A tribute to the storied Jardin des Tuileries, this collection captures the romance of Paris in springtime.
Jewelry from the garden
Pearls | Birds | flowers | Cameos
In recent years, we’ve expanded our bejeweled universe to the coast of Italy, the myths of ancient Greece, the protective amulets of the Nile, and a rainbow of vintage German glass charms. But when I visited Paris last year, I knew I wanted to bring a piece of it back to Fallen Aristocrat.
Wandering through my favorite city, I lingered in hidden courtyards and quiet gardens before arriving at the grand sight of the Jardin des Tuileries. Sinking into one of the iconic green chairs by the water’s edge, I found my answer. The trees in bloom, an artist poised with a brush to capture the season, the song of birds drifting overhead—it all felt like a moment suspended in time. I wanted our next collection to capture that feeling.
After over a year of planning, testing, and revisions, we’re so proud to share this collection with you. Brimming with color, hope, and golden garden-inspired charms, it’s a tribute to the Tuileries and the countless artists it has inspired. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you take a moment this season to sit in the sun, breathe in the beauty around you, and welcome the abundance of spring.
A TAPESTRY OF TIME
A name that once echoed with the clang of tile-making, The Jardin des Tuileries now resonates with the soft murmur of fountains and the rustle of redbuds. This famous destination is now an oasis of greenery and Parisian charm, a place where history and horticulture intertwine, sustaining the elegance of French design.
In 1564, Catherine de Medici transformed this humble terrain into a royal garden, a verdant counterpoint to her Palais des Tuileries. Though her palace unfortunately succumbed to a fire in 1871, the gardens remain a modern sanctuary of serene beauty thanks to the genius of French landscape architect André Le Nôtre in 1664. A pioneer of jardin à la française, Le Nôtre extended the westward vista, which later became the Avenue des Champs-Élysées within the Axe historique.
A Seasonal Symphony
In late March, the first tender leaves return to the trees and manicured shrubs of the French formal garden. By April, the flowerbeds burst forth, filled to their brims in a riot of color, a carefully curated display that evolves with the seasons, mirroring the artistic inspirations found within the Louvre's hallowed halls. The Judas trees, with their vibrant pink blooms, add a fleeting, yet breathtaking, flourish to this seasonal symphony.
Songbird Pearl Earrings
Among sculpted hedgerows and sun-dappled groves, songbirds weave their melodies into the breeze, their notes as fleeting as petals beneath them. These earrings capture that harmony—a golden bird in flight suspended by a luminous pearl stud, and a single drop pearl suspended from its beak like morning dew.
Of Order & Elegance
The jardin à la française, epitomized by the Gardens of Versailles, is a style defined by symmetry and the imposition of order upon nature. Le Nôtre's masterful design in the Tuileries exemplifies this principle, creating a harmonious balance between manicured landscapes and open vistas.
From the garden's western edge, one can gaze down the Champs-Élysées, all the way to the Arc de Triomphe and La Défense, a testament to Le Nôtre's grand vision.
Tuileries Chandelier Earrings
Delicate yet powerful, these chandelier earrings are inspired by the Jardin des Tuileries, where beauty and nature entwine. A golden dragonfly symbolizes transformation, while a petite bird soars in graceful flight. A pale pink flower bell cradles a luminous pearl, and vintage glass stones catch the light like morning dew. Together, these symbols of renewal and creativity dance with every movement, linked by vintage elements sourced from France, Germany, and Austria, each capturing the spirit of a garden in bloom.
18k plated gold over brass, German glass cameos, Austrian crystals, freshwater pearls, mother of pearl
Find them here
“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”
Moments of Tranquility
The Tuileries welcomes both tourists and Parisians throughout the year. My personal favorite moments cherished during my latest visit in late February were those found in the early mornings, when the gardens were bathed in the soft, golden light of dawn, offering a tranquil escape before the city began its clamour.
I also enjoyed watching the happy families enjoying themselves, exploring the playground and the charming carousel and the Grand Basin, with its fleet of miniature boats providing a nostalgic glimpse into Parisian childhood, a tradition dating back to 1850.
Because that’s what spring is all about—relishing golden moments with one another in beautiful places.
Napoleonic Bee Charm
A symbol of industriousness and immortality, the bee was Napoleon’s chosen emblem. This beloved charm pays homage to his legacy and the grandeur of the Jardin des Tuileries, where he commissioned the Rivoli Road, leaving his mark on the heart of Paris.
18k plated gold over brass
Find it here
an invitation to the garden
Our "Tuileries" collection is an invitation to immerse oneself in this timeless beauty, to carry a piece of this Parisian sanctuary with you.
Each piece is a delicate echo of the garden’s spirit, a reminder that beauty, like the Tuileries itself, is an enduring treasure. Take a moment to wander, if only in your imagination, through this enchanting garden, and allow its echoes to resonate within your soul.
About Fallen Aristocrat
Fallen Aristocrat is a jewelry line inspired by travel, history, and imperfect things that tell a story. Handmade in the United States, the jewelry is cast in brass and luxuriously plated in antiqued gold for a storied look of time.
Designer Paula Danyluk, owner of the renowned Paris Market in Savannah, Georgia, has long been drawn to things with a past. Musing on her own personal collection of vintage charms and French coins, she set out to create a new generation of heirloom jewelry by creating pieces that feel at once extravagant and everyday, modern with a vintage appeal.
Our debut collection of Fallen Aristocrat is named the First Empire and features four series: Bonaparte, Romonov, Museum, and Lover’s Eye—but we've added on others since. Explore them in our collections at the top of the site!