Some jewellery designs are recognised by a single shape. For Chaumet, the Joséphine collection is defined by its pear-shaped motif and distinctive V silhouette, both drawn from the jewellery once worn by Empress Joséphine. For its latest pieces, the Maison revisits these familiar codes with a more contemporary approach.
The new Joséphine collection is designed around the idea of women expressing their own style. The pieces can be worn individually, stacked or layered, allowing the same motifs to take on different looks depending on how they are styled. The new creations will be available from September 2026.
Inspired By Joséphine
The collection takes its name from Joséphine, the Empress of the French and wife of Napoléon. Beyond her royal position, she was known for her influence on fashion and her distinctive personal style.
Her connection to jewellery continues to shape the collection today. The pear shape references the stones found in her jewellery, while the V silhouette draws from the aigrette, a spray of gems traditionally worn in the hair. Chaumet has carried both elements across its Joséphine designs, adapting them through different combinations of diamonds, pearls and coloured stones.
The latest pieces continue this approach rather than moving away from the collection’s established identity. Rings, pendants and earrings can be combined in different ways, including asymmetrical pairings and layered arrangements.
From Pear Shapes To New Combinations
Among the new creations is the Joséphine High Jewellery bracelet, where slender pavé diamond bands overlap to form an openwork design around the wrist. Brilliant-cut diamonds arranged in a pear shape add another reference to the collection’s signature motif.
The Triomphe de Chaumet ring takes a quieter approach. Set with a sapphire, it brings together the pear shape and Chaumet’s emblematic blue. The Joséphine ring is also now available in rose gold, featuring a central 0.5-carat pear-cut diamond surrounded by pavé diamonds.
The new earrings continue to play with the pear shape. One pair in white gold and diamonds uses a trompe-l’œil effect inspired by the pear-shaped stones of the 1919 Bourbon-Parma tiara. The design creates the impression of a larger stone through the arrangement of brilliant-cut diamonds.
There are also new versions of Joséphine pendants and earrings in rose and white gold. Some feature Akoya pearls, while others highlight the V shape with polished gold beads set against diamond pavé. The contrast gives the familiar design a slightly different character.
Jewellery That Changes With Its Wearer
The collection also extends beyond individual pieces. Its stacking rings and layered pendants encourage a more personal approach to styling, with different combinations allowing each wearer to create her own arrangement.
A Joséphine watch adds another interpretation of the collection. Combining rose gold and steel, it has a white dial surrounded by diamonds and shaped to recall the pear cut. Its design sits somewhere between a watch and a piece of jewellery, keeping the Joséphine codes visible on the wrist.
The latest Joséphine pieces show how a recognisable jewellery language can continue to evolve without losing its original references. The pear shape, the V silhouette and the influence of Joséphine remain at the centre, while new materials, proportions and combinations give the collection a more contemporary feel.
Rather than treating an icon as something fixed, Chaumet continues to reinterpret Joséphine through pieces that can be worn in different ways. The result is a collection that keeps its connection to its historical muse while leaving room for individual style.
