Decades before luxury French jewelry maisons such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier were born, Marie-Étienne Nitot (1750–1809) founded the house that became the internationally esteemed Chaumet, which, for centuries, has created timeless necklaces, watches, rings, tiaras and other jewelry and accessories for royalty as well as Hollywood luminaries.
Before opening his own jewelry house, Nitot worked as an apprentice to Ange-Joseph Aubert, court jeweler to Marie Antoinette, and collaborated on pieces for the Queen. In 1780, he left Aubert’s side to open his own maison.
Surviving the upheaval of the French Revolution, Nitot soon found lavish commissions with the new people in power. The Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte longed for France to once again be the epicenter of luxury, making himself the fashionable face of the prospering country. Nitot’s commissions for Napoléon began with the papal tiara for Pope Pius VII that included a 414-carat emerald among its thousands of precious stones and the 1804 coronation sword, a decadent piece that featured the 140-carat Regent diamond.
The young jewelry house soon became the official jeweler of the Imperial Court, the personal jeweler of Empress Joséphine and one of the most sought-after jewelers in Europe. Chaumet’s work in this era helped popularize the tiara as a status symbol, with ornate pieces designed for Joséphine and Empress Marie-Louise, Napoléon’s second wife.
After Nitot died in 1809, his son, François-Regnault, took over in 1812 and moved the maison into the Place Vendôme, making it the first business to occupy the Parisian center of luxury. By then, Chaumet had included timepieces in its offerings, such as bracelet watches adorned with precious gemstones and equipped with movements made by Breguet (which opened a shop on Place Vendôme in 1933).
After the fall of the Napoléon Empire, successors Jean-Baptiste and Jules Fossin focused more on romantic styles of jewelry that referenced the past and nature, an approach carried on by Valentin and Prosper Morel. It was Joseph Chaumet, director from 1885 to 1928, who gave the maison its illustrious name and brought it into the 20th century with jewelry, accessories and tiaras inspired by the extravagant decor of the Belle Époque.
Later, with Joseph’s son, Marcel Chaumet, succeeding him, the house would be featured at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris — from which the term Art Deco derives — and, alongside the likes of Cartier, would be seen as a leader in introducing the flamboyantly geometric designs and high-contrast color pairings of Art Deco jewelry to the global stage.
Chaumet has adapted over the years to meet changing tastes and trends. The house still reigns in the world of luxury jewelry, celebrating its 240th anniversary in 2020. Since 1999, it has been part of the LVMH Group. Its salons and high jewelry workshop continue to operate in the Place Vendôme where gem-setters, polishers and jewelers craft rings, earrings, watches and enduringly popular tiaras.
Find an exquisite range of authentic vintage Chaumet jewelry on 1stDibs.
Chaumet snake sapphire hairpin in 18k gold and horn, unsigned, animal jewelry
By Chaumet
Located in PARIS, FR
Chaumet snake sapphire hairpin in 18 karats gold. This Chaumet hairpin features a serpent motif coiling around the top. The serpent is crafted in gold, its head adorned with two rose...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold
$650 / set
Sterling Silver Jungle Animals
Located in Darnestown, MD
Five sterling silver jungle animals to include: an elephant; a lion; a rhinoceros; a jungle cat and a wading bird with a fish in its mouth. The pieces ...
Sterling Silver
Buffalo horn hairpin
By Lera Treyger
Located in Antwerpen, BE
Shiori is named for a state of spiritual concentration, a quiet narrowing of the mind’s lens until the world comes into precise, resonant focus. It is the stillness that allows one t...
$46,043
H 0.99 in W 1.58 in L 2.37 in
Exclusive And Iconic Scarab Brooch in 18 Karat Rose Gold, Enamel and Ebony Wood
By Eva Soussana
Located in Paris, FR
Eva Soussana and her partner the "Atelier Franck Mico", are proud to introduce to you the "Hercules" Scarab, an exclusive and iconic piece created by Eva Soussana and Franck Mico, ma...
18k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
$46,043
H 0.99 in W 1.19 in L 2.76 in
Exclusive And Iconic Scarab Brooch in 18K Gold With Ebony Wood, Horn & Diamonds
By Eva Soussana
Located in Paris, FR
Eva Soussana and her partner the "Atelier Franck Mico", are proud to introduce to you the "Goliath" Scarab, an exclusive and iconic piece created by Eva Soussana and Franck Mico, man...
Diamond, 18k Gold
18k Gold Naked Woman climbing a staircase by Salvador Dalí Sculpture Necklace
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Naked Woman Climbing a Staircase (originally in French Femme nue montant l'escalier) is a drawing done with pencil and charcoal on card made by Joan Miró in 1937 According to the Joa...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$46,043
H 0.99 in W 2.37 in L 2.76 in
Exclusive And Iconic Beetle Brooch in 18 Karat Yellow Gold And Ebony Wood
By Eva Soussana
Located in Paris, FR
Eva Soussana and her partner the "Atelier Franck Mico", are proud to introduce to you the "Helmet" Beetle, an exclusive and iconic piece created by Eva Soussana and Franck Mico, manu...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$6,865
H 0.71 in W 1.07 in L 1.66 in
Contemporary 18K Gold Turtle Tortoise Reptile Tourmaline Brooch Pendant
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This wonderfully chunky and excellently modelled 18K turtle has been mounted as a pendant / brooch by Munich master-goldsmith, Günther Hahn. The lovely animal is decorated with 40 di...
