Marie-Laure Cérède (pictured) will become director of the Chanel Jewelry Creation Studio in October, the company announced this week.
Cérède was Cartier’s creative director of jewelry and watchmaking from 2016 until earlier this year. She formerly served as artistic director of jewelry and watchmaking at Harry Winston for 14 years. She began her career at Cartier before joining Harry Winston.
In her new role, Cérède will work closely with Chanel teams in Paris and Geneva teams. She will report to Frédéric Grangié, the brand’s president of watches and fine jewelry.
Cérède called Chanel a “singular cultural force and exceptional discipline” in a statement about her appointment.
“Chanel…continues to question convention, redefine femininity, and express modernity through form and spirit. I am looking forward to meeting the teams and writing the new chapter together,” she said.
The previous head of Chanel’s Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, Patrice Leguéreau, died in November 2024 at age 54. He had held the job for 15 years.
A graduate of ESCP, the European business school, Cérède was born and raised in Gabon, where she developed a sensitivity to nature, colors, and cultures of the world that have shaped a lifelong admiration of decorative arts and crafts, according to Chanel’s statement.
Chanel has been on something of a media high since the fall 2025 debut of its collections by Matthieu Blazy, artistic director for haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories. Clients and fashion writers are loving his work—giving rise to the term “Chanelmania.”
Cérède’s appointment indicates Chanel is interested in amping up its accessories business even more, with Grangié noting in a statement that her impact on the company could be significant in the months and years to come.
“Her approach to creativity as a delicate balance between heritage, emotion, audacity, and restraint will bring a new perspective to the Chanel codes that define our unique creations. Marie-Laure’s imagination and deep expertise in craft and knowledge of gemology will take Chanel in exciting new directions,” Grangié said.
Reporting on the hire, Luxury Tribune wrote, “For the time being, jewelry remains a relatively modest pillar within Chanel’s overall business, but one of significant strategic value. The house does not disclose precise figures for the division, but analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that the watches and fine jewelry business accounts for around 5% of the group’s turnover, representing nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.”
(Photo courtesy of Chanel)
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