Boucheron is a French jeweler based in Place Vendôme in Paris for more than a century. Founded in 1858, Boucheron was the first jewelry house to open its boutique on Place Vendôme, in 1893. With models of mythical rings, Boucheron is one of the major representatives of very high-end, luxury and French refinement.
Boucheron makes watches, and jewellery, and licenses its marque for perfumes. The watch and jewelry making segments have existed for over 150 years. The first fragrance, “Boucheron,” was launched in 1988. Over 22 men’s and women’s fragrances have been released. Since 2011 Boucheron fragrances have been created, produced and distributed under license by Interparfums. It has 34 boutiques worldwide and an online e-commerce website launched in 2007. The company’s estimated sales (in 2010/2011) were €50 million in total sales and €5 million in watches.
After the death of its founder Frédéric Boucheron in 1902, his descendants took over the business. In 1994, the family business shifted to a more global approach with its selling out to Schweizerhall. The House of Boucheron was then acquired by former Gucci in 2000, which was bought by PPR in 2004. It now belongs to the Kering group.
Boucheron Flagship Store
The Hôtel de Nocé or Hôtel d’Orcy is a former private mansion, located at no.26, place Vendôme. The Jewelry House’s founder Frédéric Boucheron, established his business at the Hôtel de Nocé in 1893. The Hôtel de Nocé today confirmed its reputation as the Mecca of Parisian High Jewelry. Designed like a family home, this private townhouse now invites its prestigious clients into an apartment where they feel right at home.The building went on to be listed as a historical monument in 1930.
It was recently renovated with inimitable style. In 2017, the hotel was completely restored under the leadership of the architect of the buildings of France, Michel Goutal and the decorator Pierre-Yves Rochon. The work aims to restore the original volumes and on this occasion, the building is notably equipped with an apartment occupying the entire second floor, intended to offer a family stay to Boucheron’s best customers. Reopened its doors at the end of 2018, still claiming its place as the epicenter of the Boucheron style.
The entrance showcased in a glass bubble, beautiful creations capture the eye as soon as you enter 26, place Vendôme. The chandeliers are crafted by Pierre-Yves Rochon and Lalique. A marble console and a piece of art from the Pinault collection complete the majestic setting. Located next to rue de la Paix, this entrance still features its antique cabochons and checkered stone floor. Representing Boucheron High Jewelry, the chandelier and its rock crystal birds eternally mock Wladimir, the Maison’s favorite pet cat.
The grand staircase is here to keep us on the right path, one that takes us through more than 160 years of history. A saga of a resolutely French and absolutely Parisian Maison whose committed creativity takes root wherever innovation embraces dreams. The Grand Salon bathed in light, this central room glows even more with your presence. The Grand Salon still features the now-restored neo-Louis XV walnut paneling chosen by our founder. An art nouveau rug in fifty shades, Warren Platner armchairs, a rock crystal chandelier designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and crafted by Tisserant.
The Jardin d’Hiver illustrates these strong roots. Flooded in light, framed by classically inspired architecture, it is an ode to nature and its animals. Furniture and plants, a green marble floor, a rug representing a bed of leaves, a coffee table made of petrified wood by Franck Chartrain, a work by artist Émilie Moutard-Martin.
French fascination for Chinese art made a comeback in the second half of the 19th century. The Salon Chinois of the Hôtel de Nocé reflects this movement. Seemingly suspended in time, it combines mysterious luxury and a hidden door. It was the Maison Boucheron’s first lounge. Everything here seems eternal. Everything is peaceful and opulent. The mezzanine of the Countess of Castiglione’s apartment transform into a design studio in 1918. Overlooking the retail spaces, the mezzanine would become the office of the Boucheron dynasty. Today, the Maison’s timepiece creations are presented here.
The Salon des Lumières displays are played down to fully reveal the jewelry, while the windows offer an unblocked view of the Place Vendôme. The demolition of a modern ceiling revealed a sumptuous décor, restored with the help of archive photos. Today, the Salon des Fiancés offers a striking contrast between ultra-classicism and bold modernity.
