The Art of MAJESTY

Chaumet holds court with the enduring splendour of its tiara tradition.

- By TAN SIOK HOON

Since its founding in 1780, Chaumet has crafted over 2,000 majestic tiaras for royalty and aristocracy, positioning the Maison as bearing the gold standard for regal elegance. Chaumet's tiara narrative is fundamentally linked to the rise of the French Empire and its first patron, Empress Joséphine, when it became the official jeweller to Napoleon I.

It was for Joséphine that founder Marie-Étienne Nitot created remarkable parures, including the iconic wheat ear tiara, signifying fertility and abundance. This period established Chaumet's reputation for crafting luxurious pieces, imbued with symbolic meaning and imperial authority. The neoclassical style, with its emphasis on laurel wreaths, cameos and classical motifs, became a hallmark of early Chaumet tiaras, reflecting the era’s fascination with antiquity.

Over the decades, Chaumet's designs evolved, mirroring the changing tides of fashion and societal tastes. From romanticism to naturalism, Belle Époque and Art Deco, it consistently adapted to the trending aesthetic of the zeitgeist while maintaining its signature savoir-faire. Reappearing in the Maison’s collections, these elements: wheat ears, laurel leaves, bows, fantastical creatures, floral sprays, lacework and others, embellish its tiara creations, rendered in diamonds, pearls and precious gemstones.