Louis Rousselet

The French jewellery brand owned by Louis Rousselet (1892-1980) began in 1922 in a Parisian suburb of Menilmontant. Born in Paris, eight-year old Louis was an apprentice to Monsieur Rousseau, where he mastered bead making techniques.

Having started the production of glass and galalith (an early plastic) beads, he also developed glass faux baroque pearl beads that imitate natural ones, using a special technique involving a coating of d’Orient essence, a composition of fish scales. Handcrafted and meticulously polished, all Rousselet beads in a wide variety of colours and styles allowed the designer to create exquisite jewellery, as well as selling beads to designers like Coco Chanel.