Chaumet
Chaumet
The story of Chaumet, the first Parisian jeweler to open on the Place Vendôme, began in 1780. For more than 240 years, the House has embodied creativity and excellence, combining elegance and audacity.
Creation date: 1780
Chairman: Charles Leung
Head office: 79, boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris - France
Website: www.chaumet.fr
Identity
In the heart of Place Vendôme in Paris, Chaumet crafts jewelry that melds audacity and elegance. Combining tradition and modernity, the artisans of Chaumet’s High Jewelry workshop pass on their exceptional know-how to create masterpieces of lightness and movement, including the Maison’s famed tiaras. Chaumet’s emblematic collections are inspired by the multi-faceted personality of Empress Joséphine, the Maison’s first prestigious client, who designated Chaumet as her official jeweler. Since the founding of the Maison in 1780, Chaumet’s timeless style has continually evolved with the times and influences of the world for more than 240 years.
The first jeweler to set up shop on Place Vendôme in 1812, Chaumet has made this mythic nexus of Parisian jewelry its beating heart. Chaumet celebrated its 240th anniversary in 2020 with the inauguration of its magnificently renovated address at 12, Place Vendôme. Bridging tradition and modernity, 12 Vendôme embodies the soul of Chaumet through three exceptional spaces: the boutique welcoming clients, the historic grand salons – notably the Salon Chopin – and the High Jewelry workshop, where dreams come alive….
Icon
With bold femininity, the Joséphine collection resonates with the Empress’s taste for fashion, proposing pieces with contemporary style, inspired by the tiara. The signature of the collection is pear cut gems, a favorite of Joséphine.
First introduced in 1977, the Liens collection offers jewelry rich in meaning, symbolizing the universal bonds that unite us. The collection is inspired by the love story between Joséphine and Napoleon, who commissioned Chaumet to craft his first ceremonial jewelry.
The emblematic motif of the Bee My Love collection is the graphic honeycomb, derived from the imperial bee. Refined to abstraction, these creations shine with mirror-polished gold set off by diamonds. The naturalist inspiration echoes the passion of the Empress for botanical wonders.
Insight
“At Chaumet, we are committed to sharing the values of excellence and passing on unique savoir-faire that have inspired us for over 240 years. We are proud of our exquisite craftsmanship – still practiced at Place Vendôme, where Chaumet became the first jeweler to take up residence – as well as the distinctive Parisian elegance we have brought to prestigious customers over the ages. This rich heritage continues to inspire us as we innovate and move forward to offer our customers ever more contemporary and inclusive jewelry creations and explore exciting new possibilities and trends around the world.”
Virtuosity
Combining exquisite craft and artistic inspiration, Chaumet has for 240 years nurtured a distinctive vision of creativity, passed on over generations from one master jeweler at the head of the High Jewelry workshop to the next. Virtuosity extends beyond simple know-how, expressed through an ineffable grace infused with soul that makes Chaumet jewelry truly unique. In the High Jewelry workshop at 12 Vendôme, right from the sketch to the finished jewelry, jewelers, setters and polishers bring jewels to life. Time is the unifying element in the Chaumet equation. A single piece can take artisans nearly 2,000 hours of meticulous work.
Chaumet virtuosity is above all a human adventure, a story of shared talent and collective creation across the design studio, the workshop and expert sourcing of gemstones.
The art of drawing is central to the creation of each piece, accompanied by a variety of settings that celebrate the beauty of each gemstone and heighten its brilliance. Metal dissolves in a quest for lightness to magnify the stones thanks to the fil couteau technique. Chaumet elevates the art of color to its apogee, fusing emotion and excellence. Chaumet’s virtuosity allows technical prowess to disappear behind a sensation of miraculous lightness.
Outlook
Chaumet continues to expand internationally today as part of the LVMH Group, with 80 boutiques in major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, China and the Asia-Pacific region. Expansion is accelerating in the Asia-Pacific, where Chaumet recently opened boutiques in Sydney, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, affirming its desirability.
Chaumet attaches great importance to the sourcing of its gemstones and precious metals, placing priority on socially and environmentally responsible sources. As a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, Chaumet scrupulously applies the Kimberley Process, which certifies the ethical origin of rough diamonds.
In addition to creating unique jewelry, Chaumet supports initiatives with broad positive impact. As part of the LVMH Group, Chaumet strictly applies actions established within the scope of the Life 360 sustainability program. The Maison is also committed to promoting broad access to culture and to passing on unique savoir-faire. It is a founding patron of Petit Mob, a program that introduces children to the applied arts, and supports numerous museums and art restoration projects.
Key figures
- 12 Place Vendôme, CHAUMET’S HISTORIC ADDRESS
- 66,000 gouache drawings in the Chaumet archives
- 80 BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE
Chaumet on social media
- Relive #ChaEunWoo's captivating journey as he explores our historic address at #12Vendome in Paris. Dive into the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
- Step into the enchanting world of jewellery through the eyes of #ChaEunWoo at the #12Vendome in Paris. An exclusive… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
- Take a walk in #LeJardindeChaumet with Paolo Roversi. Drawn from our latest #ChaumetHighJewellery collection, our F… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…