Joel Arthur Rosenthal, known as JAR, is one of the most celebrated and mysterious jewellers of our time, often called the Fabergé of the modern era. Born in New York in 1943 and educated at Harvard, he moved to Paris, where he eventually opened his discreet salon on Place Vendôme in 1977. Producing only 70 to 80 unique pieces a year, JAR designs jewels specifically for individual clients and is known to refuse sales if he feels his vision will not be respected. His work often draws on natural forms, particularly flowers, and is distinguished by painterly pavé settings and the use of darkened alloys that intensify the brilliance of gemstones. Rarely exhibited publicly, his creations remain among the most coveted in contemporary jewellery.