Pierre Sterlé Brooches
The loss of his father in World War I led to Pierre Sterlé’s mentorship under his uncle, who supported his ascension into the jewelry design world. At the height of his success, Sterlé designed for jewelry titans Boucheron, Chaumet and Ostertag. He won the De Beers Diamond Award three years in a row and operated out of an exclusive boutique in Paris that served the elite and royal families by appointment only.
His uncle was a Parisian jeweler on the rue de Castiglione. Sterlé started his own workshop at the age of 29 and spent five years designing for eminent Parisian jewelry houses on rue Sainte-Anne. By the mid-1940s, Sterlé had moved his atelier closer to the Place Vendôme to better serve his wealthy patrons, who included French author Colette, King Farouk of Egypt, the Maharani of Baroda and the Begum Aga Khan.
Sterlé had a remarkable ability to “knit gold” into woven masterpieces. His technical prowess was unmatched by anyone in Paris, and arguably the world. His “angel wire” technique, considered his signature style, incorporated gold into fine ropes that became link bracelets, cocktail rings and accents on decorative pins and brooches. The effect gave a sense of movement and life to the pieces, something Sterlé strived for in his attempts to make metal and precious gemstones less rigid and cold.
Two misfortunes derailed his business. The first was a failed venture into perfume, which resulted in having to sell many of his designs to Chaumet and New York jeweler Montreaux. Sterlé rebounded with a successful display at the 1966 Biennale in Paris, where he was the first modern jeweler ever invited. His second misstep was more damaging. He opened an exclusive shop on the rue Saint-Honoré in 1969. It was unsuccessful, and he was forced to declare bankruptcy, selling most of his stock to Chaumet in 1976.
Sterlé stayed on with the company as a consultant until his death two years later in 1978.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Pierre Sterlé rings, earrings, bracelets and more.
1960s French Modernist Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1960s French Contemporary Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Coral, Jade, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Modern Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Artisan Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Gold Plate, Bronze
Late 20th Century Unknown Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Artisan Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
1960s Italian Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s Unknown Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s American Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
White Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold
1960s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Baroque Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1950s French Art Deco Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
1960s Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Citrine, Diamond, Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
18k Gold
1960s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
1960s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
Citrine, Diamond, Hematite, Peridot, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Brooches
18k Gold