amédée
Annecy, 1356
Annecy, 1356
la maison
An ancient imprint that continues to inspire.
about
Before becoming a jewellery house, Amédée was born from a deep connection to a place: Haute-Savoie. After spending several years there on family holidays, Sabrina chose to settle permanently in the region to be closer to her loved ones. The idea of creating a project connected to this region naturally emerged. An entrepreneur before founding Amédée, she had already built her professional career. Yet one essential dimension was missing: the opportunity to create, imagine and give tangible form to an idea. Drawn from an early age to fashion, beautiful materials and exceptional objects, she has always been particularly attracted to those that possess a soul, a story, a presence. Amédée became the space where these different sensibilities could come together: learning, experimenting, creating and building a world of her own. Everything began with the discovery of the first coin minted in Annecy in 1356 and the fascinating story carried by this object. The desire to bring it back to life then became an obvious choice. This ancient imprint, rich in history, became the starting point for a contemporary creation: a piece of jewellery capable of allowing this heritage to resonate in a new way. Little by little, the world of Amédée took shape around this medal, which became its signature. Then, as the creative process evolved, gemstones naturally became part of the journey. Not for their virtues or traditional symbolism, but simply for what they are: singular materials chosen for their colour, shape, texture, luminosity or natural irregularities. Each possesses its own personality, finding its balance in the encounter with metal. Today, the world of Amédée unfolds through three collections, defined by the different gemstones and elements with which the medal is combined: — History, with Trésors du Comte — Time, with Fragments du Temps — Matter, with Terres d’Amédée Each offers a different way of bringing the medal into dialogue with the materials and elements that accompany it, united by the same desire to create contemporary jewellery with meaning. Heritage as a starting point. Creation as its new expression. AMÉDÉE Annecy 1356 is a jewellery house born from a historical imprint and shaped by a contemporary vision of creation.
the story
An ancient imprint that continues to inspire. In the 14th century, Annecy was part of the County of Geneva, ruled by Count Amédée III. In 1356, he obtained from Emperor Charles IV the right to mint coins, a privilege that had until then been held by the Bishop of Geneva. Through this decision, he asserted his perseverance and independence from the established powers of his time. The first florin minted in Annecy bears an inscription that has become emblematic: “CO. GEBENENS”, meaning “Count of Geneva”, the mark of a newly asserted power. But the story does not end there. In his will, he also made provisions allowing his daughters and their descendants to inherit the county in the absence of a male heir. A remarkable decision for its time, reflecting a willingness to look beyond established conventions. Some stories cross the centuries without losing their strength. They speak of courage, freedom, and the ability to follow one’s own path, even when everything seems to stand in the way. It is from these legacies that Amédée was born, not as a reminder of the past, but as a source of inspiration for creating contemporary jewellery with meaning. The strength to dare. The strength to persevere. The strength to remain true to oneself. An AMEDEE piece is more than an object. It becomes a symbol of confidence, freedom and determination. A discreet talisman, designed to accompany those who choose to forge their own path, where heritage becomes creation, and symbolism becomes jewellery.
the medal
As part of her research into the creation of the first coin ever minted at the Palais de l’Isle in Annecy in 1356, another discovery deepened the creator’s connection to this story: the last known example of this florin disappeared from the Geneva Museum in 1976. Bringing this forgotten piece back to life, a symbol of boldness, perseverance and freedom, then became an obvious cAhoice. Working from an historical document, she redrew the coin and brought it back to life using the centuries-old lost-wax casting technique. But rather than simply reproducing it, her intention was to give it a new life, in another era and in another form: that of a jewel. Each medal is now crafted in sterling silver using the same lost-wax casting technique. Some are then finished in vermeil, with a 5-micron layer of 18-karat gold, chosen for its durability. Others are crafted in silver and given a protective surface treatment designed to preserve their brilliance and help prevent tarnishing. Measuring approximately 18 mm in diameter, the medal is intentionally not perfectly round. This subtle irregularity is a deliberate choice, faithful to the spirit of the last known example that inspired the creator. Like many florins of the period, these gold coins were regularly filed down, allowing small amounts of precious metal to be recovered and reused. Reinterpreted through a contemporary jewellery language, the medal becomes a jewel in its own right, designed to transcend generations. To preserve this intention, “Amédée Annecy 1356” is discreetly engraved on the reverse. It becomes a signature for the person who wears it, an intimate link between the history from which it emerged and Amédée’s creation today. Thus, this florin, bearing the initials of the Count of Geneva (CO. GEBENENS), lives on today as a collection of medals crafted in precious metals, silver, vermeil and, upon request gold and paired with fine stones. An ancient imprint, reinterpreted through a contemporary jewellery language.