A Part of the Evermine Collection

A Part of the Most Beautiful & Iconic French Love Medals

Introduction

For more than a century, French love medals have carried some of the most intimate messages ever expressed through jewelry.

Created as declarations of love, these small gold medals have crossed generations, fashions and borders. Some disappeared, some were forgotten, while others survived to become true witnesses to French jewelry history.

Today, we are opening a part of the Evermine collection to share some of the most beautiful and iconic French love medals — each with its own design, character and story.

I invite you to take a Journey through time & History

1900-1910s

Augis from the 1910s

Alphonse Augis in 1907, was at the origin of the concept of the French love medal.

These two medals are among the very earliest examples and, paradoxically, they are also, to me, among the most beautiful and the purest.

Their visual simplicity conceals remarkable technical sophistication.

They are highly accomplished objects, born from the expertise and precision of coin-striking techniques developed in traditional minting workshops.

1910-1920s

Augis from 1920s

The appearance of the new “Laurel” model, still produced using highly advanced medal-stamping techniques.

The text itself is engraved.

Others from 1920s

Other creators began to emerge, although their medals were generally less elaborate.

But the movement had begun — the love medal had been embraced.

1920-1930s

Augis from 1930s

The appearance of the smaller medals, once again entirely produced using stamping techniques.

This model would go on to become Augis’s most iconic design.

Augis from 1930s

The Laurel wreaths are now permanently stamped as part of the medal design.

1930-1940s

Augis from the 1940s

The appearance of a few more original designs, such as the photo locket, along with the introduction of the oval model.

Augis from 1940s

Augis’s European expansion begins, and the first mass-produced model appears.

Others from 1940s

For me, these are among the most beautiful love medals ever made.

Unfortunately, the creator remains unknown, but they are pure works of beauty.

They feature guilloché decoration, enamel work, and hand-painted lettering.

1940-1950s

Others from 1950s

The technique does not change, only the quality of the diamonds improves.

Two pure beauties....

Other from 1950s

No comment...........My favorite of them all.

Other from 1950s

We are looking for these Medals.

We bought this one in Moscow 10 years ago.

1950-1960s

Augis from the 1960s

Two intertwined hearts… Simplicity so often goes hand in hand with beauty. I really love this series from the 1960s.

Augis from 1960s

Simply magnificent.

Augis from 1960s

2 Ultra-popular models, each 1 Inch in diameter.

Augis from 1960s

Augis from 1960s

A few medals without gemstones were produced, but overall, they are quite rare pieces.

Augis from 1960s

One of my favorite designs, available in 0.94 & =.79 inch diameters. I beleive they were originally designed for men.

1960-1970s

We are now at the height of Maison Augis’s production. The richness and variety of the designs are extraordinary. These spectacular pieces became true icons in the US.

Augis from 1970s

Augis from 1970s

Augis from 1970s

Augis from 1970s

Augis from 1970s

These medals speak for themselves...pure masterpieces.

1970-1980s

Others from 1980s

Others from 1980s

Another iconic collection showcasing the French genius for love medals…

The “Il Bat pour Toi” collection, by a creator whose identity unfortunately remains unknown to me.

The two angels make the heart beat, one after the other, thanks to an ingenious mechanism…

Simply brilliant. I have a great deal of affection for these pieces. As a child, I was fascinated by them.

Mixed from 1980s

Augis from 1980s

Augis from 1980s

Augis from 1980s

No comment......

This is where our journey through Time & Beauty comes to an end.

Today, I take up the torch.

Why This Collection?

The story of gold within my extended family began in 1917.

We were originally recyclers of old gold, buying throughout the South of France and giving precious metal a new life. Over the years, our activities developed, but this remained at the heart of our work.

In the 1960s, we became a subcontractor for the House of Augis. Our role was to set the stones in Augis medals.

At that time, the Lyon-based House of Augis was selling tens of thousands of medals every year. It was the golden age of Augis, and I saw thousands of these medals pass through our workshop, right up until the 1980s.

By the mid-1980s, Augis medals had left our workshop and we moved on to other work.

Unfortunately, Augis was beginning its decline.

What had once been a gift of love for so many French women gradually fell out of fashion. Through our old-gold buying and recycling business, we then began to see these medals returning to us — this time, sadly, to be destroyed.

Even an iconic jewel has its own life cycle.

What we had once helped to create, we were now taking apart and melting down.

Not without emotion, of course, but the inevitability of these cycles seemed impossible to escape.

So we began to save the most beautiful examples from destruction, along with some of the most unusual ones.

During the 1990s and 2000s, many others were completely destroyed.

By the mid-2000s, however, something began to change. American collectors and jewelry lovers started buying Augis medals and other French love medals at a time when many of them were still being melted down in France.

In many ways, the United States helped save these jewels from disappearing and gave them a second life.

Over the following years, American interest continued to grow. Then, in June 2023, Sofia Richie Grainge’s appearance wearing an Augis “+ Qu’hier – Que demain” medal marked a major turning point.

Demand in the United States surged, prices rose sharply, and a new generation discovered these historic French love tokens.

America did not simply rediscover these medals — it helped save them, revive them, and bring the love for this iconic French jewel back to life.

Today, we no longer destroy the love medals created by France’s most iconic jewelers.

The most beautiful French love medals are being cherished once again — not only in France, but all around the world.

And perhaps, in the end, that makes their story even more powerful.

The Adventure continues.