One House, Three Women, A Legacy of Boldness
Since 1945, the house of Françoise Montague has not only been a story of jewelry making, but above all a story of women. Women of independence, vision, and passion who, in turn, have passed the torch to keep alive a name that has become legendary. From the pioneering founder to the young engineer who became the guardian of this heritage, through the tireless builder who made the brand shine internationally, here is the tale in three acts of an extraordinary passing down, where Parisian grace has always gone hand in hand with freedom.
1945 - THE CREATION
It is in the wake of a time in full change that the first chapter of the house is written, carried by a woman of exceptional mettle: Françoise Montague.
A visionary creator, she does not merely found her brand, she breathes her soul into it and gives it her name. Françoise is the very embodiment of post-war modernity. While customs are still strict for her contemporaries, she asserts a rare and fascinating independence: she leads her business with a masterful hand, drives her own car, and smokes with casual elegance.
But behind this avant-garde figure lies a moving story, that of a love broken by History. The name "Montague" that she bears with such pride is in fact that of her first husband, who fell as a hero in the Resistance during the Second World War. In his honour, she had made a solemn promise to keep this name to sign all her jewellery, thus eternalising his memory. A promise of love and absolute faithfulness that, more than eighty years later, still resonates at the heart of every creation.
1978 - THE RESUMPTION
The fate of the house took a new turn at the end of the 1970s, driven by the passion and instinct of a young woman: Marion Stern. Having heard of Françoise Montague’s wish to retire, Marion was only 21 when she decided, supported by her parents, to take over the small workshop of nine people then nestled on Faubourg Saint-Honoré Street.
Despite her youth, she already had an ambitious vision for the brand. Driven by a thirst for growth, she quickly launched production towards international export and tirelessly attended the most prestigious trade fairs, from New York to Tokyo via Paris.
The crowning moment of this boldness came in 1998, when she opened the legendary shop at 231 Saint-Honoré Street, wisely placing the design workshop upstairs to keep the craft close to the customers. A woman of taste and passion, Marion gradually transformed this setting into a true treasure trove. Alongside the house’s sumptuous creations, she began selling vintage or contemporary designer pieces she deeply admired. From the poetry of Line Vautrin to the elegance of Chanel, not forgetting the whimsy of Ciléa, the shop diversified and became the unmissable meeting place for lovers of rare pieces.
2023 - CONTINUITY
The legacy of this line of strong-willed women finds its natural continuation today in Rebecca Mamou-Stern. In 2023, at the age of 31, this engineer with a well-defined path watches Marion Stern, her mother, aspire to a well-earned retirement.
After seven intense years spent in the frenzy of market finance, Rebecca cannot bring herself to see the work of a lifetime, the soul of Françoise Montague, be sold off or vanish. Driven by this deep attachment, she makes the brave choice to leave the rush of trading floors to take the reins of the family house. For three years now, combining the heritage of unique know-how with the discipline of her training, she is finding her footing with a vision firmly turned toward the future.
Aware of the challenges of her time, she is the one who orchestrates the institution’s passage into the digital age. By creating the very first e-commerce website for the brand, she opens the doors of the Paris shop to the whole world, allowing these talismans to be acquired beyond 231 rue Saint-Honoré. A new chapter that proves that boldness and passion, in the women who lead Françoise Montague, are truly everlasting.