At the Madalenn Workshop
Between Paris and Brittany, the MADALENN Paris workshop organizes the entire project.
Two places, two rhythms.
In Paris, the transformation workshop.
In Brittany, research, materials, origin.
Each piece of jewelry is built in this back and forth.
An upcycling practice rooted in reality.
MADALENN develops a demanding approach to upcycling old jewelry.
Nothing starts from scratch. Each piece comes from an existing, already worn, already lived-through piece of jewelry. A deformed ring, a broken chain, an isolated fragment, a forgotten medal. These objects are not chosen for their perfection, but for what they still contain.
Hunting in Brittany: finding a rare gem
The search often begins in Brittany: flea markets, antique shops, encounters.
Accumulated, forgotten, sometimes incomplete objects. You have to look slowly. Discard. Come back. Choose.
Some pieces of jewelry immediately stand out, while others require time. This treasure hunting work forms the basis of each collection of upcycled jewelry.
The workshop in Paris: transforming without erasing
Back in Paris, the pieces enter the workshop. They are disassembled, cleaned, then repaired and observed again. Then the action takes place: Cutting, adjusting, assembling, sometimes constraining.
Each transformation is done by hand and each decision impacts the final form. In this jewelry workshop in Paris, the transformation does not seek to erase the origin but to put it into tension.
Assembling: artisanal manufacturing, piece by piece
Each MADALENN jewel is assembled by hand.
No model is strictly identical; variations are always visible.
This is the very principle of jewelry craftsmanship as practiced by the workshop:
- precision
- attention
- uniqueness
A piece is never reproduced identically; each customer is thus ensured a unique and totally personal piece of jewelry.
Creating collections from existing items
Collections are not designed in advance; they emerge from discoveries, available materials, and possible associations.
This creative method positions MADALENN within a contemporary approach to sustainable and upcycled jewelry.
An anchorage between Paris and Brittany
MADALENN Paris is rooted in a dual territory:
- Paris for transformation, artisanal manufacturing, shaping
- Brittany for research, material, inspiration
This link structures the project.
Between urban and mineral.
Between gesture and origin.
Local and responsible expertise
The workshop prioritizes:
- the upcycling of old jewelry
- artisanal manufacturing in Paris
- limited series
- manual work
This approach helps limit production while valuing existing items.
Unique jewelry, carrying history
Each piece of jewelry follows a precise path:
sourced → transformed → assembled → finished by hand
No two pieces are interchangeable.
Each object retains a part of what it once was, while becoming something else.
Read more on the blog:
-Antique jewelry or Vintage jewelry?