Robert Clerc was born in Switzerland in 1948 and served his apprenticeship in fine jewellery in Geneva, Switzerland. After migrating to Australia, he opened his first jewellery store in the strand arcade in Sydney Australia in 1975 and designed his first collection of jewellery, The Egyptian Collection.
He spent 1979 in Paris Where he created his Nineteen Hundred collection, which was exhibited at Melbourne's grand department store, Georges of Melbourne. He was Commissioned in 1982 to design and construct the Charles Davies Memorial trophy for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the sterling silver trophy standing one metre high, and in 1987 the Australian Bicentennial Authority Commissioned him to design and construct the tall ships race trophy in sterling silver..
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Clerc's designs continued to evolve, with a growing emphasis on organic shapes and natural materials. He also began to experiment with new techniques,
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such as electroforming, which allowed him to create lightweight, hollow forms that were still strong and durable.
Despite the changing trends in jewellery design over the years, Clerc's work has remained popular and highly regarded in the industry. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his designs, including the prestigious De Beers Diamond Design Award in 1987.
Clerc continues to create jewellery from his studio in Sydney's Oxford Street, and his pieces can be found in collections around the world. His work is celebrated for its bold, innovative designs and its ability to push the boundaries of traditional jewellery-making techniques.
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