Raphaëlle Coqblin is the founder and creative director of Raphaëlle Coqblin Paris, a contemporary fine jewellery Maison established in 2025. After spending years in investment banking, she pursued formal training at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) before launching her own house.

The Maison specialises in bold, feminine designs created as modern heirlooms, working exclusively with 18k gold, exceptional coloured gemstones, and GIA-certified diamonds. Her signature Crush Nova collection features a distinctive 16-point star motif inspired by constellations and celestial light, available in vibrant gemstone combinations from deep sapphires to luminous tsavorites and diamonds.

Raphaëlle Coqblin Paris is available online worldwide and through private appointments in Paris. From March 2026, the Maison will be showcased within the Galerie du Ritz Paris. The brand has been featured in ELLE, ELLE Deco, Gala, and Maison Actuelle, amongst others.

You spent years in investment banking before founding Raphaëlle Coqblin Paris in 2025. What was the defining moment that made you realise fine jewellery was where you wanted to direct your ambition, and how did your financial background shape the way you approached building the Maison?

“My path into fine jewellery began unexpectedly. I met a diamond dealer with whom I designed my engagement ring and several other pieces over time. He recognised how deeply I was drawn to gemstones and encouraged me to formalise that passion, which led me to graduate from the GIA.

“The defining moment came when I became a mother. I realised it was the right time in my life to pivot. I wanted my daughter to grow up seeing a fulfilled woman, a mother who followed her dreams and allowed herself to have ambition. That personal decision became the catalyst for founding the Maison.

“My background in investment banking has been a tremendous asset. It shaped my discipline, my resilience, and my attention to detail. I worked in an environment where standards were extremely high and precision was non-negotiable. That mindset translates directly into how I build the brand. I also have a very strong “investor’s eye.” I understand capital allocation and the importance of disciplined investment.

“Many young companies struggle because they burn cash too quickly. For me, every decision is measured, strategic, and built for long-term value.”

Launching a contemporary fine jewellery house is a significant undertaking. What did the early stages of building the brand look like, and what did you learn about entrepreneurship during that process that you could not have anticipated from the outside?

“Launching a contemporary fine jewellery house is both exhilarating and destabilising. When you come from large institutions like investment banks (surrounded by teams, structure, hierarchy) entrepreneurship can feel extremely solitary. As a founder, you are alone in the day-to-day and alone in the final decision-making.

“In the early stages, you are everything at once: financial adviser, accountant, designer, supplier negotiator, PR agent, social media strategist. It is a multi-disciplinary journey. That learning curve is enriching, but it is also intense and, at times, stressful.

“What I learned and could not have fully anticipated from the outside, is how important it is to quickly identify where your strengths lie and where you need support. Delegating to the right experts is not a weakness; it is an investment. Building a Maison is not about doing everything yourself – it is about building the right ecosystem around your vision.”

The Maison works exclusively with 18k gold, exceptional gemstones, and GIA-certified diamonds. What drove your decision to hold firm on those standards from day one, and how does that commitment to maintaining high standards shape every collection?

“From day one, I was clear that the Maison would work exclusively with 18k gold, exceptional coloured gemstones, and GIA-certified diamonds. In high luxury, quality is not optional, it is foundational.

“Our clients are women who are already accustomed to purchasing from major jewellery houses. They are discerning, educated buyers. They are not looking for compromise; they are looking for something distinctive, fresh, and fashion-forward -without sacrificing craftsmanship.

“Our collections are bold and contemporary, but jewellery must remain timeless. These are pieces meant to be kept for a lifetime, then passed on. High standards ensure that each design can truly become a modern heirloom.”

From March 2026, the Maison will be showcased within the Galerie du Ritz Paris, which is one of the world’s most iconic addresses. What does that kind of placement mean for the brand at this stage of its development, and how do you think about the role of physical retail in building a relationship with your client?

“From the beginning, luxury hospitality has been central to our retail strategy. The jewellery purchasing experience is intimate and emotional. It requires an environment that reflects excellence at every touchpoint. Today, luxury hospitality remains one of the sectors where excellence is consistently upheld. That alignment of standards is essential to us.

“Being showcased at the Galerie du Ritz Paris represents more than visibility; it represents credibility. It situates the Maison within an ecosystem of refinement and international clientele. Physical retail, particularly in iconic addresses, allows us to create meaningful, personal encounters with our clients -something that digital alone cannot replicate.”

You describe each piece as a modern heirloom, designed to elevate everyday silhouettes rather than be reserved for special occasions. How has that philosophy influenced the way you design, and do you think it reflects a broader shift in how women today relate to fine jewellery?

“As a Parisian woman, my daily uniform is simple: good jeans and a white shirt. My days move quickly: meetings, atelier visits, picking up my daughter from daycare. I need comfort, but I also want to feel elegant and feminine.

“Accessories are transformative, like handbags, shoes, belts, but jewellery is the most powerful accessory. That is the Maison’s mantra.

“The Crush Nova collection was designed as a series of modern heirlooms: colourful, stackable, modular pieces that elevate even the simplest silhouette. They transition seamlessly from day to evening.

“I do believe there is a broader shift in how women relate to fine jewellery. It has become more playful, more expressive. Women are increasingly independent, many purchase luxury for themselves. The emotional dynamic of acquisition is evolving, jewellery becomes both affirmation and personal statement.”

Building a luxury brand from scratch requires you to be simultaneously the creative vision, the entrepreneur, and the business strategist. How do you manage those different roles, and what has that experience taught you about what it takes to build something in theluxury sector?

“Building a luxury brand requires you to constantly shift between creative vision and strategic execution. Coming from finance, I was used to being a specialist, an expert in selling structured credit financial products. Entrepreneurship forced me into unfamiliar territory.

“It was destabilising at first to make decisions in areas where I was not yet experienced. But that learning curve is deeply energising. I believe it is essential for a founder to understand the fundamentals of every aspect of the business, even if you later delegate.

“The key is balance: mastering enough to make informed decisions, while investing in the expertise of others when necessary. In luxury, precision matters at every stage. Excellence is built through both vision and rigorous execution.”

Building a new Maison gives you the freedom to define your own vision from the ground up. How has that independence shaped the way you’ve developed the brand, and what opportunities does it create that you find most exciting?

“Building a Maison from scratch means there are no archives to rely on, no historical codes to reinterpret. That freedom is both exhilarating and challenging.

“I am naturally someone who questions and refines. We developed multiple prototypes before arriving at the distinctive identity of Crush Nova. Without a legacy house background, I had to search for a visual language that was recognisable and singular.

“Independence forces clarity. You must listen, observe, adjust. I do not view mistakes as failures. The ability to adapt, to analyse what works and what does not, is essential. Building a Maison is a continuous evolution.”

Looking ahead, what is the ambition for Raphaëlle Coqblin Paris over the next few years, whether in terms of new collections or retail expansion, what would success look like to you, personally, as its founder?

“I would like to open a flagship in Paris within the next two years, a space that fully embodies the Maison’s universe. I also aim to expand further into luxury hospitality, particularly in resort and winter destinations, as well as carefully selected retailers in the United States and the UAE, markets whose spirit and energy resonate with the brand.

“Creatively, we will expand into new collections while maintaining our distinctive design language. Success, for me personally, would be seeing women around the world wearing Raphaëlle Coqblin Paris alongside the most respected jewellery houses, not as an alternative, but as a natural presence. A Maison recognised for its singularity, its standards, and its emotional resonance.”