Alexandra Boiche: Auvergne's Self-Taught Lapidary Revives Forgotten Gems

Alexandra Boiche, a lapidary based in Auvergne, France, has carved a unique niche by sourcing and faceting local gemstones. In a podcast interview with Aude Augais, co-founder of the Artisans d'Avenir network, Boiche discussed her unconventional path: a former chef for nearly a decade in Vichy, she turned to mineral hunting after a health crisis led her to the mountains. Self-taught, she acquired her own sapphire deposit in Auvergne and founded her business in 2020. Her work, which involves cutting stones to reveal their inner beauty, has earned her the 2025 Prix des Artisanes, awarded by LVMH. Boiche highlights the decline of lapidary in France, noting that a century ago, around 8,000 people in the Jura region cut rubies for Swiss watchmaking during winter months, but cheaper labor abroad led to a loss of expertise. Today, she collects French sapphire, amethyst, alpine quartz, and smoky quartz, selling pieces to museums. The interview is part of the VOIES podcast series, and the article was published by Connaissance des Arts.