MEET BRIGITTE ERMEL

A CELTIC SOUL

Brigitte Ermel was born and raised in Brittany, France – a Celtic land brimming with legends and symbols, and where the natural elements meet at their rawest. From her Breton roots, the designer inherited her independent and adventurous character, as well as her attachment to nature and her taste for travel.

AN ENCOUNTER

At 18 years old, Brigitte Ermel makes the encounter of a lifetime when she discovers Jewellery and begins working in the industry. Quickly, her fascination for gemstones drives her to move to Paris, study gemmology and graduate. By 28, she becomes one of the rare women entrepreneurs in an exclusive and male-dominated industry and signs her first creations.

A PIONEER

In 1992, Brigitte Ermel establishes her own Maison along with her very own Atelier, the first High Jewellery workshop in Paris to be created by a woman. Quickly, her Atelier grows recognized and respected by the great Maisons of Parisian High Jewellery for its creativity and technical expertise. For 3 decades now, Brigitte Ermel has been designing and crafting in-house assertive and sophisticated High Jewellery creations, in keeping with the French tradition of excellence in savoir-faire.

A RECOGNITION

This artistic and entrepreneurial adventure has been rewarded on several occasions. Brigitte Ermel was the proud recipient in 1996 of a De Beers “Diamond Award” for her creative entry. Even more, her entire career was honoured in 2013 when she was elevated to the rank of Knight in the French Legion of Honour. In her own words: “Making Jewellery is a true profession that demands excellence at all times. An excellence that buoys us up through our professional careers and throughout our lives”.

A PERSONAL VISION OF JEWELLERY

JEWELLERY WITH A SOUL

Brigitte Ermel’s take on High Jewellery is instinctive, and flows from her multifaceted life, as a woman, an entrepreneur, a Breton, a gardener, a traveller, a gemmologist. These different experiences give rise to as many perspectives when she designs new creations. Even more, her life story defines her vision of what Jewellery ought to be: “Jewellery must have a soul, be the source of emotion, and tell a story. A jewel is so much more than just a precious object. It rekindles a memory, evokes a symbol, resonate with a personality. Choosing a piece of Jewellery is always like an encounter”.

A STYLE ROOTED IN ORIGINS

Brigitte Ermel’s creative universe is inspired by her Breton roots, from which she inherited an appreciation for the different expressions of nature as well as an attraction to the symbolic world. These inspirations are in turn constantly enriched by her many travels, from which she brings back new elements that resonate with her own imagination and that she wants to pay tribute to. From portraits of nature to nods to ancient auspicious talismans, the different collections are an invitation to travel through time and space.

DESIGN MEETS EXPERTISE

The creations of the Maison stand out notably thanks to Brigitte Ermel’s perspective as a gemmologist and gem collector, which makes her creative process unique: design ideas can remain dormant for years, until they are awoken by the meeting of particular gems. These gems, which have the exact same tonality as a particular sea or plant from a memory, make the finalization of a collection possible. Through her expertise and her passion for gemstones, the designer can always find the rare, sometimes unusual, but always riveting stone that will make her vision become reality.

BY A WOMAN FOR WOMEN

As a woman and a Jewellery-enthusiast herself, Brigitte Ermel always keeps in mind the women she wants to adorn when designing new creations. She is also always mindful of the fact that Jewellery is at its most beautiful when it is worn. Hence, the designer never overlooks the importance of fit. She works tirelessly on her models, until a ring embellishes a hand as it is supposed to and until a necklace drapes perfectly around a neck. She is animated by the same desire to create pieces that perfectly match with their owners when she takes on the challenge of designing Bespoke Jewellery.

THE ART OF HIGH JEWELLERY

AN ART AND A CRAFT

A craft as much as an art, High Jewellery is the meeting place between incredible levels of craftsmanship and the most exceptional of materials, and where creativity is boundless. From this union come true pieces of art, that will be worn, admired, and cherished for generations. In the small world of High Jewellery, the French tradition has always set itself apart for its obsessive attention to details, with creations that needed to be beautiful to watch from every angle, including what is hidden.

THE HIGH JEWELLERY ATELIER

When Brigitte Ermel opened her High Jewellery Atelier in Paris in 1992, she aspired to be a part of this tradition of excellence, and to contribute to the perpetuation of its heritage. Moreover, by having its own Atelier from the beginning and integrating all the crafts of jewellery-making, the designer has been able to ensure both a perfect execution at every step but also the faithful translation of her creative vision. The High Jewellery Atelier, located near Place Vendôme, brings together a team of 15 skilled craftsmen, including modellers, jewellers, setters, and polishers.

AN EYE FOR EXCEPTIONAL GEMS

This mastery of all the different crafts of jewellery-making allows Brigitte Ermel to truly reveal and honour the beauty of the gems that she carefully selects for her collections. With her sharp eye as a gemmologist and her bold nature, the designer is especially renowned for her ability to find rare, expressive, and colourful gems. These precious centre stones are akin to beating hearts, that bring life, fire, and soul to her jewels.

A PLEDGE TO THE FUTURE

COMMITTED TO THE LONG-TERM

Brigitte Ermel Paris is committed to promoting an ethical and sustainable Jewellery, and to contributing to the transmission of the exceptional French savoir-faire.

RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY

Brigitte Ermel is proud to be a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) since 2016, which certifies the compliance of her Maison with the RJC Code of Practices. The latter comprises an ensemble of norms and rules aimed at ensuring excellence and transparency in social and environmental matters, throughout the entire Jewellery value chain. The RJC certification implies in particular that the Maison follows strict guidelines on traceability, environmental preservation, and respect for Human Rights and Labour Rights. Moreover, the Maison carefully chooses its suppliers based on their compliance with the same demanding standards.

PROTECTING SAVOIR-FAIRE

Brigitte Ermel Paris places a strong emphasis on preserving the French tradition of High Jewellery. Hence, every single creation is crafted inside the Parisian Atelier. Moreover, the Maison is also a partner of the Union Française de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie, des Pierres et des Perles (UFBJOP), of the Haute École de Joaillerie, and of École Boulle. Through these collaborations, Brigitte Ermel contributes actively to the training of new generation of jewellers, and to the transmission of the savoir-faire and techniques of French High Jewellery.