inimalist but never discreet, radical without being aggressive, Akillis champions a design that is an affirmation of self. A design that is often described as rock and contemporary. Between gold, diamonds, titanium and carbon, the brand plays on a mix of styles and materials, far from gender preconceptions.

Now approaching its twentieth anniversary, Akillis continues on its path with consistency, driven by a designer guided by intuition and a close-knit team, faithful to the demands of craftsmanship. During our interview, Stéphanie Manon discusses the brand’s DNA, its iconic collections, its distribution strategy and the major challenges facing the market.

Stéphanie Manon, Managing Director of Akillis since 2022 (left), with the brand’s founder, Caroline Gaspard.

Europa Star Jewellery: Akillis will soon be celebrating its 20th anniversary. How would you define the brand’s DNA today?

Stéphanie Manon: Akillis was born out of a strong desire for freedom. From the outset, Caroline Gaspard wanted to create jewellery without preconceptions: neither totally masculine nor exclusively feminine. What matters most is the design and the way the jewellery resonates with the personality of the wearer. People often talk about ‘genderless’, but I prefer to say that Akillis is above all ‘timeless’. Akillis jewellery is instantly recognisable and, above all, can be worn today with the same pleasure as in ten years’ time.

What sets Akillis apart in the French jewellery landscape?

Design is our primary distinguishing feature. There is always that step aside, that fashion twist, which gives rhythm to the brand and the collections. Akillis is not about decoration, but about the architecture of jewellery. Pieces such as Python, Bang Bang and Fatal Attraction are instantly recognisable. They convey a sense of power and protection, almost like a talisman. The Akillis cross, for example, is never just a cross: it can evoke a snake, a work of art, a symbol in motion.

Inspired by the captivating myth of the snake, the pieces in the Python collection hug the body like a second skin.

You joined Akillis at the end of 2022. What was your role in this new phase of development?

My career path has been closely linked to jewellery: I attended business school, then took my first steps in the world of jewellery. When I met Caroline, it was love at first sight, professionally speaking. Akillis didn’t need to be transformed, but it did need to be structured. In recent years, we have worked hard to build the range: strengthening the core collection, developing a solid mid-range while maintaining a high-end jewellery offering. Today, every customer can find their Akillis jewellery, from entry-level to the most exclusive pieces.

The Plastron necklace from the Python collection, a unique piece crafted from cast metal in Akillis’ workshop in Barcelona. Made from 18-carat yellow gold and set with GVS diamonds, it took no less than 105 hours of work to design, cast and set.

What is the creative philosophy behind these lines?

Caroline is constantly creating. The collections are born from a movement, a rhythm, a gesture. The process is almost organic: she enriches, then refines, until she returns to the essential. What may seem simple at first glance is in fact extremely elaborate. An Akillis piece of jewellery must be beautiful from the front, the side and the back. Take the Python ring: it wraps around the finger, evoking moulting and protection, while remaining extremely comfortable. Ergonomics are essential: our jewellery is made to be worn every day.

The notion of strength often comes up in your discourse.

Yes, it’s a common thread. Akillis obviously comes from Achilles: strength, but also vulnerability. Our jewellery is not aggressive; it is totemic jewellery. Bang Bang or Fatal Attraction, for example, are worn as objects that give confidence, accompanying those who choose them in their personal challenges. That’s why many athletes are very fond of the brand.

At the heart of its approach, Akillis incorporates precision technologies borrowed from Haute Horlogerie and aeronautics. The use of laser cutting, digital milling and advanced surface treatments enables the creation of extremely sophisticated designs.

Akillis also claims to have a high level of expertise. How far does this internalisation go?

We have our own workshop in Barcelona, which allows us to control a large part of the manufacturing process and showcase our way of working. At the same time, we collaborate with high-level partners, particularly in Switzerland, for specific areas of expertise such as surface treatment and titanium work. We can’t internalise everything, but we have a real laboratory approach, particularly when it comes to materials: gold, natural diamonds, titanium and platinum.

What role does colour play in the highly graphic world of Akillis?

Historically, Akillis has been very black and white, with touches of blue, which can be found in certain stones. Colour has gradually been introduced, first in fine jewellery pieces, then more recently in collections such as Capture in Colors. It is always used with great skill: it is not a decorative choice, but a design gesture.

How is your distribution strategy structured today?

France remains our primary market, with our flagship boutique on Rue Saint-Honoré serving as an essential anchor point. The United States is our second market, which is very dynamic, even though we have moved forward cautiously in recent years. Today, taxes are no longer a major obstacle: the entire chain is making efforts. Europe remains a strong area of development, with particular importance for Switzerland and Italy, which play a key role in the journey of our international customers.

What major trends are you seeing in the jewellery market?

Independence is a real strength: it provides valuable agility in a changing market. Men’s jewellery is also a major strategic focus: long neglected, it is now fully legitimised. At Akillis, we have always been in this niche, with a 50/50 approach, without distinction of gender. We are also seeing a desire to personalise jewellery: mixing designs, combining contemporary pieces with heirloom jewellery, creating a very personal style.

The Puzzle Collection

Sustainability has become essential. What is your position on this issue?

We are RJC and Chain of Custody certified, we work exclusively with recycled gold and continue to use natural diamonds. This is not a moralising discourse: we move forward with humility, in a spirit of continuous improvement. Sustainability is an integral part of our responsibility, but also of the brand’s legacy and longevity.

The cross, constantly reinterpreted, is a motif that often features in Akillis’ work.

In conclusion, what can we wish for Akillis in the years to come?

To continue this momentum, without ever compromising its identity. To explore new markets and introduce the brand to new customers, while remaining a company on a human scale. Akillis is not a brand about volume, but about emotion, expertise and design. And when you love Akillis, you love it deeply.