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Laura Gallon Joaillerie – A French Jewelry Brand Inspired by a Family Legacy

Inspired by the work of her great-grandparents, who were fine jewelers in France in the early 20th century.

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Laura Gallon Joaillerie – A French Jewelry Brand Inspired by a Family Legacy

(PRESS RELEASE) In a move filled with optimism for the new year, jewelry designer Laura Gallon has unveiled a new brand, Laura Gallon Joaillerie, inspired by the work of her great-grandparents, who were fine jewelers in France in the early 20th century.

The brand’s first collection of jewels is titled “Alice,” named after Laura Gallon’s great-grandmother. The collection is based on a pair of Art Deco fan-shaped platinum and diamond earrings created by Gallon’s great-grandfather Georges Gallon, for Alice in 1920.

“The Alice collection is, in essence, a love story,” Laura Gallon says. “These beautiful Art Deco earrings were passed down to my father who in turn passed them down to me. It represents a tribute to my jewelry heritage.”

The brand launched on January 1, 2022, and the jewels from the collection are available exclusively on the newly launched website: www.lauragallon.com.

The Alice collection has a decidedly Art Deco influence. All the pieces are crafted in France in historic ateliers known for their artisan details. Some of the workshops specialize in specific skills, such as gem setting or mother-of-pearl inlay. The jewels contain the mystique and essence of jewelry from a country known for its romantic expressions in designs and craftsmanship.

Despite their Art Deco nature, the new pieces reflect a contemporary quality and contain a much more diverse group of materials not normally used for jewels from this period. The collection of 21 earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets in 18K yellow, white, and rose gold are set with a variety of colored gemstones.

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The pieces are delicate in their designs with striking understated details. For instance, an 18K yellow gold necklace titled “Ange”, features a wing-shaped pendant in 18K gold and diamonds. A round diamond acts as a focal point on top of the pendant. On the bottom, the iridescent shine of mother-of-pearl is revealed.

The band of the “Enlacer” ring is crafted in 18K white gold in a wave pattern. Centering the ring are a blue and purple spinel embraced by a string of white diamonds.

The “Parisienne” ring celebrates the City of Lights with an emerald cut pink spinel framed by 18K white gold triangular shapes paved with diamonds.

For the 32-year-old French native, this new brand and collection represent her personal taste as much as her family’s heritage.

“It is definitely a form of self-expression. It reflects who I am as a person,” Gallon said. “I’ve taken dance lessons since I was three years old. It taught me a lot about non-verbal communication. Jewelry design is a means for me to do that. My pieces are feminine and elegant at the same time. Timeless rather than trendy. These are pieces that are designed to be worn years from now.”

Laura Gallon Joaillerie is actually a rebrand. Gallon, who currently lives in Los Angeles, started her jewelry business under Aura Fine Gems in 2020 where she introduced two collections with names inspired by her fashion background: “Haute Color” and “Ready-To-Wear.”

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Laura Gallon Joaillerie, which launched January 1, 2022, combines Gallon’s personal expression with her family heritage and French savoir-faire. All these influences are intertwined resulting in contemporary jewels that are elegant yet designed to be worn throughout the day.

Gallon, spent her early career in Paris in the fashion industry working in the marketing departments of Elie Saab, Chloé, and other fashion brands. She then moved to New York where she attended Parsons School of Design. During this time, she worked in the marketing and public relations sides for Vogue magazine, Christian Dior, Karla Otto and Net-A-Porter. She continued her career in the south of France where she worked in digital marketing for luxury resorts.

Throughout her career, Gallon befriended artists and designers who fueled her creative passion. She also developed an appreciation of jewelry design, which she believes is sparked by her family being jewelers in the early 20th century in the French city of Orléans, about 75 miles south of Paris.

She went to London to study at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She described her studies of gemology and jewelry as “love at first sight,” and later decided to continue her education at the GIA headquarters in Carlsbad, California. After obtaining her Graduate Gemologist degree and a certificate in jewelry design she was hired by a jewelry manufacturer in Los Angeles where she worked in design and production, gem sourcing, as well as managing the website and social media. She also served as a point of contact for the creation of bespoke pieces.

“Then Covid hit, and I had a lot of free time on my hands” she says. “That’s when I decided to create Aura Fine Gems.”

Her new brand is focused on the story of her family who were jewelers selling fine jewelry, silver dining sets and porcelain objects until the outbreak of World War II forced them to move to Paris. Without a successor, the business came to end. For Gallon, following this heritage is like “building a puzzle and putting the pieces together.”

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“For me, that family heritage is very special. It gives sense to everything I do. During World War II, my great-grandparents left Orléans and migrated to Paris. The business ended when they passed away. It is an honor for me to bring it back to life.”

But the love story continues. Through generations and across oceans this story has been reimagined through a set of earrings that has survived within the same family for 100 years. A token of love that fueled a family legacy and is now being shared with the world.

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SPONSORED VIDEO

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”

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