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Maison Chaumet

Joséphine, the eternal muse

A free spirit and fashion icon with a strong character, Joséphine set a new trend in her day that was both daring and elegant.

As its first major client, the Empress of the French has inspired the Maison for nearly 250 years.

By Napoléon’s side, she embraced jewellery as a symbol of power and emotion, giving rise to the legend of Chaumet.

A precious story that still resonates today.

The power of an icon

From Martinique to Napoléon’s court, Joséphine carved out an extraordinary destiny for herself. An emblematic figure of her time, she overcame adversity without ever giving up her freedom.

As an ambassador for the French art of living, she redefined the limits of elegance. Joséphine broke free from convention, liberated silhouettes from the corset and asserted a unique vision of femininity.

An allure turned signature

Her style is reflected in the collection bearing her name. Inspired by the tiara and aigrette, its designs reinterpret the empress’ favourite elements with a resolutely contemporary twist.

Bold, feminine and sophisticated, the Joséphine collection is designed for women who assert their individuality without compromise.

Discover the Joséphine collection

Jewellery in the service of power

As the face of an empire whose splendour she embodied, Joséphine adorned herself with gold, pearls and precious stones.

She brought tiaras, the quintessential emblems of royalty, back into fashion. Her jewellery featured symbols of Napoleonic power: laurel, oak leaves and imperial bees. At her first official ceremony, a tiara shining with ears of wheat completed her allure and affirmed her status.

Discover the art of creating a tiara

A passion for nature


During her time at Malmaison, Joséphine cultivated a passion for botany. She grew rare plants and acclimatised species from other parts of the world, creating a garden that reflected her own character: vibrant, prolific and open to the world.

This passion still resonates with Chaumet today. A naturalist jeweller since 1780, the Maison observes flora and fauna to capture their movement and bring them to life in its creations.

Joséphine, empress of hearts

In private, Joséphine let her emotions dictate the jewellery she wore. On her acrostic bracelets, coloured stones spelled out the first names of her children, Eugène and Hortense. This tradition of sentimental jewellery continues to inspire Chaumet.

Design your own acrostic bracelet

Even today, Joséphine’s free and avant-garde spirit inspires Chaumet creations. Her daring, elegance and self-assured expression continue to guide the Maison, for which she remains the eternal muse.

Parisian savoir-faire

250 years of history

The art of creating a tiara

Chaumet diamonds