About Geoffray Riondet
Geoffray is a specialist in antique French jewellery, a gemologist, and a certified court expert. He has contributed to the gemological analysis of numerous historic jewels and gemstones in French museums, including Louis XIV’s “Grand Sapphire”, Charlemagne’s “Talisman”, Empress Joséphine’s coronation ring, the Book of Hours of Francis I, and, more recently, Balzac’s walking cane.
His exacting standards are also reflected in his ongoing research, with more than 70 published articles in renowned journals such as Revue de Gemmologie, Gems & Gemology, and The Journal of Gemmology. Geoffray Riondet initiated the book Antique French Jewelry (1800–1950), which features a foreword by Victoire de Castellane, Artistic Director of Dior Joaillerie.
He is deeply committed to passing on knowledge: Geoffray Riondet is a professor at the Institut National de Gemmologie. To share his passion for gemstones with a wider audience, he became a patron of the French Crown Jewels collection at the Mineralogy Museum of Mines ParisTech. Lastly, he has assembled a reference library focused on the history of French jewellery, today one of the most significant collections in the field.
About the book
Antique French Jewelry: 1800–1950, by Geoffray Riondet, is an accessible and visually rich guide covering 150 years of French jewellery history. It features expert contributions from the French National Institute of Gemology and a foreword by Victoire de Castellane, Artistic Director of Dior Joaillerie. Published by Flammarion, the book includes stunning pieces and technical insights, making it an essential reference for jewellery lovers and professionals alike.