Meet The Designer
A designer by trade with a background in art, architecture, and a master's degree in interior architecture — I've honed my skills in design and highly-custom interiors, notably at Knoll. Born and raised in Miami's Coconut Grove, I ventured into jewelry design in 2023, training as a jeweler in Washington, DC through a local goldsmith, driven by a longing to shift my design practice from a macro to a micro scale.
Matilda is woman-owned and pays tribute to my mother — Sylvia, and her captivating fine vintage jewelry collection, a profound influence. Rooted in ceremonial experiences, our brand resonates with the idea of jewelry as a talismanic, nostalgic story to wear, pass down, and feel empowered by. Committed to timeless elegance and embracing a design sensibility that leans towards balancing daintiness with boldness.
_______Melanie Bardet | Founder & Designer
Our Design Process
Whether it’s for our in-house collections or our clients – the design process remains consistent; an intimate and beautiful experience.
Concept & Collaboration
Everything starts with a conversation and a concept. We commence the project over a virtual consultation. After our initial period of information gathering, a clear direction and budget will be established.
Sketching & Stone Sourcing
Where desired, we source colored gemstones or diamonds and can provide options and consultation. We work closely with reputable and ethical stone vendors to source exactly what we are looking for. We then proceed to sketch and work on the initial details for the look and feel.
Design
3D renderings for optimal visualization are then produced to showcase what you can expect. At this stage, we typically make a couple of tweaks before moving on to the next step.
3D Wax Model Printing
Once your design has been solidified, we print a wax model. For all bespoke pieces, we will ship a printed wax model of your piece to provide the best indication of proportion, scale, and fit. This gives us the opportunity to ensure all aspects are as we want them before they are cast—think of this as the rough draft.
Production
Your piece will be handmade by our incredible team of master artisans and stone setters in the heart of New York City – with over 30+ years of experience specializing in fine and high jewelry.
Our Core Values
Made Slowly 01
We are committed to creating heirlooms slowly cast from precious metals such as 14k and 18k gold, with a strong focus on craftsmanship, purpose, and integrity. Taking our time to layer and add to Matilda’s collection; alongside you – as we evolve and unfold.
CRAFTSMANSHIP 02
Every piece is made to order, and made just for you. This enhances the focus on the quality of each of our pieces and ensures you will LOVE your heirloom. When this happens, we are subsequently reducing the resources needed to create each piece and avoiding unnecessary stock accumulation.
HAND-SELECTED 03
Each stone is carefully curated, hand-selected, and ethically sourced – ensuring the combinations between the cut, color, and clarity are exceptional and correlate with one another.
STORYTELLING 04
A story is at the forefront of every heirloom – we love hearing them and sharing them. Matilda is inspired by our muses, they inspire and challenge our designs. Tilly is a short name for Matilda – through Tilly’s Muses we share stories about jewelry, our icons, connect, and highlight all things jewelry.
EMPOWERMENT 05
Our heirlooms are celebratory and tokens of self-empowerment. They punctuate moments that hold sentimental value and nostalgia now, then, and for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because even our jewelry can't escape the inquisitive charm of a frequently asked question!
Explore your perfect fit with our wax print service—a full-scale replica of your desired ring for $150, credited towards your total, yours to keep.
We offer insurance appraisals for jewelry. Prices start at $100 per piece and can range from $150 to $250, depending on the complexity of the piece and stone measurements. Shipping fees may apply. Get in touch at info@matildabardet.com
Yes, this would be considered Matilda Semi-Bespoke. We would use our existing setting and substitute the desired stones. Email us to get started at info@matildabardet.com. Subject Line: Matilda Semi-Bespoke.
Every stone is carefully curated and hand selected by the Founder & Designer. We work with small parcels and trusted gem partners who spend months sourcing and selecting the best gemstones and diamonds in the industry to present to us. Slight variations in proportions vary based on size. Making each heirloom One-of-a-Kind, unique just like its wearer.
Our pieces are made to order, and made just for you. All our signature heirloom collection lead times are noted within their product description. Lead times can vary based on the design.
We highly recommend getting the desired fingers sized at your local jewelry store to ensure perfect fit. We are also able to send you a complimentary ring sizer to help you identify your size. Please get in touch with us at info@matildabardet.com Subject Line: Request for Ring Sizer *Note: Factor in the following – seasonal changes (e.g winter and summer months) that cause hand swelling and dominant vs. non-dominant hand when sizing your fingers. Your dominant hand tends to run thicker.
- Give your fine jewelry the love it deserves! For a longer-lasting sparkle, consider giving your gems a break, especially rings, before jumping into activities like exercising, swimming, housework, bathing, and removing before bed.
- Be sure to keep jewelry away from cleaning products, perfume oils, lotions, and any abrasives or solvents as they can affect the surface.
- For basic cleaning of most fine jewelry, soak for a few minutes in warm water and gentle dish soap, then scrub with a soft toothbrush. We do not recommend this method for soft stones like opal, turquoise, tanzanite, and pearls as this can discolor the piece and damage the stone.
- All jewelry should be stored in a cool, dry place, preferably in its original box. A soft cloth pouch or lined box to protect it between wears is great too.
- Fine jewelry should be inspected and professionally cleaned every six months to ensure all settings and stones are intact. Taking these precautions will help ensure that your jewelry stays in top shape for many years to come.
Yes, our first piece ever was a men's ring. We believe that jewelry can be worn by everyone in many different ways, and it carries deep talismanic significance.
We currently offer private viewings by appointment in Miami and New York. We are happy to assist and provide further visuals through videos and photos.
Born and raised in Miami's Coconut Grove, we currently reside in Miami with our family and sweet Jack Russell Terrier, Sancho. Our pieces are designed in our home studio in Miami and produced in the heart of New York City by our team of master artisans. We frequently travel between Miami and New York.