By Diana S. Zimmerman
One glance at Isabelle Langlois’ stunning collections and you know there is a master designer at work. The intricacy and balance of each perfectly crafted piece evokes a sense elegance and desire. And it’s no wonder. She comes from a heritage of supreme craftsmanship and beauty.
In 1929, Isabelle’s grandfather, René Grospiron, left his village in the Jura Mountains of France and opened a lapidary company in Paris. Known for its superior craftsmanship, the Jura Mountain region has been home to some of the finest stonecutters since the 17th century. As watchmaking in Geneva grew, so did the need for cut stones. During the harsh Jura winters, farmers spent long hours on their lapidary bench. The number of cutters grew from 700 in 1760 to over 8,000 in 1920. It is this culture of fine craftsmanship that Isabelle’s grandfather embraced.
Excellence continued to flow through her family as Isabelle’s father, Daniel Piat, an internationally renowned gemmologist, joined the business in 1961, giving it a strong push forward. Travelling throughout the major mining areas of the time—Columbia, Brazil, Burma, Thailand, and Cambodia—he searched for the finest raw gems for the company’s cutting facilities
With ever-expanding demand, Isabelle’s older brother, Eric, opened a facility in Thailand to source and cut gems, thereby ensuring only the finest quality. Her younger brother, Emmanuel, joined the Parisian family business that provides the Place Vendôme’s most-renowned brands with their rarest gems.
As a child, Isabelle also showed a passion and genius for selecting exquisite gems, having been introduced to stonecutting by her grandfather, and gemmology by her father. Drawing jewels had been Isabelle’s passion since she first played with the contents of her mother’s jewel box and marvelled at Empress Farah Diba’s crown for which her father provided gems. Later, it was her aunt, Catherine Vassort—whose company Isabelle joined after completing her business studies and one of the most prestigious Haute Joaillerie workshops of the time—who introduced Isabelle to creating jewellery. There, her innate sense of colour blossomed.
In 1993, Isabelle started her own company and collections. The reaction was immediate and so was the demand— first in Europe, then across the globe. As her brand grew, so did her need for ever more beautiful precious gems and expert manufacturing and quality control. By this time, Eric had assembled a highperforming workshop under French management in Bangkok. There, her captivating designs are brought to life.
In 2010, Isabelle discovered a small Parisian courtyard at 12 rue de la Paix— just opposite Cartier’s main shop. It was the perfect address to showcase her creations, and where today she often personally welcomes her customers. Isabelle was born to beauty, but it’s her remarkable talent that allows each of us to experience the colour and magnificence she brings to every jewel.