In a more colorful atmosphere, this third lounge in the Hôtel de Nocé holds the Maison’s exceptional archives. One of them recounts the Maharaja of Patiala’s visit to the Place Vendôme in 1928, when he placed an exceptional order for 149 jewelry sets adorned with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. “Le 26V” perfectly exemplifies the “family home” spirit that reigns over the Hôtel de Nocé. An exceptional living space where guests can stay, relax or enjoy a drink, truly feel at home.
Head to the 3rd floor. After the vestibule, a nature-inspired dining room leads to a water-themed living room. The visit continues with a majestic bedroom that opens onto a private bathroom bedecked in white marble, like floating on a cloud. You can even admire the Place Vendôme and the Eiffel Tower from the bathtub. The library decorated with 18th- Chinese wallpaper, it reveals the best-kept secrets of the capital and the jewellery Maison.
The New Maharajahs Collection
In 1928, Boucheron was commissioned the largest special order in the history of Place Vendôme. In 2022, Creative Director Claire Choisne pays homage to this treasure by creating the “New Maharajahs” Collection, writing a new page of Boucheron’s History of Style. This commission from the Maharajah of Patiala as the inspiration for this collection Boucheron bring these pieces into the 21st century and reinvent them, the women and men who want to express their personality and style.
On August 2nd, 1928, Place Vendôme was buzzing with the arrival of Bhupindar Sing. The Maharajah of Patiala had come to Paris with forty of his servants, he was famous for his immoderate taste for jewels. No one knew which jeweler he would go to. On that summer day, escorted by Sikh guards carrying iron safes, Bhupindar Singh crossed the square and pushed the door of Boucheron. There, he was welcomed by Louis, son of Frédéric Boucheron. In those safes, Louis counted diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls by thousands. For these gems, Louis then imagined 149 designs: emerald and diamond collars, multiple-strand pearl necklaces, belts covered in precious stones… To this day, these parures created by Boucheron have remained unforgettable.
For these New Maharajahs, the design studio focused on designs referring to elements that symbolize ancestral India, lotus flowers, turban ornaments, and wedding bracelets – alongside traditional techniques such as glyptics, the art of engraving gemstones. In keeping with her creative and decisively modern vision, to use purity through white and transparency, with proportions that she naturally applies to both women and men.
Nine Colombian emeralds, totaling nearly 40 carats, make up the central motif that can be worn as a brooch. Thus transformed, the necklace becomes a collarette highlighted by a line of baguette-cut emeralds whose sinuous splendor follows every movement of the body. In order to lighten this necklace without altering its beauty, Boucheron has replaced the green gems, placed at the ends of the 1928 model, with diamonds. These have then been covered with rock crystal which multiplies their brilliance and accentuates their fluidity. Sacred Emerald Earrings again inspired by a necklace commissioned in 1928, Boucheron works here with a play of scales by designing this pair of platinum and emerald earrings. Their shape is identical to that of the Maharajah’s necklace, which the design studio has now reduced to the scale of the ear. Mounted as a sunburst, these diamond-set stems end in 58 drops of hypnotic green emeralds.
The lotus in majesty necklace celebrate this floral motif, the monochromatic choker plays with the solid and smooth qualities of white gold to draw a lace of diamonds on the surface where a central, cushion-cut diamond of 4.08 carats shines. This transformable necklace is distinguished by its elegance, as remarkable with the ribbon version as with the simple choker. The mother-of-pearl necklace with a cascade of 5,178 Japanese pearls flows from this majestic necklace, which is punctuated by melon-cut rock crystal beads that shine from within thanks to diamond pavings. The lotus flower, engraved in mother-of-pearl, makes up the central motif of this transformable jewelry piece that offers seven different looks. In the choker, long and short versions, the necklace retains the elegance of its drop, as do the two pearl bracelets that flow from it. The long main motif, in pearls, diamonds and mother-of-pearl, can be worn as a brooch on a man’s suit for example.
