand is reinterpreting this ring as a full collection in yellow gold decorated with the two famous pearls (either Akoya and Tahitian pearls or white freshwater pearl and hematite depending on the version). The collection, which includes rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings will come out in October.

Another iconic piece from the 1980s, the "Maillet de polo" bracelet, will be reimagined as a jewelry version to come out in November. Only 50 of these will be made.

In September, publishing house Éditions Assouline will release a book on the brand's greatest creations. Written by Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter, the book will retrace Dinh Van's success as well as the unique creative spirit of its founder.