Designer jewelry
has a long and exciting history, and the evolution of jewelry brands over the years has resulted in some of the beautiful products we see today. While the first jewelry examples were seen in Ancient Egypt, the biggest companies have continued to pave the way for jewelry designers in the modern world. Let’s take a look at the history of some of the world’s top jewelry brands and how they came to be loved by jewelry collectors around the world.
Chaumet
Chaumet is the oldest jeweler still operating today, having been founded in 1780 by Marie-Étienne Nitot. Nitot was an apprentice of Aubert, who was the jeweler to Queen Marie-Antoinette. Chaumet continued to grow over the years and expanded around the world following its launch. After opening a store in London, its clients included Queen Victoria. The company started offering watches in 1970 and relaunched the Breguet brand. Chaumet is still one of the most popular designer jewelry brands in the world, and since 1987, it has been part of the LVMH luxury group.
Tiffany & Co.
When you think of designer jewelry, one of the first brands that comes to mind is Tiffany & Co. It was founded in 1837 in Connecticut by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young and started its life as a stationery and fine goods store. After relocating to Broadway, the focus shifted to jewelry, and some of the items that we know and love from the brand today were introduced. The company purchased the French Crown Jewels in 1887, which attracted much attention from individuals around the world. From then on, Tiffany & Co. continued to open stores and has over 300 stores worldwide to this day.
Cartier
Another one of the world’s most iconic jewelry brands is Cartier, which originated back in Paris in 1847. Louis-François Cartier founded the brand in a workshop in Paris, however, it wasn’t until his sons took over th
at
Cartier became known globally. Cartier is known for its mystery clocks and the Tutti Frutti collection and also created one of the first wristwatches in 1909. The heirs to the business sold Cartier in 1972, and in 2012, it became part of the Richemont group.
Bvlgari
Bvlgari was created by Sotirios Voulgaris in 1884, when he opened his first store, before moving to the current locatio
n in 1909. The brand is known for being inspired by Islamic and Byzantine art and its floral and Art Deco elements. The company continued to expand over the following decades, also offering leather goods, fragrances, and watchmaking. The company was sold in 2011 by the family to the LVMH group and still holds its place as one of the top high-end jewelry brands worldwide.
As you can see, many of the world’s top designer jewelry brands have an interesting history, which is why they still remain so popular to this day. When it comes to purchasing designer jewelry, you can’t go wrong with any of these brands, which offer some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry for collectors.