News and Events
Etienne Perret - Bet the House
from The Jewel of the Maine Coast
IN
A RED HOUSE overlooking a postcard harbor in Camden,Maine, lives a gambler of
some distinction. For over two decades he stayed in the game, always dreaming
of a bigger table and higher stakes. Finally, he looked at the cards and put
it all on the line. In this case the game was not poker, but life. In placing
his bet, jewelry designer Etienne Perret did not push chips to the middle of
the table. Instead, he wagered his career. “For 25 years I had a store on Camden’s
Main Street,” said Etienne. “It was a full-service store and I started it to
feature my work. Instead it became a place where people came to get their jewelry
problems solved. I had become the local hometown jeweler and it wasn’t what
I wanted to do.” read more >>>
Jewelers of America primer on Flush Setting diamonds
from JReport
Flush
setting (sometimes referred to as “burnish setting”) is a relatively new style
of stone setting, which has grown in popularity in the last few decades. Flush
set stones are actually sunk into the mounting until they are level or flush
with the surface. The technique of flush setting allows the jeweler to scatter
gemstones across a piece of jewelry without the need for prongs, channels or
groupings of stones to hold the gemstones securely in place. Jewelry with flush-set
stones is often modern and stylish with a scattering of brilliance from randomly
positioned gems. read more >>>
Etienne Perret brings the beauty of brilliant color to the
brilliance and durability of diamonds.
from Wedding Dresses 
"For centuries
most people have been in search of the colorless diamond, overlooking the stunning
natural colored diamonds. Collectors have understood the rainbow of colors that
diamonds can be found in on the rarest of occasions. Etienne Perret has created
a bridal collection of wedding and engagement rings featuring colored diamonds.
No longer do you have to choose between colorless diamonds and near colorless
champagne. Now you can have teal blue or forest green, canary yellow or even
passionate purple diamonds for your engagement ring. "read more >>>
Do you dream in color?
from Bridal Sources" Actually, most of us do. This question become
popular
in the 1950s and 1960s after the introduction of black and white television.
For a long time it was thought that only a fraction of the population dreamed
in color and these people were thought to be the most creative in our society.
While this is not true, Etienne Perret’s clients are innovative and embrace
color – colored diamonds. Etienne Perret is a visionary. Twenty years ago, he
had enough faith in his talents to believe that people would discover and embrace
his designs. His dream has been realized and he has earned the prestigious “Diamonds
of Distinction” award and twice been a finalist in the world-renowned “Diamond
International Awards” competition. Etienne utilizes a combination of the richest
metals and brilliant diamonds to create classic elegance yielding a unique look
of effortless grace. Etienne not only dreams, he creates in color. "read more >>>
Designers Sizzle at JCK Vegas Show
By Amber Michelle"One of the more unusual offerings came from Camden, Maine-based designer Etienne Perret, whose “Private Collection” of body jewelry taps into the body piercing craze that’s so popular right now. The selection includes navel rings, nose jewelry, etc., in 18-karat gold with diamonds or pearls. "
Rapport Report >>>
What Color Was Christmas?
