The history of Chaumet watches
The Chaumet brand was founded in 1780 by Marie-Etienne Nitot. In 1802 he became Napoleon I’s official jeweller which was a great
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Chaumet watches
The Chaumet brand was founded in 1780 by Marie-Etienne Nitot. In 1802 he became Napoleon I’s official jeweller which was a great honour and made him the most sought after jeweller in Europe.
In 1815 the shop was sold by Nitot’s son to Jean-Baptiste Fossin who gained an extremely exclusive clientele by designing highly luxurious products.
The brand would not acquire its current name until 1885 with the arrival of Joseph Chaumet as head of the brand.
Chaumet then went through a disastrous period and it went bankrupt in 1987. The business was bought by Investcorp but it took ten years for Chaumet to recover and it was bought by LVMH in 1999.
Chaumet aimed to produce watches that are pieces of jewellery in their own right, such as La Belle Epoque which has a dial set with diamonds.
In 1950 the Second Empire design appeared which was set with numerous precious stones.
Chaumet has used the services of the best names in fine watch making to design its watches, including Jaeger-Lecoultre, Breguet and Patek Philippe, producing timepieces that are both refined and reliable.
Amongst the most famous of Chaumet’s collections is the Class One, which was the first jewelled diver’s watch with a very fashionable sports chic style. There is also the Khesis, the Dandy, the Attrape-moi...si tu m'aimes, and the Joséphine, in honour of the Empire style.
Chaumet has adapted to Parisian trends throughout the centuries with its creative designs and refusal to compromise on quality. A Chaumet piece is truly a collector’s piece.