Fred Force 10 Ring

Fred Paris’s fine jewelry sparkles with joyful exuberance. Although it was founded almost a century ago, the brand has long been considered a leader in modern and contemporary jewelry design. Each bold cocktail ring, elegant pair of drop earrings and glamorous necklace is imbued with a vibrant personality. 

Fred Paris was the vision of master jeweler Fred Samuel. The son of a French jeweler, Samuel was born in Argentina in 1908. As a young man, he moved to Paris for an apprenticeship and opened his own jewelry shop there in 1936. Samuel was known for his casual yet sophisticated style, working with diamonds, pearls and colored gemstones to create smart jewelry for all occasions. 

Some of Samuel’s most high-profile clients included Princess Grace of Monaco and the King and Queen of Nepal. The sign above his storefront on the Rue Royale initially was branded with the founder’s full name, but during the 1940s, the “Samuel” part came down. Today jewelry lovers commonly know the company as Fred, a brand operated by Fred Paris.

Samuel created his famous Force 10 bracelet collection in 1966, and it became one of the brand's signature pieces. Inspired by its creator’s love for the sea, the Force 10 bracelet features a braided steel sailing cable and a gold buckle. The simple but versatile design is endlessly customizable to go with any wardrobe.

In 1996, Fred Paris was acquired by luxury holding company LVMH (which went on to purchase Tiffany & Co. and Bvlgari). Fred Samuel passed away in 2006, but Fred Paris continued his legacy in jewelry. The brand's next significant collection was the 2016 Chance Infinie line, which paid homage to the creativity and playfulness of the company's founder.

Today, Fred Paris is a key component of LVMH’s luxury ambitions. The brand has continued to enjoy significant growth since 2020, contributing to its popularity and esteem.

In 2021, Fred Paris launched the Pretty Woman collection, named for the iconic ruby and diamond heart necklace Julia Roberts wore in the 1990 film, which producers had found at the Fred Paris boutique on Rodeo Drive. The company’s artistic director is Samuel’s granddaughter, Valérie Samuel, who has also worked with Swarovski and Lalique over the years.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Fred Paris rings, earrings, bracelets and more.

Antique and vintage rings have long held a special place in the hearts of fine jewelry lovers all over the world.

No matter their origin or specific characteristics, rings are timeless, versatile accessories. They’ve carried deep meaning since at least the Middle Ages, when diamond rings symbolized strength and other kinds of rings were worn to signify romantic feelings or to denote an affiliation with a religious order. Rings have also forever been emblematic of eternity.

Over time, rings have frequently taken the form of serpents, which have long been associated with eternal life, health and renewal. Italian luxury jewelry house Bulgari has become famous for its widely loved Serpenti motif, for example, and its Serpenti ring, like the other accessories in the collection, began as an homage to jewelry of the Roman and Hellenistic eras. The serpent is now a popular motif in fine jewelry. Jewelry devotees have long pined for rings adorned with reptiles, thanks to antique Victorian rings — well, specifically, Queen Victoria’s illustrious engagement ring, which took the form of a gold snake set with rubies, diamonds and an emerald (her birthstone). Designs for Victorian-era engagement rings often featured repoussé work and chasing, in which patterns are hammered into the metal.

Engagement rings, which are reliably intimidating to shop for, are still widely recognized as symbols of love and commitment. On 1stDibs, a range of buying guides can be found for those in the market for antique engagement rings, vintage engagement rings or Art Deco engagement rings. 

The most collectible antique engagement rings and vintage engagement rings are those from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. Named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign), antique Georgian rings, be they engagement rings or otherwise, are also coveted by collectors. Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. The late-1700s paste jewelry was a predecessor to what we now call fashion or costume jewelry. 

The Art Nouveau movement (1880–1910) brought with it rings inspired by the natural world. Antique Art Nouveau rings might feature depictions of winged insects and fauna as well as women, who were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized, frequently with long flowing hair. Art Deco jewelry, on the other hand, which originated during the 1920s and ’30s, is by and large “white jewelry.” White metals, primarily platinum, were favored over yellow gold in the design of antique Art Deco rings and other accessories as well as geometric motifs, with women drawn to the era’s dazzling cocktail rings in particular.

Whether you’re hunting down a chunky classic for a Prohibition-themed cocktail party or seeking a clean contemporary design to complement your casual ensemble, find an exquisite collection of antique, new and vintage rings on 1stDibs.