On the lagoon island of Murano, located off the coast of Venice, iridescent glass beads are crafted in the finest Venetian tradition; these beads are then used to create these stud earrings in a Pforzheim jewelry workshop. Each bead is individually shaped, colored, and refined by hand over a flame. Thanks to a particularly high aluminum oxide content, the glass used is exceptionally shatter-resistant—beyond this information, the manufacturers do not reveal the secret of their raw material’s composition or their color formulas. We can only explain the iridescence: A fine gold foil is applied to the raw glass beads—which have been cut from a glass rod—as a base for another layer of colored glass, and finally, another layer of colored glass is applied on top. The post that passes through the ear hole is made of 925 sterling silver.

When Gisela and Detlef Menard founded their own company in 1981, the focus was still on the sale of antique-style jewelry. It has long since become an established family business that stands for timeless design and high quality. To achieve this, Ménard harmoniously combined aspects of craftsmanship, function and design. The clasps on the necklaces and bracelets, for example, are not just a necessary constructive evil, but in their simple yet effective design are sometimes pieces of jewelry in their own right. No wonder Ménard has protected them under design law. The necklaces and bracelets made from the colorful Murano glass beads, which come from the lagoon island near Venice, famous for its glass art, are almost a trademark. And of course Ménard also uses classic jewelry materials such as pearls.

Due to the high working and social standards, short transport routes and technical expertise, Ménard relies largely on Germany as a location: the silver clasps, for example, come from the gold town of Pforzheim, stones and chains from the gemstone town of Idar-Oberstein. It is worth noting that Ménard works specifically with refineries that only use recycled silver and gold for its precious metals.