CHAUMET

The story of Chaumet is long and distinguished, one with its roots in late 18th century Paris.

In 1780, Marie-Etienne Nitot set up his own jewellery business in Paris, having previously worked with Aubert, jewellery to Queen Marie-Antoinette. As his success grew, he was joined by his son Francois-Regnault Nitot, becoming the official jewellers to Napoleon in 1802. Amongst the pieces they created were the wedding jewels for both Empresses Josephine and Marie Louise, as well as Napoleon’s coronation crown, the Consular sword and the tiara of Pius VII. However, after the fall of Napoleon, the firm was sold to Jean-Baptiste Fossin, who had worked for Nitot and who continued the business along with his son Jules. Together, they captured the spirit of Romanticism in jewellery, just as Nitot & Fils had done for the “Style Empire” under Napoleon.

In 1848, Jules Fossin entered into a partnership with J.V Morel who had been the Fossin & Fils workshop manager between 1834 and 1840. Morel moved to London and set up shop at 7, Burlington Street, assisted by his son Prosper.

They enjoyed much success at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and the following year were granted the Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria, who had bought many pieces.  

Prosper Morel returned to Paris in 1854 to join Jules Fossin, whom he eventually succeeded in 1868. Several years later, Morel’s daughter Marie fell I love with Joseph Chaumet, who had been working as a jeweller since the age of 15 in Bordeaux. Upon moving to Paris, Chaumet was hired by his future father in law and when Marie and Joseph married, they also secured the firm that would later come to take his name.

By 1889 he bought the company outright and changed the name.

Joseph Chaumet had a particular interest in pearls and precious stones, even setting up a laboratory to study them. Meticulous in his supervision and in an effort to ensure top most quality, he set up additional workshops for a wide range of craftsmen including box-makers, leather workers and diamond cutters.

He exhibited at many of the great exhibitions including Paris in 1900 where he won a gold medal, St Petersburg in 1902, Milan in 1906 and Buenos Aires in 1910.

In the early 20th century, Chaumet decided to move location to fashionable Place Vendome, where they would be in the company of other fine jewellers and in 1907 the company moved opposite the Ritz Hotel where the firm maintains its flagship boutique to this day.

Chaumet was renowned for its naturalistic jewels and inspiration was found in a flora and fauna. They had a particular reputation for head pieces and, without question, made some of the most important tiaras, aigrettes and bandeaux of the 19th and 20th centuries.

In 1925 they participated in l’Exposition des Arts Decoratifs in Paris where they exhibited a wonderful collection of Art Deco jewels where the emphasis lay on the typical Deco black and white contrasts and geometric shapes. Three years later Jospeh Chaumet passed away and was succeeded by his son Marcel, who continued the business with the same ethos and passion as his father.

In the late 50s his two sons were appointed executive directors and over saw the company throughout the 60s and 70s before filing for bankruptcy in 1987, after which Chaumet was bought first, by and investment group and later, in 1999, by LVMH who remain the owners today.