Emaux Bressans, the absolute gem of Bresse | Bourg-en-Bresse destinations

It’s quite an art

For centuries, these outstanding, one-of-a-kind treasures have been made in Bourg-en-Bresse. Emaux Bressans. Rest assured, there are no old-fashioned designs in sight! Jeanvoine jewellers has managed to respect the traditional manufacturing process to the letter, while creating jewellery with a modern design. That is what earned them the Living Heritage Company label.

Perfect blend of modernity and tradition

You’re probably itching to see the rare objects. Prepare yourselves to be dazzled. The range of colours is extraordinary. Quartz dyed using so many different shades of blue, from the lightest to the brightest, shades of green, garnet red, orange, yellow, white and black. The enamel is invariably decorated with gold foil and a central gem and is added to a simple frame. The shapes used are not always circular. There is a superb range of geometric shapes. The creations feature squares and elegant rectangles. They produce a wide range of products, including pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings and watches. Maison Jeanvoine is always innovating, an example of this is their champagne stoppers. The decorative details in Bresse enamel suit all sorts of objects and there’s something for everyone.

All products are handmade on-site just above the shop.

The decoration inside the shop is just as unique as its creators, who work meticulously, following many steps and firing procedures.

Symbolic jewellery for all Bresse households

To achieve this, the creators needed to be passionate about their town and region. The Jeanvoine family wanted to make sure this longstanding tradition continued. The archives feature accounts of the sword of Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy, decorated with Bresse enamels in 1397, at the time when the town was under Savoyard rule. The profession was recognised in the middle of the 19th century and Bresse enamels were then used as jewels by the upper class and became symbolic for all Bresse households.