Serge Thoraval

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‘‘His jewelry became tattoos which one could not do without anymore.’’

Serge Thoraval was born in Paris, near the gardens of the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. As a child , he wanted to be an inventor and drew hundreds of detailed plans of the «rubber band car».

In 1989 , friends asked him to help soldering jewelry for the Yves Saint Laurent collection. This encounter is crucial ; the following year, Serge creates his own pieces and collaborates with fashion designers for the jewelry and accessories for their shows :

  • Thierry Mugler (1990 - 1991)
  • Claude Montana (1991 - 1993)
  • Lanvin Haute Couture ( 1992)
  • Joseph (1993)

He also did jewelry collections for Agnès b. (1992 and 1993) , Sonia Rykiel (1993) and Paco Rabanne (1997).

In March 1994, Serge founded his studio with the help of his wife, Genevieve Chevillot, and exhibited in Paris at the Premiere Class trade show where he met his agents for Japan and Italy and also influential journalists from magazines such as Elle, Madame Figaro and Women's Wear Daily. From then on, his jewelry is sold in France , Europe , Japan and Hong Kong.

Despite the growing interest in their work, and the growing demands of their customers , Serge and Geneviève are cautious about maintaining their way of working. All of the jewelry is manufactured in France and handcrafted in their workshop.

In 1995 , he organized an exhibition with Francis Braun in « Le Grand Magasin » in Saint- Rémy-de-Provence. Serge set up his studio in the street in front of the store and etched messages on demand. Summer days of which his friend Francis shares the memory :

" Of a simple piece of silver, gold or metal, he knew the essence , as if conversing intimately, closely, and exclusively with it. His jewelry became tattoos which one could not do without anymore. Carriers of messages, of a special attention, and sometimes reflection, confessions and collusion, they always became a second skin. "

All the strength of his work lies in this poetic and intimate universe almost burned alive, raped material adapted sensual form ; hammered metal bracelets and rings flexible mesh , mixed crystal, gems and stones set .

In January 1999, Serge dies of a motorcycle accident in Paris. Geneviève Chevillot with the company of Serge’s assistants, founded the Atelier Serge Thoraval and is devoted primarily to continue to reissue the jewelry, to pursue creating it and to extend their distribution.