Mellerio, Jeweler of Excellence since 1515
The Mellerio family is a dynasty of French jewelers of Italian origin , founded in Paris in 1515. Authorized by Queen Marie de Medici in 1613 to operate in France without administrative restrictions, Mellerio became a supplier to the Court under Louis XVI. The boutique located at 20, rue Vivienne quickly attracted the circle of Empress Joséphine, establishing privileged links with the Bonaparte family.
In 1830, during the reign of Marie-Amélie and Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, Mellerio became the official supplier of "Her Royal Highness, the Queen of the French" . During the Second Empire, Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie were among the most important customers. Eugénie, who had become Empress, frequented the shop almost every week.
The Maison Mellerio was established in Madrid in 1850 to serve the Spanish nobility, including Countess Eugénie de Montijo. By the end of the 19th century, it was recognized at the Dutch Court for its impressive jewelry. The boutique on Rue de la Paix , opened in 1815 by François Mellerio, became an essential meeting place for the European nobility.
The boutique on Rue de la Paix attracted personalities from all over the world, including the Rothschilds and the courts of Spain, Russia, Italy and Belgium. In 1905, during a visit to Paris, the Maharaja of Kapurthala purchased two pieces of jewellery, including an exceptional peacock egret, adorned with 2,984 rose-cut diamonds and enamel.
Mellerio innovates with patents, notably in 1854 with a flexible frame imitating the movement of branches , and in 1951 with decorative false nails in palladium and diamonds . In addition to jewelry, Mellerio creates trophies, including that of the Ballon d'Or since 1956 and that of the Roland-Garros tennis tournament since 1981.
For 14 generations, Maison Mellerio has subtly incorporated a reminder of its Italian origins with the " Mellerio cut ", a discreet geometry represented by an oval inscribed in an ellipse. This distinctive motif frequently appears in the Maison's iconic creations, such as the Plume de Paon brooch designed for Empress Eugénie in 1868.
Today, this expertise remains a signature of Mellerio watches and jewelry. In 2018, Laure-Isabelle Mellerio , representing the 14th generation of the family, became both president and artistic director of the Maison, the oldest and last family-owned jewelry house in France. Her elegant creations are inspired by her Italian origins, with her own signature of contrasting volumes and materials.
