Emilie Mellerio, who heads Mellerio dits meller, a French jewellery with a 400-year history, is the 15th generation president of the Mellerio family. As she travels the world while raising a young child, we spoke to her about Mellerio's history and future prospects.

[What is Mellerio dits meller?]
Mellerio dits meller (hereinafter referred to as Mellerio) is a completely independent maison. France is home to one of the top five world-class jewellers, run by the founding family for generations. However, around 20 years ago, large corporations began to take part in the management of these jewellers and began to develop the market more aggressively, and now Mellerio is the only independent maison. "Our first priority is the pursuit of creativity, in order to become a truly Mellerio-like, unique presence. Fortunately, we possess the craftsmanship cultivated over 400 years of history, the DNA to capture the spirit of the times, the ability to evolve, and sensibilities nurtured through relationships of trust with our customers."

These strengths support Mellerio's reason for existence.

[France's history is Mellerio's history]
In the 400 years since its founding, the company has seen the waves of many eras wash over it. During the monarchy, it was beloved by Marie de' Medici, wife of King Louis XIII, and its close relationship with the royal family has continued ever since. On the eve of the French Revolution, which began in the late 18th century, the family fled to Spain with all of their jewelry, and was also favored by Queen Isabella of Spain. During the French Empire, Empress Eugénie was listed as a customer. It could be said that the Mellerio family's fate has been intertwined with the history of France.

"The archives still contain documents from that time, design drawings, and accounting documents. Looking at them, you can get a glimpse into each person's history and get a real sense of the passage of time."

[Mellerio and the Japanese sensibility]

"I think the sensibilities of the Japanese people are very similar to those of the French. In fact, Japan is the second largest market after France, and they share the way we perceive Mellerio's message and our values towards tradition, and they understand Mellerio's elegance very well."

The Mellerio cut, renowned for its oval shape and beautiful sparkle, is the only cut in the world named after a jeweler. It was patented in 2004 with the aim of creating a cut that is both elaborate in technique and naturally blends into the wearer's outfit, and collections have been released since 2005. This shape is said to be well-received as it embodies the "cute" aesthetic preferred by Japanese women.

[High Jewelry and the Internet]
"I believe that the aspirations and dreams of the beautiful world of jewelry should be accessible to everyone. If high jewelry is perceived as a work of art, I feel that there is a connection there with the internet."

In reality, high jewelry is something that only a select few can see or touch. Jewelry was once said to be a symbol of wealth and power, but in recent years there has been a movement to view it as art created by the skill and wisdom of artisans.

Emily, the young president, looks ahead to the next 100 years and seems intent on predicting the times. With her young child waiting in Paris, she has kept her time in Japan to a minimum, only making a two-day business trip. As a woman living today, she possesses an appeal that rivals the brilliance of jewelry.