Maison Tournaire's Fleur mécanique holds the Voyage Précieux ring
© Maison Tournaire
With its bronze cogs that open like the petals of a flower to reveal an exceptional jewelry piece, Maison Tournaire’s Fleur mécanique is midway between a presentation box and an objet d’art.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2023, Maison Tournaire unveiled Fleur mécanique, a jewelry coffret crafted to showcase the French family-owned jeweler's savoir-faire. A spherical structure made up of numerous gears, like those found in engines or watches, sits atop a plinth, which acts like a "key". Turning the plinth opens the structure like the petals of a flower to reveal the jewel inside: Voyage Précieux, a ring made of white gold, sapphire, tourmaline and diamonds.
Fleur mécanique is in bronze, made using the lost wax casting technique ©Maison Tournaire
The bronze spherical structure is made using the lost wax casting technique, while the technical pieces and engraved plinth are in brass. The bronze is patinated by hand and then polished. A felt and foam cushion holds the ring in place.
The complex internal mechanism was a technical challenge, Maison Tournaire CEO Mathieu Tournaire explains to Formes de Luxe: "We had to ensure that it was easy to open and close without the user needing specific tools, and that the petals perfectly interlock when closed".
Fleur mécanique is the first in a limited series of eight to 10 pieces. The price is still under wraps, but the ring alone retails for €34,000.
Maison Tournaire looks to wood packaging
Packaging wise, Maison Tournaire is swapping its imitation leather jewelry boxes for lacquered wood. Does this mean that less sustainable packaging formats could eventually be phased out? "Jewelry packaging is a real issue," says Tournaire. "It’s not like cardboard packaging for toothpaste. When we are selling rings for €1,000, €10,000 or €100,000, the box is non-negotiable. We need beautiful boxes to showcase the jewelry!"
Tournaire says the jewelry house is also working on a new "secret box", which it qualifies as an art object meant to be a keepsake. "The person receiving the ring as a gift will have to find the code to open the box; the idea being to enrich the consumer experience," he explains. This too will be made in bronze in the company’s workshops in Montbrison.
To fete its 50th anniversary this year, Maison Tournaire commissioned special shopping bags and ribbons (Oriol & Fontanel, Neyret), as well as a tote bag that is made in France using recycled cotton (Les Tissages de Charlieu/Indispensac).
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Maison Tournaire released dedicated shopping bags and ribbons ©Maison Tournaire
Presentation boxMaison Tournaire
