manufacturing
100% French ethical jewelry
Jewelry made in France has always been synonymous with quality and craftsmanship. For April Please, a jewelry brand born in Paris, making its collections in France was a given from the brand's inception. This standard has become a true philosophy for the brand's founders, Émilie Dupas and Julia Maufay.
Why choose an ethical, French-made jewelry brand?
At April Please, quality is an absolute priority: offering high-quality fashion jewelry is the brand's mission. Discover our collections of earrings, rings, and modular jewelry, all 100% made in France.
The artisans and goldsmiths with whom April Please works guarantee this quality, from manufacturing to gold plating. Each piece of jewelry is designed with the utmost care by hand, and it is this unique expertise that gives April Please jewelry its elegance and refinement, like fine jewelry pieces.
Where do the 3 main stages of production take place?
Choosing to make jewelry in France and working with local partners means contributing to the country’s economy. But being local also means prioritizing short supply chains. This local approach helps reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding international transport, which is often polluting, but it is not only geographical—it is also human. Promoting French craftsmanship? Supporting the local economy? The idea of doing things differently had never even crossed their minds. All you have to do is reach out; everything is within reach for those who open their eyes. And theirs have been wide open and full of stars since April 2016.
With a view to becoming increasingly responsible, the brand is looking even further ahead and is introducing a recycling program to gain a 360-degree view of its products and maintain full control over them.
The French artisans involved in creating ethical jewelry
When talking about jewelry made in France, it is important to highlight the role of French artisans in the creation of these unique pieces. Indeed, a piece of jewelry is much more than a simple assembly of raw materials; it is the result of expertise and craftsmanship acquired over the years.
The first step in creating a piece of jewelry is to source materials from specialized suppliers or directly from manufacturers. Artisans must select the best raw materials to create high-quality jewelry. Rings, chains, flat wire, and other materials are purchased in bulk, by weight, by reel, or by the meter to be transformed into jewelry.
The magic happens during the manufacturing of the jewelry. Artisans transform the raw material by bending, soldering, cutting, or hammering it as needed. All of this is done by hand in the workshop in the south of France, where each piece of jewelry is made in small batches to guarantee the uniqueness of each piece.
Once manufacturing is complete, the jewelry passes into the hands of the surface treatment workshop located near Paris to give it all its shine and strength. April Please jewelry is 3-micron, 18-karat gold-plated or offered with a palladium finish for a silver look. The quality of the chosen plating is essential to guarantee the optimal durability of the jewelry. Indeed, the jewelry lasts longer and accompanies you on all your adventures!
Finally, some creations are adorned with crystals in vibrant colors such as emerald green, topaz, or sapphire blue. These crystals are set by hand in the Rouen offices, providing a finishing touch to each piece of jewelry before it reaches its owner.
The French artisans who participate in the creation of jewelry made in France bring their expertise and craftsmanship to create unique, high-quality pieces. Each step of manufacturing is carried out with care to offer customers durable and resistant jewelry, while preserving the authenticity and creativity of each piece.
did you know?
The "Made in France" label
The "Fabriqué en France" or "Made in France" label is an indication of origin that companies can place on their products to highlight their domestic manufacturing. It is a marking that makes it possible to promote French expertise.
Made in France: definition
Made in France does not mean made in France. This false friend unfortunately misleads many people, which is why it is important to redefine what really lies behind this label that brands misuse and abuse. Make no mistake, although it explicitly translates to manufactured in France, the law has decided (somewhat) otherwise.
Indeed, not all manufacturing stages of the product are required to have been carried out in France, but at least a significant part of the product's manufacturing must have been. The General Directorate of Enterprises (DGE) specifies that to bear the "Made in France" label, a manufactured product must:
- have a significant part of its value come from one or more manufacturing stages located in France
- have undergone its last substantial transformation in France
In other words, this means that if the assembly is done in France but the production/manufacturing of the spare parts takes place abroad, the Made in France label can be applied. If we apply this to the jewelry world, a brand can claim to be made in France by sourcing findings and stamps from Asia and assembling the elements in France.
In the second scenario, this means that the final (and significant) touch is added to the product in France, but that the product was manufactured outside the territory. In our sector, many jewelry brands source or manufacture in Asia but perform the surface treatment (plating) in France. They can then proudly display the Made in France label without hesitation.