Gautrot's history

My name is Geoffray Guillermain, and before I started creating jewelry, I was a chef. It was a job that took me all over the world — a way to explore, to meet people, to discover. But deep down, I always knew that one day I would do something more hands-on, more personal — something I could shape with my own hands.

In 2018, after moving to Ardèche, I founded my brand and embarked on the adventure of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship. I quickly discovered a natural connection with wood carving. Jewelry came as an obvious choice. The idea of adorning the human body with a poetic, meaningful object truly resonates with me.

What I love is creating small, self-contained worlds within each piece. Broken wood, brought back to life through my techniques, becomes a metaphor for life itself — its trials, its breaks… and its renewed beauty. It’s a symbolic language that I shape with passion.

I mostly work with precious woods — materials whose unique features reveal themselves on very small surfaces, making them perfect for jewelry. Lab-created opal was also a beautiful discovery: striking, durable, more accessible, and full of creative potential.

I started out selling at local markets here in Ardèche. Then the Covid crisis hit, and everything nearly came to a halt. That’s when I turned to online sales, with the help of Axel. Together, we founded the “Atelier Gautrot,” which was originally meant to bring together multiple artisans. In the end, it’s just me — but I decided to keep the name anyway!

Since then, I’ve learned to handle the many other aspects of being a craftsman: admin, website management (design, photos, code...), and all the technical challenges that come with it. It’s been a challenge — but also an opportunity to grow.

Today, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I work at my own pace, on my own scale, with honesty and care. And when I see people’s reactions to my creations, when I read their reviews, I realize how powerful it can be to follow a dream — and to make others dream a little along the way, too.

Thank you for being part of this journey.