Rouvenat: Rise & Legacy
Rouvenat is a French jewellery house with a history unlike any other, spanning over nearly two centuries. First founded by Léon Rouvenat around 1850, it was one of the most prominent jewellery houses of its time.
Rouvenat himself was a pioneer in jewellery making and production, and he exhibited his work in London and Paris and won multiple awards. He created diadems with wild rose motifs, necklaces with pointed drops, transformable medallions, and rosette brooches decorated with chains, and palmettes arranged around cabochon gemstones…the beautiful pieces were many, and his jewellery was adorned by the European elite of the time.
And then - Maison Rouvenat disappeared. As there was no successor to take over the jewellery house, which at this point was well-renowned, Maison Rouvenat closed shortly before World War I.
Rediscovery and Revival
It would take over 100 years before Maison Rouvenat once again emerged on the jewellery scene. In 2022, 3000 of Léon Rouvenat’s original gouache drawings were discovered at a Parisian antique dealer, gathered in 12 leather-bound notebooks in perfect condition. With this came the re-launch of this esteemed Parisian jewellery house.
Today, Rouvenat once again operates out of Paris, and Léon Rouvenat’s original drawings and the rich history of the brand is re-imagined in the designs of today with the help of creative director Sandrine de Laage.
The pieces are crafted in recycled gold and silver, in continuity with the traditions of 18th-century jewelry-making, and they highlight eco-creation: the jewel adapts to the stone, not the other way around.
Vision Behind the Revival
A key-figure in the re-launch is co-founder Marie Berthelon, who had 20 year of experience within the world of fine jewellery behind her. Previously, she had worked across the globe, holding senior positions at prestigious luxury houses such as Hérmes, Cartier and De Beer, to name a few. Needless to say, she is a well-rounded expert when it comes to fine jewellery - and with her own brand, she now gets to share her expertise with the world.
Marie also has a strong passion for female empowerment, and during her ten years at Cartier she also played a big part in the Cartier Women’s Initiative project as she coached young female entrepreneurs for a number of years.
Rouvenat values human and natural resources throughout the crafting and production of their pieces, and they were one of the first companies to join Communauté des Entreprises à Mission - French association uniting companies committed to driving change.
