Some people’s destinies are sprinkled with stars, but it was diamonds, pearls and multi-colored stones that studded the destiny of Fred Samuel. Born in 1908 in Argentina into a family dealing in such precious stones, he conceived a passion for cultured pearls and won recognition as a leading expert in the field. He worked with the finest specimens, particularly those of a creamy-pink shade now known as ‘FRED-colored’. From the early 1950s, colorful stones kindled his creativity when the Nepalese king and queen commissioned from him jewelry to match the court saris. Drawing inspiration from vivid, shimmering silks, he mirrored their hues with an almost infinite palette of sapphires or diamonds. This passion was joined by a quest for the sunlight that illuminated his childhood in Argentina. Both influences shaped his work, the latter forming a leitmotif, almost becoming his muse. To this source of endless inspiration, he added his love of the sea, whose power and splendor gave rise to several celebrated chapters in the Maison’s history. Fred Samuel’s natural aesthetic sensitivity, together with his radical view of jewelry as part of everyday life, especially for women, enabled him to build a brand as timeless as it is distinctive. Describing himself in 1936 as a “Creative Modern Jeweler”, he staked a claim for modernity based on striking jewelry, pieces with rounded, curvaceous outlines. FRED joined the LVMH Group in 1995 and embarked on the second chapter of its history. Today, Maison FRED honors its founder’s unquestioning love of sunlight and color with its sun-infused creations, demonstrating its mastery of personalization and the sheer versatility of its collections
