1960s French Saint Chrstophe pendant

Name: 1960s French Saint Chrstophe pendant
Brand: AUric Vintage
SKU: V25-126
Price: 85.00 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€85,00

1960s French Saint Christophe pendant in 800 silver. The round disk features a detailed carving of Saint Christopher with the Christ child. Maker's mark and signatures of Jean Balme and Philippe Chambault.

Looking through the LOUPE

MATERIALS

Silver

AGE

c.1960

SIZE

3.1cm L x 2.3cm W

WEIGHT

5.4 g

MARKS

Marked 800, signatures of Jean Balme and Philippe Chambault.

In a world that moves faster and farther than ever, we are all travelers, whether chasing adventure, education, or a quiet moment away from home. Long ago, when journeys were perilous. loved ones might send a companion in miniature, a talisman, a prayer, a guardian.

Saint Christopher was one of the most cherished. Legend tells of a giant who sought to serve the greatest king in the world. only to discover that Christ was the mightiest of all. The giant dedicated himself to helping others, guiding travelers safely across treacherous rivers.

One evening, a small child asked to be carried. As the giant waded through the raging waters, the child's weight grew heavier and heavier until it felt as if he bore the weight of the entire world. When they reached the far shore, the child revealed himself as Christ and gave the giant a new name: Christopher. Christ-bearer.

Mentions of Saint Christopher date back to the 3rd century AD. His image became a portable prayer, a symbol of protection for all who journeyed into the unknown. Today, whether near or far, a Saint Christopher is a reminder that someone is hoping for your safe return, that you are never truly alone.

SAINT CHRISTOPHER

TAKE ME WITH YOU!

France / 1800 -1885

Jean Balme

Dangling around the neck, clutched in devoted hands, or gifted with a prayer for good vibes, Jean Balme’s medal work has been sprinkling a little magic for over 100 years. In a tiny workshop in Saumur, France, he learned at the knee of his father how to turn metals into miniature works of art. His dad Joseph focused on religious medals, depicting protective Saints, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Mother Mary. These little charms were meant to be worn close, to comfort, protect, and remind, and everyone noticed the painstaking detail.

From this family tradition, Jean picked up discipline, a sense of scale, and a knack for symbolism, realizing that sometimes the quietest objects hit the hardest. By the mid 20th century he turned his gaze to the skies, making various collections of silver zodiac pendants for all twelve signs. Each one brings its sign to life in figural form, tiny characters and symbols doing their cosmic thing capturing the essence of the Zodiac. And when Jean finally put down the tools, his vision didn’t vanish, it slid over to the Pichard atelier, becoming Pichard-Balme, where his legacy lives on to this day.

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1960 - 1969

Sixties

It was clear from the beginning of the decade that times were about to change. The kids of the sixties didn’t ease into it, they kicked the door open. Youth culture took control, rules were rewritten, and tradition quickly lost its grip. The space race, pop art, and a new kind of self-expression reshaped everything, including how jewellery was worn.

To accompany this shift, design loosened up. It became graphic, bold, and a little rebellious. Clean lines replaced fuss, colour replaced convention, and jewellery stopped trying to behave. Pieces turned sculptural, almost futuristic, with domed silhouettes, sharp geometry, and unexpected textures. Diamonds were still in the mix, but no longer the main event. Enamel, onyx, and rock crystal brought contrast, punch, and a sense of play.

A myriad of subcultures began to emerge. Mods favoured sharp, polished minimalism, while hippies rejected structure entirely, embracing natural materials and a freer, more intuitive aesthetic. Preppy style held onto a sense of tradition, but with a lighter, more youthful ease. By the end of the decade, early punk attitudes were beginning to surface, bringing a raw, anti-establishment edge that would fully erupt in the years to follow.