n this article, we give the floor to a young jewelry designer, Lucille GILBERT, recently discovered during an internship at Maison Dalloz.
Hello Lucille, can you introduce yourself?
My name is Lucille Gilbert, I am 25 years old, I grew up in Besançon, Franche-Comté, and I am currently collaborating with Maison Dalloz.
I arrived here, in Septmoncel, in the Haut-Jura, as part of a professional internship for my artistic jewelry studies. The goal was to create a series of gouache renderings featuring their stones, to illustrate their new website.
What were the key stages in your training journey?
Since childhood, I have always been immersed in the world of drawing. I loved sketching everything around me, mostly characters, with a particular fascination for faces and bodies.
Even though I pursued a purely literary academic path, I always took art classes in parallel.
During high school, I attended drawing classes at a studio called L’Atelier Esquisse to learn the fundamentals of different painting techniques.
I then continued by enrolling in evening classes at the Beaux-Arts in Besançon, where I refined my illustration drawing skills.
After obtaining a Master’s degree in Philosophy, I decided to join the DN MADE program (Diplôme National des Métiers d’Art et du Design) at École de Morteau, specializing in artistic jewelry. This training prepares students for craft professions in jewelry and goldsmithing, and it was there that I discovered a true passion for jewelry and gemstone design.
This program also gave me my first hands-on experience in jewelry making.
For the future, I hope to specialize in jewelry design and conception as a professional career path.
What led you to specialize in jewelry design?
I only recently discovered jewelry design while studying at the jewelry school.
It was primarily my artistic inclination that led me to this specialization, but also a deep fascination with the world of jewelry.
What do you love most about this profession?
With my artistic background, I have always felt more connected to hand-drawn sketches rather than digital design. I love the traditional form of drawing, using pencils, brushes, and other tools to bring my sketches to life on paper.
Working by hand allows me to better feel what I am creating and to infuse emotion into my designs.
Beyond requiring advanced technical and artistic skills, this profession also demands the freedom to let imagination speak, which is what I love most about it—it allows me to fully express my creativity.
Tell us about your creative process
First, I start by thinking about the message I want to convey.
This serves as the guiding principle throughout the creative process, giving meaning to my jewelry piece.
Once the core idea is established, I gather inspiration to define the style of my creation.
Next comes the interpretation phase, where I choose materials, colors, and shapes based on their significance.
Once I have clearly defined and structured my project, the next step is to develop the overall shape of the jewelry by creating graphical proposals.
This stage involves making one or more artistic sketches. I first draw them in pencil to highlight the details, then I add color using a watercolor wash. This technique consists of diluting paint with water to create different levels of transparency. The goal is to find the best harmony between volumes and color play. At this point, the creation starts to reveal its final appearance.
What are your sources of inspiration?
I often draw inspiration from nature, its shapes, textures, and colors.
I have a particular affinity for Art Nouveau, a movement that strongly influences many of my creations.
More generally, contemporary design is a goldmine of inspiration for me, regardless of the field—whether it’s architecture, fashion, or product design.
Can you tell us about the gouache illustrations you created with DALLOZ stones for the website?
When I arrived at Dalloz, I was given the task of creating a series of illustrations to visually enhance the brand’s future e-commerce website. They gave me complete creative freedom for this project.
I chose a nature-inspired universe, directly influenced by the typical landscapes of the Haut-Jura mountains. I designed several rings and earrings in this style, incorporating “Dendritic Quartz” and “Peridot“, which I find highly complementary in their color play.
I must admit that selecting the right stones was quite a challenge, given the extensive range available at Maison Dalloz. However, I had to make a decision… and in the end, I followed my intuition and emotions.
What will you take away from your internship at Dalloz?
This experience at Maison Dalloz allowed me to closely observe exceptional gemstones and discover rare varieties that are not commonly seen.
In terms of the work environment, I particularly appreciated the creative freedom I was given to produce my designs. I enjoy working independently, especially when I have the best conditions and resources to do so. Here, I had ample time and access to an extensive selection of stone models, which I hope allowed me to deliver high-quality work.
I must also say that working in such a beautiful setting as the Haut-Jura, surrounded by inspiring people, was an incredible source of inspiration.
What are your plans for the future?
Going freelance? Why not!
I want to design jewelry and create collections that tell a story—where the gemstone takes center stage.
I believe that hard stones have so much to reveal to us, offering an endless source of inspiration for designers like myself.
The fact that some gems are the result of an incredibly long, uncontrolled natural process makes them all so unique and fascinating.
I think it’s this singularity that gives each jewelry piece its own unique value.
Feel free to explore Lucille Gilbert’s work on her Instagram.
