250 years of history

In Paris, jewellery-making has always been an honoured art form. In 1780, Marie Étienne Nitot founded Chaumet, thus beginning the first chapter in the Maison’s history.

A jeweller with a passion for nature, he chose the ear of wheat as its emblem, a powerful symbol that would become one of the Maison’s signature motifs.

As jeweller to the imperial court, Nitot crafted historic masterpieces such as the coronation sword of Napoléon I and the papal tiara of Pope Pius VII.

An official purveyor to Empress Joséphine, his eternal muse, he quickly established himself as the most sought-after jeweller in Europe.

Chaumet was the first jeweller established on Place Vendôme, at number 15, now the Ritz Paris hotel.

The Maison established itself as one of the most innovative of its time. As the official jeweller to King Louis-Philippe of France and his family, it continued to celebrate nature through delicate and poetic creations, enhanced by movement.

Under the restored monarchy, Paris regained its splendour and became the international capital of luxury and fashion. Amidst all this excitement, jewellery was more spectacular than ever.

Chaumet asserted the excellence of its savoir-faire through animated jewellery, in which nature came to life. The innovative use of precious metals and gemstones revealed its boundless creativity.

Under the direction of Joseph Chaumet, after whom it was named, the Maison embodied a refined sense of creativity. A visionary, he made aigrettes and tiaras a Chaumet signature. These emblems of social status became instruments of style.

Its openness to the wider world attracted a cosmopolitan clientele, from Indian maharajas to European collectors. Drawing inspiration from contemporary artistic trends, the Maison created bold designs between tradition and modernity.

The Maison moved to 12 Place Vendôme, its emblematic Parisian address. A boutique, historic salons and a High Jewellery workshop brought this legendary location to life.

In the 1930s, the Maison reinterpreted its naturalist heritage in more stylised designs. Parisian elegance and an avant-garde spirit thus gave rise to a subtle modernity, driven by a constant quest for innovation.

Buoyed by a new rush of freedom, Chaumet broke with convention. The Maison explored new aesthetic horizons, notably through a novel approach to working with gold. This creative energy led to the opening of the Arcade in 1970, the creation of new collections and a move into watchmaking.

In 1977, Chaumet created the Liens d’Or pieces, marking the beginning of its emblematic Liens collection, which continues to celebrate the bonds between people to this day.

Having previously been part of the Investcorp investment group, the Maison joined the LVMH group, marking the start of a new chapter in its international expansion.

From Beijing to Tokyo, Monaco to Shanghai, Riyadh and Doha, its major exhibitions have celebrated its heritage and its ongoing dialogue with art.

In the wake of Liens, Chaumet reaffirmed its style with two new emblematic collections.
Launched in 2010, Joséphine brought the elegance of a tiara to the finger. In 2011, Bee de Chaumet reinterpreted the bee and its honeycomb in a graphic, naturalist language.

Chaumet designed the medals for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This unique project reaffirmed the Maison’s place at the heart of the major events of its time, forging an enduring link between its history and the present day.