by Diana Jarrett, GGRappaport Report
"Custom designer Etienne Perret at Salon Etienne in Camden, Maine, caters to "the upscale woman who already owns white diamonds, and has the money to
play
with fun looks in color stones." These patrons understand colored diamonds and
bought them enthusiastically during the holidays. Perret's diamond-studded,
multicolor Tahitian pearl strands, retailing for around $30,000, and South Seas
pearls were especially big sellers. One of Perret's standout sales was pearl
bracelets and necklaces in the $60,000 to $70,000 range, sold to a discerning
buyer at Neiman Marcus, who originally spied the imaginative line when he was
buying for a rival luxury department chain. Perret's custom-made interchangeable
neckwear clasps and channel-set, rainbow-colored gemstone eternity rings sold
well. Did he see any patterns emerge throughout the shopping season? "A lot
of hurry up and get it done," Perret mused of his patrons, for whom price is
never a concern."Black Diamonds — A Hot New Fashion Trend That Could Spell Trouble
by Antoinette Matlins"There is nothing wrong with using treated black diamonds as long as you disclose the fact that the
color is not natural. Designers such as Etienne Perret have been using treated-color
diamonds for several years to create beautiful, distinctive diamond jewelry
that would not otherwise be affordable to most people, and they have always
been forthright and truthful with regard to their color not being natural when
such is the case. This is not what we are finding with the treated black diamonds
so prevalent in the market at this time, and this could spell trouble for anyone
selling them. We are even finding them in antique jewelry reproductions and
as replacement stones in period antique settings. The current situation can
cause some real headaches for anyone who sells them as natural, and can create
some very “black” moments indeed!"Rappaport Report >>>
Interview with Etienne Perret
from The Bling Blog
"Etienne Perret's tagline is "nobody treats diamonds better,"
and there is some real truth to that double meaning.In his Camden Harbor studio in Maine, multiple award-winning jewelry designer Perret is busy creating some of the more graceful, playful and dynamic pieces of wearable art available to women today. His use of color treated diamonds is careful and elegant; his attention to detail exquisite."
Dream in Color
by Lorraine M. O’Donnell, A.J.P."From apparel to ipod minis, color is everywhere – and diamonds are no exception. There’s no end to the variety. Though you’ll find fewer choices in natural colors, treated or synthetic diamonds are available in blue, yellow, violet, pink, cognac, black, green and other colors.
“Some colors sell because women just can’t help it – they like pink and violet,” says Etienne Perret, designer/owner of Etienne Perret & Co., Camden, ME. “Other retailers sell to women looking for colors promoted in the press, such as canary, light blue or pink. Still other colors such as cognac and black sell well to the guys who want a unique diamond piece.”
Colored diamonds can be used in beautiful, unique pieces. A designer can play one color off another or offer the same piece in a variety of colors. “If there is a reason to design jewelry with a colored gemstone, then there is a reason to design with colored diamonds even more,” says Perret. “Colored diamonds give you almost everything other gemstones do, plus diamonds give you brilliance and durability.” Treated and synthetic fancy colored diamonds are more affordable than natural fancies. “Treated colored diamonds are like a Mazda Miata – it would be great to own a Ferrari, but let’s get real. Most people don’t make that kind of money; even if they did, would they want the responsibility of something with such high value?” asks Perret. "
Professional Jewelers Magazine
Etienne Perret
Maine Home and Design"Etienne Perret's speech is as elegant and deliberate as the contemporary classic jewelry he designs. Not a word left to chance or out of place. And while many of his clients are among the rich and privileged, Perret cannot be coaxed to name-drop.
He is a man who plans his work. No aspect of a piece eveolves on the bench. And he's clear about his preference-colored diamonds. He says many gemstones are too fragile, and synthetically colored diamonds are available in practically every color of the rainbow.
Perret loves the pedestrian aspect of his life in Camden. "You can go for weeks without getting in a car," he says. Despite the fact that his children are grown, he and his wife maintain a rather large household- sharing their lives with cats, dogs, and fish, bearded dragon lizards, and red-tailed boas.
"My wife used to work in a vet's office," he explains."
Color Treatment of Diamonds and their Potential in Designer Jewelry
by Etienne Perret
Abstract presented at the
GIA's 4th International Gemological Symposium, August , 2006"Ever since diamonds were first discovered, connoisseurs have treasured the occasional diamond that comes from the ground exhibiting a unique body color. Being extremely rare, they ended up in the possession of royalty and the wealthiest of collectors. Artists, experimenters and scientists have understood the potential of making colored diamonds available to a greater audience and have tried for generations to achieve colors similar to those seen in natural color diamonds. "
read more >>>
Paradise City Arts
Northampton, Massachusetts
May 26-28, 2007
CraftBoston
April 30- May 1, 2007
JCK Las Vegas
May 30- June 4, 2007
Artrider
Park Avenue, New York City
November 29- December 2, 2007
