You may not be familiar with the name Robert Goossens (1927 – 2016), but chances are you know his work. The French jeweler, also known as "Monsieur Bijou," has created jewelry and objects for French fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Celine, and Christian Lacroix – and this tradition lives on through the house's atelier in Paris. Not least, he created jewelry, furniture, and objects for Chanel, and he was also a close friend and collaborator of Coco Chanel for many years, until her passing in 1971.
Today, the house he founded under his own name in 1950 – Goossens – is owned by Chanel (since 2005), and his creativity and passion for craftsmanship live on through his son, Patrick Goossens, who is currently the creative director of The House of Goossens. The iconic jewelry is characterized by its distinctive organic, tactile, and prominent expression, combining metal with semi-precious stones and glass stones, inspired by Byzantine art and the Renaissance.
