Henvoaz

"Bijoux du Patrimoine" (Heritage Jewelry) was born from the realization that, along with my brothers, father and grandfathers; I was part of a long history of skills that were much more than just professional practice. When you're born into a family of such skilled craftsmen, you're committed to the highest quality of work. I'm aware that I've learnt certain rare techniques handed down from my grandfathers, who believed that it was important to teach them only to members of the family. What's more, I've preserved the style and choice of design that my forefathers worked on. In point of fact, our company dates back to the 27th September 1915 in Angres. My grandfather Victor, who had already been wounded once, was very seriously injured during a German attack on his 10th battalion of chasseurs. He suffered terribly, and only left hospital at the end of 1919.

The young watch-making teacher was very frail, and could no longer stand for long hours to teach his pupils. So he spent more and more time at the jeweler’s bench. The two crafts were very closely linked at that time, when the beautiful, precise watch mechanisms often had precious stones and metals in them. The jewelry he created took its inspiration from the immense reservoir of traditional art and architecture themes that are the heritage of the towns and villages of France.

The themes are innumerable. Accumulated over the ages, they form the cultural environment of each young French person. In 1926, Victor decided to create his own company. He left his job as a watch-making teacher in Cluze, Savoie, a few kilometers from Geneva. When his son married the daughter of Etienne, an armorer who owned a small firm making fire arms, the union had very positive results for the two craftsmen. Quality fire arms had very precise mechanisms, but more importantly, they were beautifully engraved, and the base metals were colored using the special techniques of the trade. And since the two families had joined forces, skills that had formerly only been passed on to a very few carefully selected fellow craftsmen were exchanged.

Guy Hallais learnt and used all the special skills of a long line of armorers, encouraged by his exceptional father who taught him all he knew, working with all the rigor of a watchmaker, but also with all the art and taste of a jeweler. The passion for beautiful work and a job well done had been passed on. Guy's three children were also carefully trained. Eric, born in 1961, is in charge of production in the workshop, while his brothers Marc and Yves specialize in gemology, development and distribution.

So Eric Hallais is the third generation guardian of these exceptional crafts. The collections have greatly expanded, but the theme is still the passion for the old French and European heritage motifs. When he's not in his workshop, Eric is an enthusiastic photographer. Fortifications, secluded manor houses in Brittany, the majestic Loire chateaux, city cathedrals and country chapels have hidden treasures. Each old stone block, each stained glass window can be a source of inspiration and creation.