What is bijouterie?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Bijouterie is a French term for the craft and trade of making fine personal jewellery, traditionally pieces that rely on the skill of the metalworker and the artistry of enamel, gold and semi-precious stones. In French the trade distinguishes between bijouterie, which focuses on craftsmanship and decorative metalwork, and joaillerie, which centres on the setting of precious gemstones. Outside France the word is used loosely to describe small, personal jewellery pieces or the workshops and boutiques that make them.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between bijouterie and joaillerie?
- In the French jewellery trade, bijouterie refers to decorative metalwork and personal ornaments where the craft of the maker is the main value, while joaillerie is the art of setting precious stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds. High jewellery houses typically practise both.
- Where does the word bijouterie come from?
- It comes from the French word bijou, meaning a small jewel or trinket, which itself may derive from a Breton word for a ring. The suffix turns it into the craft or trade of making such pieces.
- Is bijouterie still used as a term today?
- Yes, particularly in French-speaking countries and in the international luxury trade. You will see it on the shopfronts of French jewellers and in the names of historic Parisian jewellery houses.
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