Viceroy Snapshot: Fine Jewelry Master, Gerard Riveron
Fine jewelry is always on the list of desires, but it's very rare to get an audience with a man who has an impressive history in jewelry and who now represents some of France's most talented designers. Dive into the Viceroy Q&A with Gerard Riveron:
Viceroy: Gerard, What are the top 10 things to consider when buying fine jewelry on-line and what are the biggest trends today?
Gerard Riveron:
- Fall in Love with what your see
- Check the history of the brand and where it’s manufactured
- Look at all the description details like in metal, gem and carats weights
- Check if the item is in stock and available to ship immediately of if it needs to be ordered
- Check the bio of the online Company and their social media to see their public posts on Instagram, Facebook etc …
- Don’t hesitate to ask a question from the website or give a call if you need additional information
- The best trend is to find unusual jewelry versus corporate big brands who make the same pieces in large quantities.
- Don’t ask too many girlfriends what they think about such or such piece, remember you will wear it, not them
- Spur of the moment is good but before you click ‘purchase’ wait for the next day and revisit the web site to make sure you have looked at everything!
- Ask on line what is the best way to take care of your jewelry and this should be a free advise answered by email
V: how did you decide to represent the designers that you do?
GR: Because they are independent manufacturer who create limited edition or one of a kind piece. They do not mass market, are not in the retail boutiques in the US and all are made in their workshop. In addition I have a long term business relationship with all of them
V: how did you get started in fine jewelry?
GR: Often called a “jeweler’s jeweler,” I have more than four decades of experience with Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and as a private jeweler. I began my career in 1974, at the Cartier Paris' flagship store, 13 Rue de la Paix, where I was trained in sales and followed a jewelry apprenticeship for one year. I then became a protégé of the legendary Jacques Arpels at the original Van Cleef & Arpels salon in Paris and Geneva, Switzerland. I have has served as President of Cartier Privé, and as a private jeweler in Paris, Monte Carlo, Geneva, Hong Kong, Beverly Hills, Marbella, Saint-Moritz and the Middle East. I am accomplished at identifying, acquiring and marketing highly distinguished Fine Jewelry from around the world. His passion for Fine Jewelry, talent for discovering and developing designers — along with his career-spanning relationships with private jewelry clients and Maisons — make me uniquely qualified to curate and cultivate this remarkable collection. 
V: how does Maison Bachet gets its inspiration and could one wear those rings as an accessory other than wedding???
GR: With it’s unique design and codes, Bachet does not impose but offers a brand new spirit. Founder and Creative Designer David Bacher believes it is the marriage of black diamonds and white diamonds in understated white gold…a study in subtle luxury that appeals to the most sophisticated tastes. David summed it up best: “Working with black and white requires specific codes, as the designs are based on light, material and volume,” he explained to me at his Paris showroom on the Place Vendȏme. Nowhere is Maison Bachet’s crisp, cool aesthetic more evident than in their spectacular rings. They’re modern yet timeless, desirable yet accessible and casual, so one can wear them all the time not just for a wedding.