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-“A jewel is defined first and foremost by its story, not by its carat weight."
Mazarin
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1. Tell us about your background, what led you to jewelry? What was your childhood dream?
Louise: I was lucky enough to grow up with a beautiful step grandmother who had an incredible collection of jewellery and who taught me a lot about stones and the history of jewellery. After joining the GIA gemology school in London in 2013, I immediately knew I wanted to make my career in jewellery. I then worked for 4 years in the jewellery department at Christie’s in London and met Keagan in 2019 at Pierre Bergé. Our friendship and complementarity led us to create Mazarin.
Keagan: Gems have always been a passion since childhood when my mother, who was in the field, taught me how to identify them. I also always drew a lot, often inspired by the wild world, and my dream was to one day be able to live from this passion. I studied art history and archaeology at the Sorbonne before passing the gemology diploma to then head the jewellery department at Pierre Bergé for almost ten years. In 2019, I met Louise and 3 years later, we created Mazarin.
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2. How did your duo come about? What motivated you to create Mazarin?
We met at the Pierre Bergé & Associates auction house where we worked together in the jewellery department. After a long time appraising stones and antique jewellery, we wanted to do something with our shared passion and friendship, but resolutely oriented towards the future. Thus, with Louise’s entrepreneurial desire and Keagan’s creative drive, Mazarin was born.
3. Why did you choose the name Mazarin for such a modern brand?
Mazarin is certainly a historic name, but the character was very visionary in his political decisions for France. What particularly attracted us was Mazarin the collector because, in addition to his art collections, the Cardinal had a unique collection of 18 important diamonds which he bequeathed to the Crown of France upon his death. Today, only 3 remain, housed in the Louvre. The idea of a historical figure close to the arts and oriented towards the future resonated greatly with us, given our past in auctions and our vision for our house.
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4. What are your respective roles in the creative process?
The process varies depending on the designs, which can have a more artistic scope or a more commercial purpose. For the most inventive pieces (like those in the Mazarin collection or emblematic pieces), Keagan imagines the themes and/or is inspired by stones presented to him with the greatest freedom. For more "commercial" pieces, a set of specifications must be followed. In both cases, the drawings are presented to Louise who gives her final opinion.
5. Why the elephant?
We chose the elephant as a totem because of its great memory, which echoes our attachment to history and heritage. It also reflects our association as it is appreciated in both the East and the West. Depending on the culture, it represents luck, wisdom, longevity, but always remains a highly positive symbol. The elephant also represents strength and fragility, prompting us to open our eyes to environmental issues.
6. You now work exclusively with natural diamonds. Why this choice?
When we founded Mazarin, we came from the world of auction houses. We knew that the value of a jewel lies first and foremost in its story, not in its carat weight. The Maison initially worked with lab-grown diamonds and recycled gold — not out of ideology, but out of coherence with our time: audacity, innovation, responsible creation.
Today, we are taking a new step: natural stones now lie at the heart of our creations. Not as a renunciation, but as a requirement. Lab-grown diamonds fulfilled their role: democratizing, challenging conventions, opening the way to a more conscious form of jewellery. But they are no longer rare. And at Mazarin, exclusivity is non-negotiable. With the same devotion to gemmology, the same sharp eye shaped by years in the art world and auction houses, and the same Mazarin signature, we reaffirm our purpose. Welcome to the new era of Mazarin: beauty, carried in its natural form.
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7. How do you select your diamonds? What are your standards in terms of quality and traceability?
We select our diamonds with the utmost rigour, prioritising both exceptional quality and impeccable traceability. When it comes to traceability, we work exclusively with trusted partners who comply with international ethical standards, notably the Kimberley Process.
8. Heritage and naturality seem central to your approach. How does this philosophy influence the way you work with stones?
At Mazarin, heritage and naturality guide our work with stones.
We favour natural gemstones, selected for their singularity and character, and design our creations to reveal their original beauty. Each stone inspires the design, in respect of jewellery savoir-faire and a strong ethical commitment.
9. Where are your jewellery pieces made? Can you tell us more about your workshops and the importance of craftsmanship?
All of our jewellery is made in France. We are deeply attached to the great tradition of French jewellery-making, and our most elaborate pieces are crafted by some of the finest jewellers from Place Vendôme. We provide the initial design and work closely with the workshops at every stage, in a continuous dialogue that leads all the way through to the final finish of each piece.
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10. How do you reconcile jewellery heritage and modernity in your collections?
At Mazarin Paris, we combine the traditional savoir-faire of French jewellery with a contemporary design language. Our pieces are handcrafted in Paris using classical techniques, while embracing clean, modern lines. We work with responsible materials and current processes to meet today’s ways of wearing jewellery. The aim is to offer jewellery that is exacting, contemporary, and enduring.
11. Finally, if you had to describe Mazarin jewelry in 3 words, what would they be?
Inventive, symbolic, eternal.
Thank you for answering all our questions and welcome to WHITEbIRD!
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Mazarin
at WHITEbIRD
Available in our Saint-Germain boutique
boutiquesaintsperes@whitebirdjewellery.com
Boutique
opening hours
Mon: 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tue-Sat: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Discover Mazarin jewellery
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