Dates of Operation: For jewelry 1967 – Present
Hubert de Givenchy was born in France in 1927. He was trained as an artist and moved to Paris in 1944 at age 17 where he learned the fashion business. He briefly worked with Christian Dior prior to Dior’s prominence and in 1947 with Elsa Schiaparelli. Givenchy subsequently opened his own boutique in 1952. At that time Givenchy sold both fashions and jewelry. However, signed Givenchy brand jewelry did not launch until 1967. Collectors today consider his 1980s and 1990s jewelry to be the most collectible.
Givenchy is remembered for his strong association with Hollywood icons including Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, and especially Audrey Hepburn.
Givenchy sold his business in 1988 to LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vitton, a luxury goods, French holding company). He retired in 1995 and died in 2018.
In 1978 Women’s Wear Daily (www.wwd.com) published an article titled A Look back: Givenchy on the Changing World of Fashion by Kali Hays. The article provides an interesting peek into Givenchy’s character and business philosophy.
He said he wanted women to look like the best possible version of themselves and although insistent that modern trends did not bother him, Givenchy went against the apparent acceptance of women wearing looks that simply did not work for them…
Kali Hays, A Look back: Givenchy on the Changing World of Fashion www.wwd.com
An article on the www.wwd.com by Ben Brantley describes Givenchy’s approach to fashion.
Givenchy rates himself as a designer who creates “a product in good taste – that is perhaps classic and well-made.”
Ben Brantley For Givenchy, ‘The Past is a Lovely epoch’, but Not to Live in www.wwd.com
Givenchy was an imposing man standing 6’6″ tall with sparkling blue eyes. He believed a designer must adapt to changing times but also preferred a beautiful silhouettes and designs with aesthetic simplicity.
Signatures: The most common Givenchy signatures include:
- Double GG (not shown)
- Hubert de Givenchy (not shown)
- 1975 – 1980 signed and dated
Brand Traits:
- Gold and silver plating, some modern designs feature rose gold plating
- Gold plated brass
- Heavy chains or snake chains used in multiples
- Lucite
- Textured lines or cross hatching pattern on the back
- Heart motif
- Large pendants with oversized bales
- Lobster claw or toggle clasps
- Faux Pearls
Givenchy frequently incorporated pearls in his designs.
Givenchy jewelry is well-made and lavishly uses materials. This bracelet has three large link chains cleverly placed to add richness to the gold-chain design.
Close view showing the way the chains are combined.
This huge, eye-catching brooch features typical mid 1980s – 1990s era gold plating and a cluster of faux white pearl beads.
Beautiful floral collars encase white faux pearls that dominate the design of these Givenchy clip earrings. Using collars like these is a design trait for Givenchy.
Close view of the “lined” textured back, clip back style, and round Givenchy signature.
Givenchy designed distinctive and original Lucite jewelry combined with metal elements.
The pendant features an asymmetrical, modernist leaf shape made from amber-colored Lucite. The tips of the Lucite frame and the brushed gold tone metal insert are slightly curved. The matching earrings coordinate with the pendant but are not an exact match. They are fully symmetrical with no curved tip.
Back view showing the way the metal insert fits perfectly in the Lucite case. The metal is textured but not “cross hatched.”
This especially eye-catching Givenchy pin features a shiny silver-plated collar that precisely holds a cobalt Lucite star. It is an asymmetrical design with two contrasting colors separated by a graceful wavey line.
Author’s note: This is my personal favorite Givenchy pin. I wear it often and always received compliments. Givenchy accepted that fashions and designs change and a successful brand must adapt to the changes. However, he also preferred designs with a simple, aesthetic that flattered the woman wearing the item. For me, this star pin embodies Givenchy’s requirements. It is a simple, eye-catching design that flatters the fashions I prefer to wear.
Back view showing the Lucite star. Note the silver plating. Most Givenchy is gold plated. The star is signed on the bottom left tip.
Fruit and vegetable jewelry has been a popular motif through the decades. The watermelon seeds are indentations in the Lucite that look like black seeds. The curved gold-plated metal collar perfectly holds the Lucite slice.
The Givenchy signature on the back of the pin.
Some Givenchy rhinestone jewelry features beautiful colors and is sized to add a touch of sparkle to an outfit.
It is fun and informative to purchase contemporary jewelry with great design like these signed Givenchy earrings.
This modern set dates to 2010 – 2015 and was purchased at a Macy’s jewelry counter. The plating is rose gold. The small rhinestones are clear but appear pink in the rose gold square settings. The square settings are placed diagonally and delicately frame the large, faceted center stones. The color of the center stone could be Swarovski antique pink or golden teak.
Back view showing the Givenchy signature and smooth, high-quality rose-gold plating.
In today’s collectible market, the most expensive vintage Givenchy designs are sets with heavy gold components, especially collar-style necklaces. However, the Lucite pieces are timeless and worth considering.
Author’s Note: Look for contemporary jewelry with beautiful designs and quality manufacturing. like these earrings. As Givenchy might say, they are an example of “aesthetic simplicity”. Chapter Four showcases some of my favorite “contemporary jewelry”.