ARTHUS BERTRAND

It was in Paris, in 1803, that Claude Arthus Bertrand, an officer in the imperial army, opened a bookshop on the quays of the Seine. He then became the official publisher of the Ministry of the Navy. A few years later, the publisher's grandson, born under the same name as the latter, took over from his grandfather at the head of the bookshop and met Marie-Adelina Marion, whom he married in 1861.

At the same time, Michel-Ange Marion, an officer in the revolutionary army, had his own embroidery business. He created army flags and decorations in the same uniform, and gained fame for the quality of his work, his silks and his rich embroideries. He worked for the prestigious Légion Étrangère, and in 1852 became the official supplier to Napoleon III.  

These two French families were finally reunited through the marriage between Claude, the bookseller's grandson, and Marie-Adelina, Michelangelo's granddaughter. This union will give birth to a Michel-Ange Arthus Bertrand, who, in 1889, will sell the bookshop to devote himself entirely to the embroidery Maison, which he will rename "Arthus Bertrand". 

The company continued to grow in importance and prestige, notably with the release of baptismal medals and jewelry of character in the 1920s and 1930s, in collaboration with illustrious artists of the time. Today, headed by Nicolas Arthus Bertrand, who belongs to the sixth generation, Arthus Bertrand has become the official supplier of medals and decorations to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Still made in France, in workshops located in Saumur and Palaiseau, Arthus Bertrand jewellery is imbued with exceptional traditional know-how, thanks to the rich technical heritage handed down by the nine generations of master craftsmen who have worked for the brand. 

Today, the Maison Arthus Bertrand is a true benchmark in the field of medals and decorations, offering contemporary creations designed to accompany you at all the most important moments in your life. In addition to offering high-quality jewellery, the Maison makes it a point of honour to innovate and diversify in order to continue to develop. 

The brand's aim is to harmonise creativity, technical excellence and profitability thanks to three fundamentals at the heart of its DNA: 

• Diversification of activities ;
• Invention and adaptability;
• Traditional know-how.

Performance, solidarity, transparency and the pleasure of entrepreneurship are all strong values that have made the reputation and notoriety of the brand, which has been successful for over two centuries!

Maison Arthus Bertrand manufactures all its jewellery in France, and is committed to offering quality pieces, made from the most environmentally friendly materials possible, in order to limit its impact. 60% of the gold used to make the jewellery is recycled gold, and the remaining 40% is supplied by a company that is a member of the RJC (Responsible Jewerly Council, which guarantees that the gold does not come from any conflict zone and that it is extracted, transported and marketed in accordance with practices that respect people, the environment and social rights) and is CoC certified (Chain of Custody, an organisation that attests to the good environmental and social practices of the players in the entire supply chain).

Baptismal pendants, crosses and medals

Today, the Maison Arthus Bertrand is best known to the general public for its religious medals. The brand also offers a number of non-religious pendants, which can be offered on the occasion of a birth, a secular christening or a birthday for example. 

The religious models are available in yellow gold 750 thousandths, white gold 750 thousandths or mother-of-pearl, in order to offer the most complete range possible so that each customer can find what he or she is looking for. The representations are varied, including the most traditional motifs such as the Virgin Mary, the Child Jesus or the Dove of Peace, but also more specific motifs such as the Saints or the Merovingian Cross for example. 

For non-religious pendants and medals, Arthus Bertrand offers a range of adorable designs such as hearts, stars, trees of life, etc.

All the jewellery can be engraved to include a personalised message, and to have real meaning for both the person giving and the person receiving it. From a godfather or godmother to their godchild, from a husband to his wife or from a mother to her child, everyone can find an opportunity to give an Arthus Bertrand jewel as a gift, in order to pass on a message of love that can be worn every day and kept for life.

The bracelets

An essential piece of christening jewellery, the bracelet is a precious piece of jewellery that the child can keep for the rest of his or her life. Arthus Bertrand offers an attractive range of bracelets that can be personalised with an engraving, to inscribe the message of your choice. Generally, the child's first name and christening date are inscribed on the bracelet, or the date of birth if the gift is intended for a baby who will not be christened. 

In addition to the most traditional designs such as the calisson or the all-gold rectangle, the brand also offers original designs such as an adorable little cloud, or a tablet decorated with a symbol, religious or not, such as a dove or a tree of life for example! To mark the occasion and please the new mother even more, Arthus Bertrand also offers adult-sized bracelets, which can be given as an echo to the child's jewellery!