TrendsJan 06, 2023
Amanda’s Style File: Glorious GarnetsCollectionsJan 10, 2023
Rémy Rotenier Debuts Hand-Painted Animal Jewelry
The “Rémanimals” brooches are a lighthearted spin on classic portrait miniatures.
Rémy Rotenier has introduced a new collection of animal portrait miniatures. Pictured is the designer’s portrait of his own dog, Zuzu.
New York—Hand-painted portrait miniatures were sentimental hallmarks of 18th- and 19th-century jewelry.
Designer and jewelry rendering teacher Rémy Rotenier is putting his fingerprint on the style with his new “Rémanimals” collection of brooches.
“Reverse-carved and painted portrait miniatures, often called Essex brooches, were prized possessions during the Victorian era,” he explained. “I’ve added modern jeweled frames to give these vintage and timeless expressions of love a new life.”
Essex brooches were so named for William Essex, the royal enamellist under Queen Victoria. Essex created many animal portrait miniatures for the queen, a noted dog lover. The style was popular across Europe.
The Rémanimals collection exclusively depicts animals, with a menagerie encompassing dogs, cats, rabbits, frogs, pandas, porcupines, and more.
Just like the antique jewelry style, Rotenier reverse hand paints each portrait in oil. The portrait is topped with rock crystal featuring a reverse carving of the design and backed with translucent mother-of-pearl.
These layers add dimension to the portrait’s meticulous details.
“I wanted to celebrate the close relationship between people and animals, by giving precious pets a human touch in my brooches,” said designer Rémy Rotenier of his new Rémanimals collection.
Rotenier’s renditions of antique animal portrait jewelry feature his subjects dressed in human clothing.
The portraits are reverse hand painted in oil paint and set underneath a reverse-carved intaglio in rock crystal cabochon.
Portraits are set in 22-karat yellow gold bezels in a sterling silver frame.
“Most of us carry pictures of our loved ones everywhere we go, and for many of us, that includes our animals,” Rotenier said.
The portraits are set in 22-karat yellow gold bezels and sterling silver frames adorned with approximately 0.18 carats of diamonds.
On the back of each brooch are two “hidden” diamonds, one baguette-cut stone representing the animal and the other a round diamond representing the brooch’s human wearer.
Rotenier’s portraits depicts his animal subjects in human clothing for a measure of playfulness.
“This is a collection based on celebrating our dear animal friends,” Rotenier said.
“Using anthropomorphism gives them human attributes to highlight their steadfastness. Dressing them up also enhances their natural elegance. I find our animals are symbiotic to us, so they needed to borrow our clothes.”
The collection’s brooches are priced at $5,800. Rotenier also accepts commissions for $6,400.
More information is available on the designer’s website.
More on Collections
The Latest
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Here’s What Happened to Pope Francis’ RingBefore Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.
AuctionsMay 14, 2025
Custom Rolex Pulled From Sotheby’s SaleThe one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.
Lab-GrownMay 14, 2025
State of Diamonds: What’s Next for Lab-Grown Diamonds?While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
CrimeMay 14, 2025
Seattle Detectives Seek Public’s Help in Tiffany & Co. Robberies The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.
Weekly QuizMay 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsMay 14, 2025
Jeff Corey Elected Chair of JBT Board The well-known Maine jeweler takes over for Brian Fleming and will serve a one-year term.
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Foundrae Donates $11K to Ethical MetalsmithsThe donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
IndependentsMay 13, 2025
Eiseman Jewels’ Renovated Dallas Store Is Bigger and BetterLocated in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
DCA Announces New Learning Platform, Course UpdatesThe nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
BIJC Launches New Education FundBIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.
TrendsMay 13, 2025
State of Jewelry Design: The Top 10 Jewelry Trends of the Past DecadeAs a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.
Lab-GrownMay 12, 2025
Lightbox to Go Dark by Summer, De Beers Says The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Policies & IssuesMay 12, 2025
Tariffs on Chinese Imports Temporarily Slashed as U.S.-China Reach Deal Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
Jewelry By Picasso, Dalí on Display at Florida Art Museum “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
IndependentsMay 09, 2025
Lugano Diamonds CEO Resigns Amid Internal InvestigationMoti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.
SourcingMay 09, 2025
Gemfields Resumes Emerald Mining in ZambiaThe miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.
CrimeMay 08, 2025
Former NYC Jewelry Store Employee Arrested in 2017 Choking Death of Boss Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
EditorsMay 08, 2025
5 ‘Superfine’ Met Gala Jewelry MomentsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore shares her favorite looks from a night of style inspired by Black dandyism.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2025
Instappraise Introduces Game-Changing Trifold Appraisal FormatSponsored by Instappraise
FinancialsMay 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth Notes an Uptick in Engagement Ring Sales in Q1CEO Beth Gerstein discussed the company’s bridal bestsellers, the potential impact of tariffs, and the rising price of gold.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Margot McKinney Lands in the U.S. With New BoutiqueThe brand’s first independent location outside of Australia has opened in Beverly Hills, California.
IndependentsMay 08, 2025
Verragio Announces New Regional Sales ManagerCathy Marsh will lead the jewelry company’s efforts in the upper Midwest and western United States.
FinancialsMay 07, 2025
Pandora Posts Strong Q1, Plans for TariffsThe company has multiple strategies for dealing with tariffs, though its CEO said moving manufacturing to the U.S. is not one of them.
ColumnistsMay 07, 2025
The Smart Lab: Building a Seasonal Marketing Strategy for Mother’s Day and BeyondConnecting with your customers throughout the year is key to a successful holiday marketing push.
SourcingMay 07, 2025
Gemfields Says Emerald Sales Improved in Latest AuctionIts commercial-quality emerald sale held last month totaled more than $16 million, up from about $11 million in September 2024.
