STORIES FROM THE ATELIER: CAPUCINE HUGUET
- eliane de luca peres
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
i have been sharing capucine's outstanding work since the very beginning of my page, back in 2020. over the years, i have had the pleasure of following the remarkable evolution of her practice. she is not simply a jeweler; she is the complete package, carrying out her own research, design, drawings, and benchwork with exceptional dedication and skill.
over time, we have spoken about life, travel, cats (she is a fellow cat mama, just like me), the importance of raising awareness about our environment, and, of course, rings.
every award and accolade she has received has been richly deserved, and i have no doubt there are many more to come.
her work is impeccable, thoughtful, and she brings to life deeply meaningful jewelry that not only captivates but also spark conversation and makes a difference. it is a true pleasure to share her story today.
I am a French jewelry designer, and my work moves between science, art, and craftsmanship. My collections are like living archives of the natural world. To develop them, I conduct field research: I meet with scientists and travel to extreme places, from the North Pole to the tropical rainforest, to better understand the topics and stories I want to convey through my jewelry. From the glacial tension of my early work to the sensuality and richness of the rainforest, my aesthetic keeps evolving, but it remains rooted in deep observation and driven by curiosity.
My pieces carry nature's complexity, energy, and the hidden intelligence of the living world. Each jewel tells a very specific story, whether it's about photosynthesis by plankton, Costa Rican leaf-cutter ants, or the different states of a melting iceberg. I'm drawn to creating one-of-a-kind pieces with a distinctive style, where meaning and craftsmanship carry equal weight.That craftsmanship runs through everything I make. I studied jewelry making for four years in Paris (HEJ School, with internships at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels), then completed an MA in Design at Central Saint Martins in London, where I first developed my ambition to use my art as a way to highlight the beauty of nature and the urgent need to protect it. This dual training lets me be both designer and jeweler: I work myself on all my prototypes and ideas, in my studio in Paris, using recycled metals and ethically sourced gemstones.
What I enjoy most is the wax-carving process, it's deeply meditative, and there's nothing quite like watching a block of wax turn into a jewel.This same foundation, technical rigor paired with a scientific curiosity, is what pushes me to explore parametric, futuristic, and highly detailed approaches in my work. I see my creations as wearable works of art, designed for collectors passionate about art, design, and fine craftsmanship, and my ambition is to keep pushing the boundaries of contemporary jewelry design, offering pieces that surprise, intrigue, and inspire awe.
In 2021, my first collection, Wahlenbergbreen Mementos, was awarded the Grand Prix du Jury at the Festival de Hyères — a milestone that pushed me to believe in my work and my particular approach. That recognition found an echo last September, when Melanie Grant's new book, The Jewelry Book, was released, spotlighting 300 of the most influential figures in the jewelry world. Being included among them was deeply rewarding, and it positions me clearly as the jewelry artist I aspire to be.