Tourmaline, 14k Gold
$62,500
H 6 in W 6.5 in L 4 in
18K Gold, Diamonds, Amethyst, Tourmaline, Bloodstone, and Jasper Toucan Bird
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Long Island City, NY
An 18K gold, diamonds, amethyst, tourmaline, bloodstone, carved emerald, opal and jasper toucan bird resting on a gold tree branch, mounted on a carved malachite base. A very rare and unique gold-mounted jeweled object...
Amethyst, Diamond, Tourmaline, Jasper, 18k Gold
Genuine Silver Gold Plated Miniature Snake Fortune Purse
By MOISEIKIN
Located in Hong Kong, HK
MOISEIKIN's animal miniature is unique and creative in the idea. This Genuine Silver Snake Fortune Purse is full of leaf engravings that embody the Snake protecting the treasure. Being a symbol of luck and wealth as well as healing, Snake has been popular for those who wish to have power and success in business and wealth. A secret is the special magnet embedded inside the purse and closed with a gem mosaic on the bottom. It attracts various kinds of coins (depends on the material) and clips. It can also be used as a paper holder. This Fortune Snake Purse...
Jade, Tsavorite, Gold Plate, Silver
Unique Solid 18k Gold Salvador Dalí Madonna de Port Lligat Pendentif Necklace
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Unique only One in series of two Limited Edition 18k Yellow Gold Salvador Dali Madonna de Port Lligat Pendant Necklace / Bracelet This is a limited edition numbered piece from 1970's, number 1 out of 2 ever made. This necklace comes with a pouch and a frame for collectors piece exhibit Accompanying card from Exmundart Original rights from Land Spring Enginering Ltd, propietor of the exclusive world-wide rights on this sculpture-jewel as stated in the document ordained by Salvador Dalí, and legalised by Mr. José Gómez de la Serna, Notary of Barcelona Spain. Details: Sculpture-Jewel cast wit the use of the lost wax process and denominated Madonna de Port Lligat Length: Bracelet 8¨"/ 20cm Necklace alone 19,68" / 50cm Necklace with bracelet...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Solid 18k Gold Salvador Dalí Carmen of Crótalos Necklace Sculpture
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
The Carmen La Crotalos necklace was designed to celebrate the Metropolitan Opera House performance of Carmen. This crossover between painting and jewellery was something explored in ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
"Madonna de Port Lligat" Pendentif Necklace Solid 18k Gold by Salvador Dalí
By Salvador Dalí
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Unique 18k Yellow Gold Salvador Dali Madonna de Port Lligat Pendant Necklace / Bracelet This is a limited edition numbered piece from 1970's, number 0040/ out of 1000 This necklace comes with a pouch and a frame for collectors piece exhibit Accompanying card from Exmundart Original rights from Land Spring Enginering Ltd, propietor of the exclusive world-wide rights on this sculpture-jewel as stated in the document ordained by Salvador Dalí, and legalised by Mr. José Gómez de la Serna, Notary of Barcelona Spain. Details: Sculpture-Jewel cast wit the use of the lost wax process and denominated Madonna de Port Lligat Length: Bracelet 8¨"/ 20cm Necklace alone 17,32" / 44cm Necklace with bracelet...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Chaumet Gold and diamond cuff bracelet
By Chaumet
Located in New York, NY
Chaumet Gold and diamond cuff bracelet. The bracelet features ribbed design, accented with five 'X' motifs. Three of the motifs encrusted with to...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold
Sold
W 1.78 in D 0.48 in L 1.78 in
Art Deco Chaumet 18 Karat Yellow Gold & Enamel Mirrored Powder Compact with Case
By Chaumet
Located in Baltimore, MD
Art Deco Chaumet 18 Karat Yellow Gold & Enamel Mirrored Powder Compact With Case Metal: 18k yellow gold Weight: 96.4 grams Diamonds: .08 mine cut J SI diamonds Dimensions: 45 x 45 x...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Sold
W 1.85 in L 2.87 in
Chaumet London 1968 Hair Comb in 18kt Gold with 2.32ctw in Diamonds and Emerald
By Chaumet
Located in Miami, FL
Gems set hair comb designed by Chaumet. Fabulous and very luxurious gems set hair comb, created in Paris France by the house of Chaumet, back in the 1968. Beautifully mounted in a f...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Chaumet Vintage Rock Crystal Diamond Gold Box
By Chaumet
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Since 1780 Chaumet has made intuitively creative designs in luxury jewelry. Featuring a top of multihued black and white quartz that is fashioned with a diamond button. Crafted in 18...
Diamond, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold
Chaumet Mother of Pearl Gold Pill Box
By Chaumet
Located in New York City, NY
Charming mother of pearl and 18k yellow gold pill box by Chaumet. It features a ribbed, cylindrical design with twist off top adorned with mother of pearl, and a small chain connecting the two. Perfect for small pills...
18k Gold