The distinguished French jewelry brand Dinh Van has a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship thanks to the brand’s founder, Jean Dinh Van. The visionary designer spent 10 years honing his craft at Cartier alongside Jeanne Toussaint before beginning his own company in 1965. Inspired by the art and fashion of the decade, Dinh Van wanted to create pieces that could be worn on the street — not just saved for special occasions. His avant-garde and innovative approach to jewelry design quickly caught on because of his focus on modernity, understated elegance and sophistication. “My jewelry is never a fantasy,” Dihn Van once said. “I want it to be as essential as a doorknob, with the added emotion of discovering something completely new.”
He reimagined common constructs and brought completely new elements to his designs, like a square-shaped ring or first-of-its-kind tubular-shaped jewelry. Menottes is one of his most notable collections and stands out as an emblematic representation of the brand’s distinctive style and artistic prowess. First introduced in 1976 in a dazzling display of creativity, Menottes means “handcuffs” in French, but the name originated when Dinh Van intertwined the heads of two identical keys. Once combined, the clasp the separate parts created seemed nearly impossible to undo and became a lasting symbol of design ingenuity.
This year the brand unveiled six new limited-edition designs that include four Menottes Dinh Van R10 necklaces featuring ornamental stones, such as lapis lazuli, malachite, coral and chrysoprase. There are also two equally breathtaking playful and precious double-sided XXL Menottes R35 pendants — one with lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl, the other featuring malachite with onyx.
Corinne Le Foll, managing director of Dinh Van, says that now more than ever, the Menottes Dinh Van design “continues to travel through time with panache, powered by a symbol of love and attachment.” She adds, “Easy to wear, absolutely French and belonging to those in the know, Menottes Dinh Van is without any doubt an ultimate luxury piece you want to carry with you every day.”
Almost 50 years after debuting, the line still captivates the hearts of jewelry enthusiasts and reaffirms Dinh Van’s status as a trailblazer in the world of modern luxury.
Words by Casey Brennan and Colleen Kratofil
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