History of the Cannes Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or, a cinematic icon shaped by the art of jewelry
Each year, the Palme d'Or celebrates the best film in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Although the festival was founded in 1946, it was only in 1955 that the Palme d'Or was created , replacing the "Grand Prix du Festival International du Film", with the aim of unifying and symbolizing the supreme award.
A symbol drawn from local history
The palm symbol is taken from the coat of arms of the city of Cannes , where it appears from the Middle Ages. It evokes both the ancient victory and a local religious legend : that of Saint Honorat , hermit and founder of the Lérins Abbey, who is said to have climbed a palm tree to invoke the sea and rid the island of the snakes that infested it.
The creation and evolution of the trophy
The first Palme d'Or was designed by the French jeweller and engraver Lucienne Lazon in 1955. Its design has seen several variations over the decades, until in 1998 , Caroline Scheufele — co-president and artistic director of the Swiss house Chopard — imagined a new contemporary version of the trophy.
The current design
The current Palme d'Or features a stylized branch in 18-karat Fairmined -certified yellow gold , composed of 19 leaves resting on a delicately curved, heart-shaped stem—a subtle nod to the Chopard logo . The entire piece rests on a hand-cut rock crystal cushion shaped like an emerald diamond . Weighing 118 grams of gold , it requires 40 hours of craftsmanship, involving five specialized artisans from the House of Chopard .
An exclusive and symbolic production
For each edition of the Festival, two copies are produced: one to be awarded to the winner, the other kept in reserve in case of unforeseen circumstances, theft, or a tie. Each of these Palmes is entirely handmade , making each trophy unique .
The Palme d'Or, a masterpiece combining cinema and jewelry
More than just an award, the Palme d'Or embodies the alliance of cinema and fine jewelry — a masterpiece of craftsmanship that celebrates artistic excellence in all its forms.
