The history of the company began in 1832, when Alexi Faliz began to cooperate with the Parisian jeweler Mellerio dit Meller. An avid student, Faliz quickly learned all aspects of the trade: manufacturing, design, sales and record keeping.
When Lucien died suddenly in 1897, his sons André (1872–1936), Jean-Henri (1874–1948) and Pierre-Isidore (1875–1953) continued the work under the name Falize Frères (Falize Brothers). The overall management was taken over by the elder brother, who had an internship with jewelers and chasers in Paris and Lucerne and joined the family business in 1894. André was an extremely charismatic man with a large circle of friends that included ministers, politicians, actors and writers, many of whom became his clients and vice versa.
The brothers took part in the 1900 World’s Fair. Their exhibition brings together Lucien’s own work, Lucien and André’s collaborations, works begun by Lucien and completed by his sons, and several brand new works by the brothers. These new pieces were largely in the Art Nouveau style that was taking over Paris at the time and becoming an inspiration for the workshop for the next decade.
The presented works were awarded two Grand Prix as a tribute to the past and recognition of the present. The interest of the customers did not leave the company and in 1904 it made the crown jewels for the King of Serbia Peter I Karageorgievich, and in 1922 the crown for the Queen of Romania, Mary of Edinburgh.
André’s determination and devotion to the aesthetic principles of his father and grandfather were at first a great asset. But as times and fashions changed, the jewelry house found it difficult to adapt to these changes. His last order book dates from December 1919 to July 1935 and contains only 262 entries over 16 years. Like many others, the firm was badly damaged during the First World War. Shortly after its completion, Jean left the case, and Pierre participated in it minimally from the very beginning. When André passed away in 1936, the once prestigious trademark died with him.
