The story begins on 27 October 1965 with the birth of Darko Justa in Pakrac, Croatia. At the age of 16, he left his home town to study first at a technology college, then at the University of Zagreb. On the 10th of May 1991 he graduated as a geometrician with an engineering qualification.
The following day, he left for Zurich, Switzerland and two years later moved to Geneva to work in a foundry. It was there that he discovered the world of jewelry for the first time and discovered his true vocation. Tired of the rigorous and scientific side of his job as a geometrician, he longed to use his creative flair as well as his meticulous eye for detail. He pursued his new-found passion by going to study at a jewelry school in Pforzheim, Germany. Upon his return to Geneva he worked in a gem-setting workshop where he mastered his skill. In 2007, he set out independently to create his own designs for jewelry lovers.
The story behind the brand
The name ‘Violon Rouge’ and its logo were officially registered in Bern, Switzerland, on 14 November 2009.
When Darko Justa decided to create his own jewels, he thought long and hard about the name that would best reflect the identity and spirit of the jewelry and its creator. The idea of using his own name crossed his mind briefly, but he dismissed it as lacking originality. As he was travelling, inspiration came whilst watching the film, ‘The Red Violin’ with his wife. The drama touched him as he identified with the story, reminding him of his own eventful life. Thus the name was born: ‘Violon Rouge’.
To find the perfect visual identity for ‘Violon Rouge’ he travelled to Cremona, the home town of Antonio Stradivari, in Italy, to find inspiration. There he met current violin maker, Philippe Devanneaux. After much thought an idea began to take shape and after a year he came to a happy conclusion. The logo represents the harmonious intertwining of a violin’s two f-holes, their combination forming a figure 8, the symbol of eternity. A vivid imagination may see it as two swans kissing or might interpret it as a more symbolic union…
Being a jeweler
For Darko Justa, jewelry is an art that must reflect quality and beauty in its final creation. He prefers constructive criticism to compliments as it enables him to develop artistically and exceed expectations. He sees all ideas and suggestions as opportunities to progress towards an ideal of perfection which he strives for.
The creations of Violon Rouge are the result of many people working together, each with their own role and importance. The team members dedicate themselves to making original jewels without sparing their time. With the working hours spent on each jewel, a piece of their soul becomes a part of it, a beautiful story becomes shared and complete as the owner wears it and brings it to life.
