(Maison)
Maison
Since 1906 on Place Vendôme. Forty benches on rue de la Paix, and no piece ever made twice.
(Since 1906 · drag)
Place Vendôme
Léonie Facette opens a salon at No. 18, with two setters and a lapidary.
Art Déco
A diamond and onyx bracelet wins gold at the Paris Exposition.
The tiara
A diadem of 900 diamonds for a coronation ball in London.
Atelier
The workshop moves to rue de la Paix: forty benches under skylights.
Traceability
Every coloured stone over one carat followed from mine to piece.
Diadème Aile
2,100 hours and 1,214 diamonds for a single wing.
Drawing
Gouache on black paper, at full size. Every stone painted with its light.
Wax
A model carved in wax to test the volume on the body.
Gold
Metal is pierced, filed and hammered by hand, never cast for high jewellery.
Setting
Each stone set under a microscope; claws raised one by one.
Polish
Seven stages of polish, down to a paste finer than flour.
Signature
The hallmark, the serial number, and the setter’s initials inside.