A symbol of purity in India, “padma” means lotus. Boucheron gives this sacred flower a contemporary dimension through an original piece of ear jewelry. This model sits on the ear and unfolds rays of gold and pearls that end in drops of diamonds and mother-of-pearl, engraved in homage to the technique of glyptics. Two circle of radiant purity complete this Padma Earrings set. The first one is composed of a rock crystal dome, which has also been shaped following the art of glyptics into a transparent lotus flower. The second ring, in the shape of a pear, is sculpted in rock crystal. Paved with round and baguette-cut diamonds, this jewelry carries a pear shape diamond in its center.
The jeweler revisits the churiyan traditional ornaments by forging them exclusively in white gold set with diamonds, mother-of-pearl and pearls. With these different gems, the bangles present a subtle palette of tones and textures that change depending on how they are placed on the wrist. Ever inspired by the Maison’s history, Boucheron has created a mother-of-pearl spool to display the 10 bracelets when they are not being worn, in keeping with the objets d’art created by Boucheron. The “turban ornament”, a “Sarpech” as it was originally called, can be turned into a hair jewel or a brooch. A contemporary interpretation of the aigrettes that maharajahs proudly displayed at the beginning of the last century. Set with diamonds, the volutes of this model are highlighted by the presence of rose-cut diamonds.
Art Déco Collection
Boucheron extracted the spirit, the line, the radical simplicity of Art Déco, a time when style was all about atttitude. As a perfect echo to modern-day women and men. The cravate émeraude is a piece of jewelry just like a tie. A couture echo to those flapper years, when women asserted their style through details gleaned from the masculine wardrobe. The contrast between materials and colors is enhanced by the numerous ways this jewel can be worn: as a tie, a necklace, or even, after detaching its emerald heart, as a collar jewel, or a brooch.
The ruban diamants is more than a jewel, this white gold ribbon set with baguette and round diamonds is the ideal genderless accessory. With its chevron pattern, iconic of Art Déco, this graphic line can equally be a belt, a headband, a choker, or even two genderless bracelets. Nœud diamants is a pure bow-tie, essentially served as baroque ornaments, enhanced by the black and white contrast. Boucheron’s creative eye made it a brooch, a bow-tie or even a ring, faithful to multiwear tradition.
The liseré diamants with black edge expresses all the power of a simple black line: it only needs to border a 5.27 carat pear-shaped diamond drop to draw a radically modern piece. Just like a braid would highlight a garment. The plastron émeraudes borrows its opulence from that time when men wore High Jewelry as a sign of power and glory. In the tradition of Boucheron’s multiwear, this spectacular necklace can transform into a choker and a bracelet, and its design is available as a graphic ring and two different pairs of earrings.
Bouton émeraude is a ring like a button on a finger. Set with a cushion Muzo emerald of 7.43 carats, this ring is discreetly extravagant with its soft curve, the purity of the lines and the black, white and green colors dear to Claire Choisne. It is the finishing touch to a look, just like the perfect button on a garment. Chevron émeraude is a necklace so supple it follows every movement. Recalling the chevron pattern that was dear to Boucheron in the 1920s, Claire Choisne imagined a soft white gold chain paved with diamonds and ending with a 61.35 carat emerald drop. The boldness of this piece lies in its clasp turning into an ornament.
Col émeraudes with its pure design, this necklace follows the sharp line of a V-Neck and tells us all about the timeless modernity of Art Déco and about the Boucheron signature. Its radical design dares to place 28 emeralds horizontally. Chevalière émeraude is definitely confident and daring. For a man or a woman, this signet ring allies the powerful octagonal design of Place Vendôme to the precision of its cobblestones. Like wearing the Parisian coat of arms on one’s finger.
Lavallière diamants is a necklace like a cravat. Pure and opulent lines dictating style like a fashion detail would dictate a whole look. This piece remembers the mythical flapper who would borrow fashion items from the masculine wardrobe and assert a new femininity. Claire Choisne offers to play with this piece that can be worn in three different ways.
