A historic emblem reimagined with relief pavé and crisp geometry, the Joséphine Aigrette necklace forms a V-shaped accent that is understated yet striking
Chaumet’s aigrette design is distinctive for its deep historical roots. Originally, the aigrette referred to jewelled plume ornaments worn in the hair or on tiaras and bandeaux, particularly during the Belle Époque era, when Chaumet created lavish, feather-like headpieces for European aristocracy.
Empress Joséphine, Chaumet’s muse, played a key role in reviving tiaras and nature-inspired head ornaments. Her preference for light, feathery, high-rising jewels continues to anchor the maison’s aigrette design language today.
In its modern interpretation, Chaumet transforms the tiara into a necklace. The Joséphine Aigrette necklace retains the signature motif but reimagines it with a clean, assertive neckline, one that carries a regal presence.
The lines are deliberately sleek and pared back, emphasising the strong, graphic contour of the aigrette shape rather than surrounding it with excess adornments. The result is a jewel that reads as a quietly powerful collar by day and a contemporary “neck tiara” after dark.
Crafted in white gold and set with 2.53 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds, the necklace plays with volume and texture rather than scale. A textured relief pavé ripples across the surface, allowing light to catch and release in a continuous shimmer, reminiscent of a finely woven mesh.
Chaumet describes the piece as both precious and graphic with enough presence for it to stand alone against a simple black dress, yet the design remains fluid enough to layer with other Joséphine creations or more minimal chains, depending on the wearer’s mood.
In many ways, the necklace encapsulates Chaumet’s vision of modern femininity: assured, architectural, and unafraid of a strong line. The aigrette motif, once a plume rising above a coiffed chignon, now becomes a sculptural contour that frames the face and décolleté with authority.
