Are you wondering how the Klein crystal factory was created?

What brought the Artisan du Cristal to Baccarat and Vallauris ?

Want to know more about Valery Klein's journey as a companion?

As you can imagine, I have a lot of anecdotes to tell. That's why I wanted to write this article so that you can better understand my journey and that of the Maison de L'artisan du Cristal .

So are you ready to discover the history, know-how and passion of a French crystal factory that has lasted for almost 40 years?

Then you have to know that many things have changed over the years. Consumption patterns are no longer the same.

So I will also explain to you how our company has adapted while maintaining its know-how and its “old-fashioned” customer relations.

Let’s start with my beginnings. That was a long time ago.

It doesn't make me feel any younger.

My beginnings.

I started very young with my father. He is the one who passed on to me this passion for beautiful things. The passion for a job well done. A rare thing, which I am proud to pass on to my children. My father worked in crystal. From the age of 5 on Wednesdays and Thursdays I went with him to customers to install chandeliers .

My father always brought with him very beautiful pieces: large vases (60 to 70 cm high).

This is where I began my learning about business and customer service.

I remember the pieces were so incredible that customers would caress them. Back then, they didn't make any bigger pieces.

Tradition dictated that one would have a complete glass service for special occasions, or a beautiful crystal piece.

In 1977 during the summer I did a 3-week internship with a family friend. A master crystal maker, who was a Meilleur Ouvrier de France . His workshop was located near Saint Louis.

He was the one who definitely gave me a passion for crystal.

It was at the beginning of the year 79 that I began my apprenticeship and my journey as a companion with this same person for 3 years.

Then for 2 years with another master crystal craftsman. Still in Moselle close to the large crystal factories.

He too was a best worker in France .

After which I did internships with the biggest names in French , German and Austrian crystal makers, but also in Czechoslovakia and Murano in Italy .

All this spread over 7 years.

Here is a photo of my Companion Certificate that I obtained on June 19, 1980:

At the same time, I had already started my business by setting up a workshop in the family home.

My father had a very large network of customers. All my production was sold as it went along.

In 1981 I had the opportunity to buy a workshop which we expanded to install all the production equipment.

My first workshop.

At the end of this journey I had the opportunity to buy premises in the town of Baccarat which allowed me to create a workshop where I was able to transfer the machines that I had in my workshop to my parents' house.

Very quickly, with the high demand and orders, this workshop proved to be too narrow. It was therefore necessary to build an extension to be able to place 6 additional machines there, in order to be able to meet the demand.

Here are some pictures:

In the top right photo, I'm 16 years old. I was doing a size demonstration.

The person next to me is General Bigeard.

On the left, a photo taken by a journalist in my first workshop.

Bottom right, a photo taken in Vallauris in the Atelier de l'Artisan du Cristal boutique.

The creation of the brand: Klein 54120 Baccarat France.

In 1994 we decided to register our trademark.

It took a year for the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) to check our know-how and for the president of the Nancy bar to be able to take the necessary steps.

On March 10, 1995 we were the owner of the brand: Klein 54120 Baccarat France.

Below is the INPI certificate of our brand:

Vallauris.

It was in 1997, to find new inspirations that I began looking for a place strongly imbued with an artisanal and artistic spirit and that quite naturally my choice fell on V allauris . An artistic city par excellence, with a worldwide reputation.

Having welcomed very big names like Jean Marais and of course Picasso.

This city allowed me to give free rein to my imagination and creativity, to find new sources of inspiration and thus break with the traditional codes of crystal.

But it also allowed us to meet and retain customers of very great renown.

I will always remember the first day Jean Marais came to the boutique (especially since I am a fan), or when we ordered some very beautiful pieces for the Dalai Lama.

Over the years (we have been in Vallauris for twenty years now), we have had other clients from brands such as Jean Claude Brialy, Princes of Saudi Arabia , Qatar and a great Indian family.

But also world-famous stars.

We have always been looking for maximum customer satisfaction.

Artistic creations, rare objects and master pieces. All made with a concern for ultimate perfection, rub shoulders in our workshop gallery .

This constitutes a unique offer due to the choice proposed and a very wide price range.

We really wanted to adapt to current consumption patterns. That's why we have expanded our range over the years.

The evolution of consumption patterns.

As you have just read, I have been immersed in crystal since I was little.

Over the years, consumption and lifestyle patterns have changed significantly, evolving towards a demand for much more functional and usable objects on a daily basis.

In the 90s, there were a multitude of tableware and gift shops in all the cities of France . And over time these shops tended to disappear. I can't say that I regret those years, because things are simply different. The search for a rare product that is only used for certain occasions is less frequent, but on the contrary, products that are easily consumable and usable every day sell very well.

We had to adapt to this new form of consumption. That's why I do my best to offer products that are very accessible to everyone.

Moreover, if you go to our site ( www.artisanducristal.com) you will see that our prices range from €20 for the promotion of the Amarante service to €95,000 for the Windsor 48-light chandelier.

We are lucky to have our own workshops in Baccarat . Obviously the price is not the same when we go directly from the producer to the consumer.

When we have special orders we produce a little more in order to have special models at very attractive prices.

All this allows us to adapt to all our customers.

We have also decided for a few years to make monumental pieces to stand out. Because today very few crystal factories dare to do it.

Yes indeed!!! This requires a great deal of know-how to avoid any losses.

Because during manufacturing, the slightest deviation can cause the part to break.

To meet even more the requirements of our customers who are looking for exclusive models in limited editions. We decided, 3 months ago, to launch into the manufacture of a line of furniture and lighting .

But don't worry, we will contact you to invite you to the inauguration of this new collection which we hope you will like.

And it's always nice to have your opinion.

Finally, we always seek to satisfy our customers as much as possible through the products and services that we offer.

Over to you.

Finally, I am happy to do this job and to pass it on, and I hope that the know-how of French crystal makers will live as long as possible and that we will be able to promote it and share it throughout the world because we can be proud of it.

It is a unique and precious thing.

I imagine that you also have your opinion on the evolution of the world of crystal and our consumer society in general.

So feel free to let me know by leaving a comment below.

Up to you.

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