Karry'O

Designer-collector Karry Berrebi’s flair for hunting down fabulous one-off vintage jewels has made her rue des Saints Pères boutique Karry’O the go-to destination for international style mavens. There’s enough here to satisfy jewelry lovers of all stripes, whether a vintage-inspired piece made by Berrebi herself or a unique bijou from her eye-popping collection of designer jewelry from the 1950s to the 1970s. With a nod to hall-of-fame fashion icon Jackie O, Berrebi goes for full-on glamour, seeking out rare couture pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Jacques Fath, Givenchy, Ossie Clark, Balenciaga, Madame Grès; and period jewels from Chaumet, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cardin, Bulgari and David Webb. What matters most in a piece of jewelry, according to Berrebi, is “strength of character, craftsmanship and originality”, all of which are in ample supply here. A delicate hammered-gold and onyx cuff that snakes around the wrist, mile-long amethyst-and-diamond earrings or a modernist silver necklace would do as well with an evening gown as with jeans and flip-flops.

Gold cuff bracelet

Diamond bracelet

Harmonizing nicely with the vintage pieces, Berrebi’s own designs include multi-chain necklaces punctuated with glass pearls and chunky gold rings with precious and semiprecious stones. She adds new pieces constantly, so there’s always something new to covet.

62 rue des Saints Pères, 6th, 01.45.48.94.67

For more of the best French boutiques and shopping: www.francetoday.com

Originally published in the September 2011 issue of France Today