Question Mark Collection
The Question Mark necklace made its appearance at Boucheron in 1879 for the first time in the history of Parisian High Jewelry. Its stylistic approach, featuring asymmetry and curved lines, is reinforced by a totally new technical achievement in jewelry: the total absence of a clasp. The concept allows women to put their jewelry on with no assistance. In a tribute to this creative freedom and its social symbolism, this necklace has become a true signature of the Maison Boucheron.
Holographique Collection
Holographique Collection is one defined by Boucheron, to capture light’s very essence, which is color. Every piece is like a prism, catching the complexity of light by representing every single color that is held within it. Every piece reveals the colors of the world on a different day. From the Greek “holos” and “graphein”. Holographic together therefore means “to represent everything”.
Celebrating the magic of color, these pieces crafted of fines strips of crystal took their cues from light itself: at the heart of the inspiration for this collection, but most of all, essential for its creation. In perpetual motion, ever evolving in each environment in which it sits, this avant-garde set is truly the shining star of the Holographic collection.
The Prisme is a set diffracts and breaks light, revealing true, clear colors. Multiple rows of holographic crystal and diamonds reflect playfully to and fro in a game of light and color on this cuff. The earrings and the ring are a stretched pear cut. The cleverly concealed light notches in the rock crystal multiply their radiance. Laser is a system which amplifies light to create a glowing beam. While it is normal in High Jewelry for a piece to be created around a selected stone, this process is inverted for this Laser set. The gem stone found in a batch of pear-cut aquamarines in clear lagoon hues, tones to best match the holographic effect applied on the ceramic.
Halo is a rainbow sphere encircling a source of light. This entirely transparent Halo necklace, showcase holographic nuances seemingly sliding across the rock crystal as the wearer moves rhythmically. The ring and the bracelet have also been subtly covered with a holographic coating in order to achieve the soft, comforting vibrations of a weightless soap bubble. Faisceaux is an ensemble of luminous rays shining from the same source, but in different trajectories. Maison Boucheron’s signature material of rock crystal plays its part in this new holographic game which transparent and colored.
Chromatique means the natural color of things, this set celebrates the nature we dream of. Every petal of the pansy and the peony was scanned so that each curve and shape could be recreated as faithfully as possible. Enveloped in their holographic coating, the petals are given a new life. The Illusion set interpretation of meaning which makes people see things differently than they really are. The central opals originating are eye-catching with the holographic effect in the trio of rings is multiplied by a trompe-l’œil setting. A second skin studded with multi-colored stones reproducing the opal’s nuances.
The Ondes set showcase the movement of light which radiates in undulating waves. The fires inside the opal multiply in these waves of color and light. A necklace and a pair of earrings edged with a trail of diamonds; these diamonds capture the brilliance of the light and diffuse it, ricocheting across the iridescent reflections of the opal. Opalescence is a luminous wave running through a translucent material with iridescent reflections. At the center of this aquatic set, a betta fish swims through an opal sea. Its fins are created using the plique-à-jour technique, allowing the light to shine through their transparency so they sparkle with holographic reflections.
Paris, vu du 26 collection
Inspired by Paris, by its architecture and culture, Boucheron’s new high jewelry collection explores viewpoints, perspectives and heights.
Chapter 1: paris where dreams are infinite. Through this collection of High Jewelry, Boucheron, a very Parisian Maison, conveys its own particular view of the city, which combines elements of reality with creative fantasies.
Chapter 2: place vendôme where the only frame is greatness. Frédéric Boucheron was the first among the great contemporary jewelers to open a shop in Place Vendôme. Today, the Maison Boucheron pays tribute to the visionary spirit of its founder. From the windows of number 26 Place Vendôme, Claire Choisne, Creation Director of Boucheron, shares her personal view of this unique place, which has become the heart of French jewelry.
Chapter 3: le 26v where creation knows no limit. 26 V is the Boucheron family house, and the heart of its creative enterprise. It is there, in the studio, under the roofs, that inspirations become reality and take shape. It is there, of course, that the idea came this year to design the very first Boucheron stone.