When you have four centuries of archives to refer back to, you can find plenty of inspiration. Laure Isabelle Mellerio, current chair and artistic director of the Mellerio company, has cast her eyes on the jewellery her family created between 1820 and 1830, inspired by its sculptural qualities and colours.
The Pierreries collection pays homage to what the company calls a fairy-tale dimension of multicoloured gems clustered on the skin. And this season, it’s the charms that are getting the attention, be they purple (from amethysts), green (prasiolites), yellow (citrines), gold (quartz), azure (topaz and aquamarines), or pink (quartz and opals).
The charms retail for €11,900, though you could also look at single studs for €2,450, an earring at €3,900, or one of the necklaces at €48,000. The pièce de résistance has to be the Jardin Pierreries necklace featuring amethysts retailing at €185,000, with yellow gold, pink gold, and green gold, diamonds, purple sapphires and amethysts.
Order online at www.mellerio.fr, by phone, or book an appointment to visit them at their atelier in Paris.