Mellerio vs Boucheron

In the world of fashion and design, there is one city which stands head and shoulders above the rest. Paris. When it comes to luxury jewellery, Paris is the home of innovation and style. Two of the biggest names in French jewellery design are Mellerio and Boucheron. Both design houses have elaborate histories and beautiful pieces. But which is better? Which is older?

The History of Boucheron

Established in 1858, Frédéric Boucheron opened the initial store in the Galerie de Valois at Palais-Royal. Within the ground of the royal palace in Paris, Boucheron was associated with royalty and majesty from its inception. In 1867, after only a year of the Boucheron atelier existing, the company won a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle. The exposition was a chance to exhibit their craftsmanship to jewellers from around the world, and their success highlighted them as a leader in the industry.

In 1879, the jewellery house’s lead designer, Paul Legrand, developed a necklace with no need for a clasp. This was shown at the 1889 World’s Fair, where it received a Grand Prix for Outstanding Innovation in a Jewellery Collection. Once again, Boucheron pushed the boundaries of what jewellery could be, and received the appropriate recognition. Under Legrand’s design leadership, the Boucheron peacock feather necklace design was created. This style has been featured throughout the jewellery company’s history.

In 1893, Frédéric purchased a storefront in Place Vedôme, the first jeweller to do so. This iconic square is a starting line of sorts for the Rue de la Paix, a street renowned for its luxury designer shops. The story goes that Frédéric chose the corner with the most sunlight, believing his diamonds would shine the brightest.

Boucheron jewels have been purchased by royal families from Russia, the United Kingdom, India, and Egypt. With stores in Paris, London, New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and more, this luxury house of design is an international sensation with an immensely successful history.

The History of Mellerio

The historic Place Vedôme, where Frédéric Boucheron opened the Boucheron store that stands today, began its construction in 1698. A shocking 85 years before this, the Mellerio family began their trade. This 409-year-old business stakes a claim as the oldest family jewellery company in all of Europe. Originally, the family traded under the patronage of Marie de’ Medici, the queen of France and Navarre in the early 17^th century.

In 1777, Jean-Baptiste Mellerio began trading jewellery in Versailles. This caught the attention of Marie Antoinette, at the time the queen of France, and she became a patron. By 1796, Empress Josephine Bonaparte was another patron of Mellerio. In 1815, Jean-Baptiste opened a shop on the Rue de la Paix, where the Mellerio brand is based today. Mellerio was a jeweller to King Louis-Philippe and Queen Marie-Amélie after the monarchy was restored in 1830.

Mellerio have designed and created a range of tiaras for royal families throughout their 4-century history. The Spanish Royal Family jewels features a Mellerio diamond shell tiara, first purchased in 1868. The Dutch Royal Family jewels contains a ruby tiara created for Queen Emma in 1889. Equally, Mellerio created a rose-patterned tiara for Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, who gave it to his son as a wedding gift for his daughter-in-law, Margherita of Savoy.

Through fifteen generations of craftsmanship, the Mellerio name has withstood the test of time. The company maintains its documentation as extensively as possible, boasting a legacy that spans more than 400 years. Beloved by royalty across Europe, this jewellery house has consistently produced beautiful luxury jewellery longer than any other name.

Mellerio vs Boucheron

Both being prestigious and – importantly – Parisian, Mellerio and Boucheron are often pitted against one another. While Mellerio is significantly older, Boucheron is arguably more well-known around the world. At AC Silver, we are fortunate enough to have items from each jewellery house within our collections.

Mellerio and Boucheron are both design houses with stunning repertoires of both high jewellery, luxury jewellery, and bridal jewellery. Although some people may be able to choose a favourite between the two, we can’t say that one is any better than the other. Jewellery lovers can rejoice in the knowledge that the two great Parisian jewellery houses are each as exceptional as the next.