About Chaumet
Chaumet is a French high jewelry and watchmaking house founded in 1780 by Marie-Étienne Nitot, who established himself as a jeweler in Paris and later became the official jeweler to Napoleon Bonaparte. This imperial connection launched Chaumet (then known as Nitot) into the highest echelons of European jewelry creation, establishing a legacy of serving royalty and aristocracy that continues to influence the brand's prestigious positioning today.
The house rose to prominence during the Empire period under Napoleon, creating ceremonial jewels, tiaras, and ornamental swords that defined the imperial aesthetic. After the fall of Napoleon, the business changed hands and eventually came under the direction of Joseph Chaumet in the late 19th century, whose name was adopted as the house's permanent identity. Throughout its history, Chaumet has created exceptional pieces for royal courts across Europe and Russia, developing particular expertise in tiaras and transformable jewelry that could be reconfigured for different occasions.
Chaumet's design identity is characterized by naturalistic motifs, delicate metalwork, and an elegant, refined aesthetic that evolved through Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and contemporary periods while maintaining distinctive house codes. The brand is particularly associated with romantic symbolism, often incorporating motifs like wheat (representing prosperity), laurel (victory), and bees (industry) – emblems that reference both Napoleon's iconography and universal symbolic meanings.
Today, Chaumet operates as part of the LVMH luxury group, with its historic headquarters at 12 Place Vendôme in Paris serving as both a working atelier and a museum of the house's heritage. The brand continues to create high jewelry collections, fine jewelry lines, and luxury watches that balance contemporary design with references to its rich artistic legacy. Chaumet represents the preservation of traditional French high jewelry craftsmanship while adapting to modern luxury markets and evolving definitions of preciousness.
The house rose to prominence during the Empire period under Napoleon, creating ceremonial jewels, tiaras, and ornamental swords that defined the imperial aesthetic. After the fall of Napoleon, the business changed hands and eventually came under the direction of Joseph Chaumet in the late 19th century, whose name was adopted as the house's permanent identity. Throughout its history, Chaumet has created exceptional pieces for royal courts across Europe and Russia, developing particular expertise in tiaras and transformable jewelry that could be reconfigured for different occasions.
Chaumet's design identity is characterized by naturalistic motifs, delicate metalwork, and an elegant, refined aesthetic that evolved through Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and contemporary periods while maintaining distinctive house codes. The brand is particularly associated with romantic symbolism, often incorporating motifs like wheat (representing prosperity), laurel (victory), and bees (industry) – emblems that reference both Napoleon's iconography and universal symbolic meanings.
Today, Chaumet operates as part of the LVMH luxury group, with its historic headquarters at 12 Place Vendôme in Paris serving as both a working atelier and a museum of the house's heritage. The brand continues to create high jewelry collections, fine jewelry lines, and luxury watches that balance contemporary design with references to its rich artistic legacy. Chaumet represents the preservation of traditional French high jewelry craftsmanship while adapting to modern luxury markets and evolving definitions of preciousness.
Ownership & Tax Information
| Company Headquarters | 🇫🇷 France |
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