A colorful collaboration

Few jewelry houses can look back on more than four centuries of history. Fewer still continue to reinvent themselves with such energy. This season, Mellerio, France’s oldest jewelry house, celebrates its remarkable heritage with Joyeux Joyau, a vibrant collaboration with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

The story behind the project is worthy of a novel. The designer recently discovered that a bracelet belonging to his grandmother, Marguerite de Castelbajac – and once owned by Marie-Antoinette – had entered Mellerio’s collections. The encounter that followed with Laure-Isabelle Mellerio, the house’s artistic director and president, was an immediate success. Following the passing of her husband, she became the first woman to lead the storied family maison. Ideas quickly began to flow. Together, they set out to pay tribute to the women who helped shape the Mellerio legend – from Empress Joséphine and Princess Mathilde to Marie-Antoinette herself, all enduring symbols of elegance and refinement. The result is a striking installation by Castelbajac that now adorns the boutique’s façade, bringing together heritage, contemporary art and exceptional female figures in a singular visual dialogue.