Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
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.
1950s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
1950s French Modernist Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1940s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
18k Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold
1950s French Modernist Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Tiger's Eye, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1960s French Aesthetic Movement Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1960s French Contemporary Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Coral, Jade, Turquoise, 18k Gold
20th Century French Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Gold
1960s French Modernist Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
20th Century Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise
1950s French Modern Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century French Modern Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Citrine, Garnet, White Diamond, 18k Gold
1970s Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century French Contemporary Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1970s Italian Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Retro Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, 18k Gold, Platinum
20th Century Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
18k Gold, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Black Opal, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Artisan Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Italian Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1960s Italian Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Modernist Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Emerald, White Diamond, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Late 20th Century French Modernist Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Modern Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Yellow Gold, Platinum
1960s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Lapis Lazuli, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1950s French Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Retro Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1950s French Baroque Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1960s Vintage Pierre Sterlé Jewelry
Diamond, Yellow Gold