Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Bardet
Hi Melanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a designer by trade with a background in art, architecture, and a master’s degree in interior architecture—skills I honed through creating highly custom interiors, notably at Knoll. Born and raised in Miami’s Coconut Grove, I eventually felt drawn to shift my design practice from a macro to micro scale, embracing a more intimate approach. In 2023, I began training as a jeweler in Washington, DC, under a local goldsmith.
In late 2022, I was at a crossroads, rethinking my career and searching for the kind of work that would truly fulfill me. I knew I wanted to stay in design—I love leading a creative life—but I was seeking clarity. I spent hours journaling and reflecting on what might be next. Then, in October, a recruiter from Nike invited me to compete for a spot in the Serena Williams Design Crew, a unique opportunity in jewelry, accessory design, and apparel. As I advanced through each round, I felt a powerful pull towards jewelry design. I even told myself, “If I don’t make it past the fourth round, I’ll still go for this.” In hindsight, this wasn’t just about the competition—there were years of smaller signs guiding me toward fine jewelry all along.
In my corporate career, I often reflected on the aspects that brought me true joy: sketching and digitizing ideas, collaborating with clients on highly bespoke projects, and working on small-to-mid-sized projects where I could be deeply hands-on. I realized these insights were laying the foundation for a career shift.
Jewelry, especially fine jewelry, has always been part of my life. My mom, an avid collector, kept her unique vintage pieces in a toolbox that my sisters and I always thought was so cool. She would gift us jewelry from her collection on special occasions, and over time, I began marking my own milestones by gifting and investing in jewelry. That sense of connection and empowerment became the inspiration for Matilda Bardet.
In summer 2023, while living in Washington, DC, I took one of the biggest leaps of my life and parted ways with my career as an interior architect to create Matilda Bardet, which is a vintage name that stands for resilience and might. It was a leap of faith, but I was all in. I teamed up with Freaks Design Co., a Miami/New York agency, to shape the brand’s identity. Meanwhile, I took advanced metalsmithing courses at JewelryClassDC with Daniel Valencia and Carlos Munoz. Over the next four months, I designed our first prototype, learned the craft, and sought out master artisans in New York for production and stone setting. We wanted to start Matilda with one exceptional heirloom-quality piece.
In January 2024, something incredible happened: British Vogue reached out to feature Matilda Bardet in a three-month campaign, for our inaugural piece. It felt surreal, like a sign that all my work and vision were coming together. We recently hit another huge milestone with the launch of our engagement and commitment series, a collection we’ve been building toward. Each piece starts at 1.5ct center stones set in 18k yellow gold, combining timeless elegance with a bold design sensibility.
Matilda Bardet is a woman-owned brand, a tribute to my mother, Sylvia, and her captivating collection of fine vintage jewelry. It’s rooted in ceremonial experiences, resonating with the idea of jewelry as a talismanic story to wear, pass down, and feel empowered by. We’re committed to timeless elegance and a design sensibility that balances daintiness with boldness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges I faced at the start was breaking into the jewelry industry. With a tight deadline to bring my vision to life, and being a first-generation jeweler, I didn’t have generations of experience or insights to lean on. This industry is all about building relationships—once you have that, the referrals and opportunities begin to come in, opening doors you never thought possible.
My second biggest challenge has been financing and growing our Heirloom collection. Without any VC backing, it’s been a piece-by-piece journey, with everything made to order. Every piece is made just for you, which enhances the focus on the quality of each item and ensures you will LOVE your heirloom. By doing so, we’re also reducing the resources needed to create each piece and avoiding unnecessary stock accumulation. Bringing fine jewelry to life takes months of careful design and craftsmanship, but it’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of my clients’ personal journeys, through Matilda Bespoke.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Matilda Bardet, we specialize in both semi-bespoke and fully bespoke fine jewelry, working with precious metals such as 18k and 14k gold. This means we offer clients the unique opportunity to either modify an existing piece from our core collection or create something entirely custom from scratch. For me, design is all about blending daintiness with boldness to strike a balance that makes every piece feel both delicate and striking.
Design is not always a linear process. Each piece is an exploration of how our signature style continues to develop, and how we can push the boundaries through both a technical and aesthetic lens. For example, I’ve been working on a ring design featuring a custom-cut Brazilian bubbly quartz at 9.5 carats over the last couple of months, refining every detail and experimenting with enamel to perfect the piece for a Matilda Bespoke client who is a beloved collector.
We can adjust design specifications, source colored stones, diamonds, and pearls where desired, and refine any detail to ensure that each creation aligns perfectly with our clients’ vision.
I’m honored to work with clients all over the country and internationally—about 90% of our clientele is remote. We achieve their goals through a lot of personalization, pictures, mailing, and virtual meetings, allowing us to collaborate seamlessly no matter the distance. I’m lucky; my clients trust my eye for design and my expertise as a gem specialist, which makes the process both rewarding and successful.
We also offer heirloom reset and redesign services to transform sentimental pieces into refreshed, wearable treasures. Whether it’s an heirloom reset or a fully custom creation, our commitment to detail and craftsmanship is unwavering. In addition, we provide fine jewelry appraisals and handle virtually any request related to jewelry design and creation.
For clients seeking something sooner, our core collection also features some ready-to-ship pieces.
Based in Miami, I start each design with initial sketches and an exploration of dimensions, scale, and ergonomics to see how the jewelry will sit on the body. This is where I get hands-on with clay and paper prototypes, gaining a tangible feel for the piece even before it’s made. Once the design is set, I travel monthly to New York City to hand-select stones and oversee our team’s progress, ensuring that each stone is chosen with intention and that every piece is crafted with the highest quality.
Crafting each piece is a deeply personal journey. Quality is paramount, and we achieve this by working closely with a team of highly skilled artisans and stone experts who share my passion for detail. Whether it’s selecting the perfect gemstones or ensuring that each design is comfortable and wearable, I’m involved every step of the way. I don’t just create jewelry—I create pieces meant to be cherished for generations. From collection pieces to fully bespoke creations, I’m always personally invested in ensuring every detail is perfect.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband, Alexandre Bardet, has been an incredible support and invaluable partner. His belief in this journey has made the transition to jewelry design so meaningful. I’m also deeply grateful to every woman who has inspired and challenged me. I couldn’t do this without my team of master artisans in New York. With over 40 years of knowledge and craftsmanship, they help bring my designs to life. Together, we create fine and high jewelry that tells a unique story.
Pricing:
- From $1950-$12,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://matildabardet.com
- Instagram: matildabardet_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Matilda-Bardet/61557031495860/?mibextid=uzlsIk
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/matildabardet/
