Jewelry Gouache Meets Heritage: Our Exclusive Project with the Petit Palais

To celebrate the exhibition “Dessins de bijoux: les secrets de la création” (Jewelry Drawings: The Secrets of Creation), currently on view in Paris, we had the great pleasure of collaborating with the Petit Palais and Clara Roca, curator of graphic arts from 1800 to today, on a unique project: tracing a century of gouaché technique through a special video journey.

🖌️ Gouaché—a discreet yet essential art of high jewelry—brings pieces to life even before they’re made. Though rooted in tradition, it constantly evolves, shaped by each artist’s sensitivity. We’re proud to be among the few still practicing this art at a high level today.

Because every gouaché begins with emotion, we chose to bring back to life a design by the Fannière Frères—originally drawn by two brothers, François-Auguste and Joseph, and now reinterpreted by two sisters a century later! A beautiful creative dialogue, don’t you think?

Our idea? Redraw it as if it were to be made today. That meant interpreting details and progressing step by step:

1/ Redrawing ✏️
Some parts of the original were unclear—gold or enamel? Yellow or rose gold? Brilliant-cut or calibrated stones?
A century ago, craftsmen had more freedom to interpret. Today, precision is key: settings, volume, faceting... every detail matters for production.

2/ Materials 📜
The paper has changed: no more translucent sheets—now we use thick, neutral grey paper that enhances gemstones and preserves better.
The tools have evolved too: ink and pencils have been replaced by a refined mix of watercolor, gouache, and markers, mastered by gouaché artists in today’s top jewelry houses.

3/ Adapting Technique 🎨
Light must now come from the left at a 45° angle. Gold is painted in soft tones, never with metallic paint. And the center stones—the stars of the drawing—are rendered with light, volume, and nuance.

It’s been a joy to pay tribute to Fannière Frères while collaborating with one of our favorite museums!
In this digital era, we’re honored to help preserve and pass on the jewelry gouaché technique—an art that bridges tradition and contemporary creation.

A heartfelt thank you to Clara Roca and the Petit Palais for supporting this often-overlooked craftsmanship. We hope this rare technique continues to inspire generations to come.

🙏 Feel free to share the link to our video to help support this national treasure—and don’t miss the exhibition at the Petit Palais before July 20! A unique chance to see “les gouachés de bijoux”, these masterpieces in person.