Married to Napoleon III, Eugénie de Montijo (1826-1920) was the last Empress of France. A woman of great elegance, beauty and charm, she was born in Granada, Spain, was educated at the fashionable convent of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris and contributed immensely to the grandeur of the French court.

From the beginning of her reign in 1853, Empress Eugenie did much to enhance the reputation of French haute joaillerie, which at that time inspired the whole of Europe. Her love of jewellery being legendary, she had many Crown jewels remounted to suit her personal taste and also commissioned new pieces from the most famous jewellers in Paris including among others Bapst and Chaumet.