Although some member of the Mellerio family were jewellery traders from the 17th century, it was really only at the end of the 18th century that they made their name in Paris.

Jean-Marie Mellerio had ten children. He brought the ninth, Jean-Baptiste, to France. We made him a marmotte, a small chest used to carry jewellery and, when he was fifteen, he decided to set up his stall close to the gates of the Château de Versailles. There he worked and was a clever talker, so funny in fact that one day Marie-Antoinette heard him, thought him amusing …. And the gates opened. He now had his entry to Versailles.

In 1796, Jean-Baptiste set up on rue Vivienne, under the sign “Mellerio – Meller to the iron crown” where he enjoyed, in particular, the patronage of the Empress Josephine.