Marie-Hélène de Taillac

Marie-Hélène de Taillac, a Frenchwoman, spent her childhood in the Middle East and North Africa due to her father’s work. Standing next to her mother and watching while she ordered precious stones at a jewelry store in Lebanon sparked de Taillac’s interest in gemstones, and as she had more opportunities to see her parents’ collection, jewelry gradually became a special fascination for her. It was a visit to India that led to her decision to become a jewelry designer. At the renowned jeweler Gem Palace in Jaipur, she discovered magnificent colored stones and was deeply impressed by the artisans’ advanced cutting techniques. She decided to establish connections there, launch a small jewelry collection, and start her brand.

At the time of the brand’s founding in 1996, the use of colored stones was still uncommon in the jewelry industry. In this context, she launched a collection with vibrant and captivating colored stones. The following year, she presented the Cabochon Ring, which became one of the brand’s iconic pieces, enchanting women with its fresh design that featured metal fittings attached directly to the stones.

Her original jewelry line, created under her personal direction, includes unique pieces made from raw stones cut by skilled Indian artisans and crafted in yellow gold. One distinctive characteristic is that each gemstone is meticulously cut and polished to bring out the best of the stone. Another is the use of 22-carat yellow gold. Pure gold is generally considered too soft and prone to scratches and deformation, making it unsuitable for jewelry, and 18-carat gold, which is mixed with silver or copper, is often used instead. However, the use of 22-karat gold allows for processing that can only be done by hand with meticulous care and expresses the true color and texture of gold, which is an essential element of the brand’s distinctive aesthetic.

Its deep bluish-purple color, reflection, and intensity are captivating. Tanzanite is 1,000 times rarer than diamonds.

Spinel is consistently among my favorite gemstones. It combines vividness with intense color. I particularly adore red spinel.

The color palette of the stones is incredibly boundless. The yellow of prehnite is tangy and somewhat reminiscent of candy!

Starting Friday, July 5, we will hold a pop-up event for Marie-Hélène de Taillac, which will travel to four stores. We plan to showcase exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces from the original line and other captivating items. We invite you to visit our stores to explore the collection firsthand.

Jewelry designer. Scion of a distinguished French noble family, descended from Porthos, a character in the novel ‘The Three Musketeers’. Raised in Libya and Lebanon during childhood, relocated to London at age 17 to pursue a career in the fashion business. Founded Marie-Hélène de Taillac in Jaipur, India in 1995, inspired by the exquisite craftsmanship and beauty of gemstones. Launched the first collection in 1996 and currently operates shops and showrooms in New York, Paris, and Japan.