Inès de la Fressange is obsessed with this under-the-radar French jewellery brand
Finding a French jewellery brand that is both under the radar and offers sculptural, accessible pieces can feel like an impossible task. Yet Inès de la Fressange has already done the legwork for you. In the new edition of her book La Parisienne, published by Flammarion, the icon of Parisian style reveals the jewellery address she had been quietly keeping to herself.
Charlotte Chesnais, a French jewellery brand born from an exceptional background
Before launching her own house in 2015, Charlotte Chesnais trained under Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga. That stint at one of fashion’s most prestigious maisons gave her a strong, instantly recognisable visual signature. The result is a French jewellery brand unlike anything else on the market today.
Her designs are defined by rounded forms, graphic curves and fluid lines. Each piece sits somewhere between jewellery and sculpture, with a sensual yet pared-back aesthetic. It is precisely this duality that won over Inès de la Fressange, who is always on the lookout for designers who surprise without tipping into excess.
What Inès de la Fressange says about these pieces
In La Parisienne, the former model does not mince her words. She describes Charlotte Chesnais’s creations as modern jewellery, exactly what you want to be wearing right now. She notes that they always have something unexpected about them, while displaying a remarkable purity. That double register, balancing the surprising with the restrained, perfectly captures the DNA of this French jewellery house.
Inès de la Fressange also points out that Charlotte Chesnais works in vermeil as well as more precious materials. This diversity of materials allows the brand to speak to a wide range of customers, from lovers of everyday jewellery to collectors seeking rarer pieces.
Prices that cover a wide spectrum
- Ear cuffs start from €180.
- Some pieces can exceed €1,000.
- The brand offers vermeil as well as more precious materials.
- All creations are available directly on the brand’s official website.
This broad price range is one of the real strengths of this French jewellery brand. It means you can step into the Charlotte Chesnais universe without necessarily making a major investment. An ear cuff at €180 is a realistic entry point for anyone wanting to own a piece of contemporary, singular jewellery.
For bigger budgets, pieces above €1,000 sit firmly in the realm of exceptional jewellery. They are aimed at those seeking a rare piece with a strong visual identity, far removed from the big high-street names.
How to buy pieces from this under-the-radar French jeweller
Charlotte Chesnais does not yet have a physical boutique. Inès de la Fressange makes this clear in her book: the pieces are bought directly online, through the brand’s official website. This fully digital distribution is entirely in keeping with the house’s confidential positioning.
As a result, this French jewellery brand remains difficult to find outside its own sales channel, and it is precisely that exclusivity that appeals to Inès de la Fressange, who says she prefers small brands you cannot find everywhere. In her book, she also name-checks labels such as Delphine & Victor, Céline Lefébure, Rive Droite and Jacquemus, but it is Charlotte Chesnais that captures her attention on the jewellery front.
In 2026, this French jewellery label, founded in 2015, continues to quietly establish itself as a reference for fashion lovers in search of authenticity. Inès de la Fressange’s endorsement in La Parisienne should logically bring it a wider audience, without betraying its under-the-radar DNA.
