A truly stunning pair of oversized gripoix earrings from Yves Saint Laurent. These large and heavy clip on earrings are made up of gold plated metal and glass cabochons. A round clip with emerald green glass cabochon holds a hanging gold heart with sapphire blue cabochon engraved with cursive Yves Saint Laurent handwriting to front and back.
Featured in a different colour way on the cover of Italian Vogue, November 2009.
Signed Yves Saint Laurent
Length: 7.5cm
Era: 1980s
Condition: Excellent
Product code: ASJ-1650
About the brand
Yves Saint Laurent understood early on that jewellery could completely transform an outfit. His most iconic costume jewellery emerged during the 1970s, when he collaborated with creative talents including Loulou de la Falaise and legendary jeweller Robert Goossens. The pieces were bold, theatrical and often inspired by art and different cultures, featuring oversized earrings, statement cuffs, crosses, faux pearls, coloured glass and heavily gilded metal. The 1970s are considered the golden age of YSL jewellery, with pieces designed to be seen and make a statement rather than simply complement an outfit. What makes vintage YSL so appealing today is how modern many of these designs still feel. Big, colourful, sculptural and unapologetically glamorous—which is probably why fashion continues to look to them for inspiration.
About Gripoix
Gripoix refers to a handmade, luxury French technique of poured glass (pâte de verre) used in high-end costume and haute couture jewellery.
Origins and History
• Founded in 1869: Augustine Gripoix established the Parisian glass atelier, reviving and refining the art of pouring molten glass into fine metal frameworks.
• The Chanel Partnership: In the 1920s, Coco Chanel commissioned Suzanne Gripoix to create bold, Byzantine-inspired faux-gemstone and baroque pearl jewellery, launching a lifelong collaboration.
• Couture Legacy: Beyond Chanel, the atelier crafted pieces for major fashion houses including Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Givenchy.
Key Characteristics:
• Poured Glass Craftsmanship: Artisans melt colored glass rods and pour the liquid glass directly into soldered, gold-plated wire or metal molds by hand (taking up to 100 hours for intricate pieces).
• Luminous Color & Depth: Unlike mass-produced molded glass cabochons or cheap plastic paste, genuine Gripoix glass looks remarkably vibrant, deep, and transparent, closely mimicking real rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
• High Collectibility: Vintage signed pieces—especially early Chanel-Gripoix collaborations—are rare, labor-intensive, and highly valuable on the collector's market.