The journey of a passionate creator

He is the soul of the Company, its founder and creator. His daringness is incorporated within all the designed pieces created by de GRISOGONO. For Fawaz Gruosi, everything started one day in 1952…

As president, owner and founder of de GRISOGONO, nothing predestined Fawaz Gruosi to become one of the most sought-after watch and jewellery makers of his generation. Born on August 8th 1952, Fawaz Gruosi spent his childhood in Florence with his mother. Driven by the necessity to work but also by his interest in art, he leaves school at the age of 18 and trains to become a sales assistant with a renowned Florentine jeweller. Seven years later, Fawaz Gruosi, then still a consultant to the firm, is asked to oversee the opening of a new store in London, a position which quickly sees him evolve into store director for a period of four years.

At the young age of 30 he is acknowledged by the Alizera family, official agent to Harry Winston, who offer him the position of official representative in Saudi Arabia. Entrepreneurial and dynamic, Fawaz Gruosi accepts the challenge and stays for three years. Upon his return to Europe, Bulgari immediately contacts him. Gianni Bulgari, a mythical name in the jewellery industry, creates a new position for him within Bulgari Precious Trading and grants him his entire confidence. Thus, Fawaz Gruosi becomes the first within the Group to sell the newly created jewellery collections worldwide, with the exception of the Bulgari stores of which there are only eight at the time! A valuable field of opportunity opens up before Fawaz Gruosi permitting him, at the same time, to fill up his address book with precious and long-lasting contacts. The over-all experience is unique and extremely enriching but the departure of Gianni Bulgari encourages him to follow his example and to grow his own wings. In 1993, without any kind of commercial strategy, he founds de GRISOGONO with two associates. Located on the rue du Rhône in Geneva, Fawaz Gruosi offers exclusive objects of art to his clients and slowly begins to express his creativity through inventive and unique jewellery creations. Shortly after, the unique de GRISOGONO style becomes easily detectable thanks to its ever-more surprising designs.

Inventiveness rewarded

In 1996, barely one year after Fawaz Gruosi separated from his two associates, a new chapter opened for de GRISOGONO. Driven by the constant concern to be ahead of new trends Fawaz Gruosi pays homage to the black diamond, a gem neglected by jewellers for decades. It so happened that, one day whilst reading, he comes across an article on a gem know as the “Black Orlov”. Instantly fascinated by this 190 carat black diamond, Fawaz Gruosi decides to create an entire, and unique, black diamond jewellery collection in its honour. Its reception was rapturous. Three years after its launch, the

price of black diamonds explodes on the diamond market and stuns dealers and jewellers alike. Today he uses black diamonds in necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets and compliments them with the world’s most voluptuous pearls, flamboyant rubies, deliciously deep green emeralds and white diamonds. Comforted by his unexpected success, Fawaz Gruosi continues to trust his instinct. His jewellery creations, recognizable amongst millions, seduce his clientele and surprise professionals. Each and every collection is received in awe and admiration.

An unusual creative talent

In 2000, after acquiring considerable experience in the field of jewellery, Fawaz Gruosi further develops his creativity and presents his very first watch, Instrumento N°Uno, at the Basel Jewellery and Watch Fair. One success leads to another and thanks to Fawaz Gruosi’s extraordinary inventiveness de GRISOGONO now counts 17 original and exclusive watch collections. In parallel, the de GRISOGONO jewellery collections have become more enriched to include creations in galuchat (stingray), Fawaz Gruosi’s milky-coloured diamonds collection appropriately named “Icy Diamonds”, or a new gold tint, with chestnut overtone, baptized “Browny Brown Gold”. These inventions, overwhelmingly supported by the clientele, are long-lasting evidence of Fawaz Gruosi’s insatiable inspiration.

Fawaz Gruosi has always been inventive and particularly instinctive. “I continually fall in love and follow my intuition”, he explains, “and am rarely mistaken. I think I also have a lot of luck”. Neither gemmologist nor designer, it is his passion, curiosity and, without doubt, creative talent, to which he owes his success. Far away from the currents of fashion, he creates trends, often against the flow, and exclusively listens to his own inspiration. “Everything I see around me, in nature or everyday objects, is a source of inspiration to me. I explain what I want to my technical specialists, the constraints of time and money don’t scare me”, he confides.

A man of passions

Fawaz Gruosi believes in his “feeling” and continually refuses to abdicate before the impossible. He follows no commercial logic but succeeds in everything he does. A persistent hard worker whose uncompromisingly demanding nature is entirely at the service of excellence, Fawaz Gruosi willingly admits to his impatience. “I love reactivity, I want things to move quickly”, he confides. “The people working for me must accept that”. A holiday? Never! “I have a lot of trouble relaxing; some think I am crazy”. He has few hobbies but enormous passions for example dogs, good food and wine. Other passions are unfortunately rarely fulfilled due to a lack of time. He nevertheless manages to create a bit of precious time for his two daughters, Allegra and Violetta, aged 25 and 24 respectively, who will join the de GRISOGONO team in Geneva in September. He also remains on an alert lookout for antiquities, preferably Florentine, or fine works of art. “In my painting and objects collection I let my intuition take the upper hand, like with everything else. It doesn’t matter whether a work of art is classical or contemporary, I am simply an aesthete”. An implacable truth illustrated for the past 14 years in the most wonderful way through means of de

GRISOGONO watch and jewellery collections of which each piece reveals the boldness and passion of their creator.

Proust questionnaire

Your favourite virtue?

Wisdom

Your most marked characteristic?

Epicurian

The quality you most admire in a man?

Honesty

The quality you most admire in a woman?

Intelligence

What is your principal flaw/defect?

Impatience