HOW TO DISCERN THE REAL “MADE IN FRANCE” ?
It is not a great news, the return of the Made in France jewelry is undeniable. The great crisis of the coronavirus has anchored the habits born in radical changes. The polemics of Francolavage of the marks pushed the French to refocus by turning to a great transparency and ethics. How to be sure that your purchase is Made in France?
THE DEFINITION OF “MADE IN FRANCE”:
If it seems that it is easy to define a product “Made in France”, it is however more and more difficult to find one’s way. Quite intuitively, we can qualify it as such when a large part of its production is French.
This does not mean that all the raw materials of the object have been produced and assembled in France.
But beware! Today, we find more and more jewels with the mention “French manufacture”, allowing them to thwart the official names and pass through the requirements of a French transparency.
The institutionalization of Made In France has allowed sectors such as luxury fashion or French gastronomy to acquire their letters of nobility abroad. Having a product made in France is the assurance of having an incomparable know-how and a quality object that cannot be found elsewhere!
THE RESOURCES TO KNOW IF YOUR JEWEL IS FRENCH :
The best way to be sure that your jewel is from France is the label. In France, there are several labels that certify it:
- The geographical indication: This certification is awarded when the product in question meets the specifications of the geographical area in question. Most of the time, these products are recognized worldwide, but there are only three currently approved by the INPI: Brittany granite, Liffol seats and the famous Limoges porcelain.
2. France Guaranteed Origin: Being labeled as such allows to certify that the cost price of the product is acquired between 50% and 100% in France.
3. France Terre Textile: It allows a guarantee of a minimum of 75% of the manufacturing steps carried out in France.
THE BEST CERTIFICATION, THE “LIVING HERITAGE COMPANY OF FRANCE” LABEL ;) :
At Ciléa, our main opportunity is to have obtained in 2018 an extremely selective label: the “Living Heritage Company” label. This sesame is awarded only after a visit to the manufacturing workshop and a very specific interview. Only four brands of costume jewelry have obtained this precious label! The icing on the cake: the label also rewards a unique and excellent know-how. It is therefore a guarantee that your Ciléa jewelry is indeed made in France. At the same time, this label also strives to boost the activity of its members. Many events are organized by the team, in partnership with the “Institut National des Métiers d’Art”. It is for example thanks to these initiatives that we had the chance to participate in the shop of Monoprix Montparnasse in 2020. We also had the immense joy and privilege to be part of the companies present at the Pop up excellent, on the cities of Paris, Lille, Caen and Lyon the same year.
Why did we receive the “Living Heritage Company” label?
Our know-how comes from innovative techniques developed by Line Vautrin and Monique Védie since the beginning of the 20th century. This know-how has been perpetuated by Stéphane Ravel. Today, our workshop, located in Rennes, perpetuates the same gestures as those of our predecessors. Each step of the manufacturing process of a jewel is done manually according to techniques that require years of learning.
Today, the know-how is passed on to Améline and Ambre, the workshop’s latest recruits. Cyril and Stéphane teach them the secrets of this exceptional craft. These techniques are not learned in one go. For example, the painting of the pistils of the reference model Anemone requires a very specific expertise. The slightest stain on one of the petals of the Anemone and the jewel is ruined.
“Every brush stroke must be perfect. The slightest mistake is fatal for a flower model like this one. At the studio, we each have a pattern we prefer to make based on our talent. Mine, I think, is the engraving of the leaves. It’s just as much of a painstaking task, but yet I get it right almost every time. There’s no explaining it!”
Ameline
