Viltier’s Design Duo Has Magnetic Charm

Magnetic Onyx Bracelet With Diamonds Set In 18kt Yellow Gold

In 2020, during the pandemic, Parisian-born and based childhood friends Thomas Montier Leboucher and Iris de la Villardiere joined together to create ultra-modern jewelry with an architectural slant, blending the luxury found in high jewelry with a down-to-earth universal appeal.

Their first collection, named Magnetic, links together diamonds and inlaid stones in oval shapes and represents their ability to seamlessly blend past and present forms into highly wearable, relevant pieces for contemporary jewelry enthusiasts. Montier Leboucher explains, “It is also symbolic of our friendship and embodies our story, how we are connected together by our mutual passion for diamonds and are drawn to one another like a magnet.” The duo has since launched equally tactile and nuanced designs, all hand-crafted and designed in their atelier in Paris. They have expanded their presence in the U.S. with leading retailers Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi and Twist and won the prestigious Couture Show’s Design Award for “Best in Gold Jewelry.” during 2023’s Las Vegas Jewelry Week this past summer.

Here they talk about their backgrounds, shared love of jewelry, inspirations and collection:

When did you first meet and how did you come to start Viltier?

Montier Leboucher: “We first met as young children; our parents were best friends, so we spent much time together growing up. As we got older and progressed through life, we lost touch, but jewelry then brought us back together.”

de la Villardiere : “We were both working in the jewelry industry; Thomas was at Cartier, and I was the Artistic Director at Marie-Helene de Taillac, and we reconnected over coffee. We spent hours discussing everything jewelry and quickly realized we shared a special bond. From then on, we would regularly meet up following the Couture shows in Paris and chat about all the beautiful jewels and our favorite pieces and designs of the season. “

Montier Leboucher: “In 2020, we decided to create Viltier really as a passion project, a shared creative outlet to embark on together, with our mutual love of jewelry as the driving force. We are so unbelievably grateful for the incredible support and recognition the brand has received, especially launching during the pandemic; the encouragement has meant so much to us.”

Was there a particular jewelry designer or brand you bonded over/admired?

Montier Leboucher: “We love any kind of jewelry that has a lot of character or strong distinctive features for different reasons.

de la Villardiere : We are big fans of the innovative technique used for the high jewelry from Boucheron, the playfulness of Taffin, the contemporary design sensibility of Hemmerle and the juicy colors and statement pieces of Verdura and Bulgari

How would you describe the ethos of Viltier?

Montier Leboucher: “I refer to Viltier as “warm luxury.” Paris is home to so many incredible heritage jewelry brands that we greatly admire, but we saw an opportunity in the space of being an independent Parisian Maison. Iris and I wanted to create jewelry made with the finest craftsmanship and stones, synonymous with the established brands. Still, it was important to us that, at the same time, Viltier felt inviting and not intimidating. The brand has a playful vibe; we love using bright colors, from our jewelry to the design curation in our atelier.”

de la Villardiere: “We create jewelry to last and be worn a lifetime, modern yet evergreen pieces. Our collections have a distinctive DNA, which someone familiar with the brand could quickly identify as Viltier. It’s also super important for us to create jewelry of superior craftsmanship. Every piece is 100% hand-crafted in France, made with 18K gold and the highest quality of stones by the most skilled artisans, ensuring the finest quality possible.

How do you both work? Do you focus on different aspects of the business?

Montier Leboucher: “We are both involved in the initial creative process of designing a collection, exchanging ideas, reference images, and seeking inspiration together. From there, Iris will start sketching the pieces while Thomas begins to source the materials and stones and will supervise the technical aspect. We both have expertise in specific areas from our previous roles in the jewelry world, Iris with design and myself on the marketing and business end. We certainly utilize those strengths but, at the same time, are very collaborative on all aspects of Viltier.”

What is your creative process like? Where do you find inspiration?

de la Villardiere: “A large part of our inspiration comes from the people surrounding us, whether it’s a friend or just the attitude and personality of someone sitting at a café, the way that person styles a vintage piece, a scarf around their neck, and other intriguing ways to wear things/ Thomas and I also tend to utilize vocabulary at the beginning of the creative process; our inspiration can often start with one word or sentiment. Next, we typically create one central and significant piece that embodies the collection’s ethos and then design the rest of the jewelry surrounding it.”

Can you elaborate on the craftsmanship of your jewelry?

Montier Leboucher: “Craftsmanship is a core aspect of Viltier, and we are very proud to produce 100% of our designs in France, either in Paris or Lyon. Many skilled artisans who handcraft our jewelry have worked for the Place Vendome for more than 45 years.”

de la Villardiere: “Whenever there is a decision to be made between two choices of technique, we always proceed with the most technical, the one that will make our creations stand out and be truly exceptional. For example, the Magnetic collection would have been perfect for enamel, easier, and more cost-efficient. However, we decided to inlay natural stone instead, as each piece is unique, reflecting the beauty of true craftsmanship.”

What has been your proudest moment so far?

Montier Leboucher: “Last summer, Viltier won the Best in Gold category at the Couture Awards in Las Vegas. It was a special moment for our Paris team as we worked so much on it together. Iris and I had been dreaming of this award for two years, and the joy of actually receiving it and being recognized by veterans in the industry was just so incredible; we will forever be grateful.”