Earrings Murano glass, Bordeaux

The shimmering, colorful glass beads used to make these earrings in a jewelry workshop in Pforzheim are created in the best Venetian tradition on the lagoon island of Murano off the coast of Venice. The beads gain their shape, color and beauty individually by hand under the flame. The processed glass material is extremely break-resistant thanks to a particularly high proportion of aluminum oxide - beyond this information, the manufacturing companies do not reveal the secret of the composition of their raw material and their color formulas. We can only explain the iridescence: A fine gold foil is placed over the raw bead bodies, which have been separated from a glass rod, as a base for another layer of colored glass, and then another layer of clear or colored glass is applied on top. A glass bead is used for each of these earrings. The silver hoop, which is threaded through the ear hole, is gold-plated for better compatibility.

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.