Editor’s Note
This article profiles the generational transition at Maison Tournaire, a French jewelry house celebrating its 50th anniversary. It highlights how the new creative director, Mathieu Tournaire, is steering the brand’s future by honoring its heritage while introducing a modern vision, as showcased in a recent Paris event.
Founded 50 years ago, Maison Tournaire blends heritage and modernity. In recent years, Philippe, the founder, has passed the reins to his son, Mathieu.
In its Paris boutique located on Place Vendôme, Maison Tournaire gathered a select group of guests, clients, partners, and media this June to unveil a glimpse of its craftsmanship.
This gathering was also an opportunity for the French jewelry house to present one of its partners, Maison Pequignet, a French high jewelry manufacturer that designs and assembles its own watches and mechanical movements.
said Mathieu Tournaire, CEO of the eponymous brand, to FashionUnited.
At Maison Tournaire, craftsmanship is a legacy passed down. When he founded his jewelry house, Philippe Tournaire was a passionate self-taught artist. His jewelry, blending architecture and jewelry-making, quickly captivated the public. While rooted in its foundations, the brand keeps an eye on the evolution of production techniques. Thus, Tournaire’s pieces combine techniques like lost-wax casting with more modern technologies such as 3D modeling.
After Philippe, it is now Mathieu who is at the helm of the jewelry house, although the founder is never far away.
confided the CEO.
Having grown up in the brand’s workshops, he gradually climbed the ranks. After earning a gemology diploma from the EAC school, specialized in culture, the art market, and luxury, Mathieu Tournaire first served as artistic director, then as general manager, before taking on the role of CEO in 2022.
Even though he says he is attentive to new developments, Mathieu Tournaire refuses to follow trends.
he specified.
Maison Tournaire also places importance on collaborations to create exceptional pieces such as a Bic x Tournaire pen, an Alchimie Hilse x Tournaire tube, or a 1515 x Tournaire knife.
observed Mathieu Tournaire.
In the Tournaire workshops in Montbrison, Loire, specialized jewelry artisans—some of whom were trained on-site by a master jeweler—carry out all production stages internally: from design to setting, including casting and polishing, and have done so for 50 years.