Augis Jewelry Review: Is This 196-Year-Old Lyon Jeweler Worth It?

TL;DR — The essentials

• Augis (est. 1830, Lyon) specializes in 18k gold baptism medals, religious pendants, and the iconic Love Charm.
• All pieces are crafted in their Lyon atelier; French manufacture throughout the range.
• Price range: roughly €150–600+ for new pieces; vintage examples reach $2,000+ on secondary markets.
• Strongest for: the Love Charm, baptism gifts, and a genuine lifelong service commitment.
• Limitation: a narrower catalog than mass-market alternatives and lower international name recognition than some French peers.

Quick comparison: Augis vs. Arthus Bertrand vs. Pandora

Criterion	Augis	Arthus Bertrand	Pandora
Founded	1830, Lyon	1803, Paris	1982, Copenhagen
Made in	France (Lyon atelier)	France (Saumur)	Global (Denmark design)
Price range	€150–600+	€300–650+	€40–400
Signature piece	Love Charm	Étoile medal	Charm bracelet
Service model	Client for life, no deposit	Standard retail	Standard retail
Catalog breadth	Focused (medals, pendants)	Broad (medals, collections)	Very broad

What is Augis, and why does it matter?

Augis has been making gold medals in the suburbs of Lyon since 1830, when Eugène Coquais founded the workshop. The Augis name came later through marriage and has outlasted generations of jewelry trends. In 2012, the house joined the Chevalier group alongside Arthus Bertrand, which brought distribution and infrastructure without dismantling the Lyon atelier’s identity.

The positioning is deliberately specific. Augis describes itself as the maker of your “first jewel”: the one worn from birth and kept for life. That framing shapes everything from the product range to the service philosophy. Baptism medals, religious pendants, and the Love Charm form the core. The catalog is narrow by design, which means less browsing fatigue but fewer options if you want something outside those three categories.

For who? Anyone looking for a meaningful French-made gold medal tied to a specific life moment: a birth, a baptism, or a relationship milestone.

The Love Charm: is it still relevant?

The Love Charm, known in French as the Médaille d’Amour or the Plus qu’hier, moins que demain pendant, was created in 1907 by Alphonse Augis. He translated a line from a poem by Rosemonde Gérard into a small gold rebus: the phrase “more than yesterday, less than tomorrow” rendered in plus and minus signs, typically set with rubies and diamonds.

It became one of France’s most exported pieces of jewelry. The secondary market on platforms such as 1stDibs shows consistent demand, with vintage examples selling between $400 and $2,600 depending on condition and gemstone setting. In 2022, Meghan Markle was photographed wearing one, which brought a new wave of international interest to a piece that had never really gone away.

If you are considering purchasing the Augis Love Charm, the appeal goes beyond aesthetics. This is a piece with a documented origin story, a century of continuous production, and symbolism that reads immediately across cultures. That depth is difficult to replicate at any mass-market price point.

For who? A meaningful anniversary gift, a self-purchase with a clear narrative, or a piece intended to be passed down.

Baptism medals: how do Augis pieces hold up?

Baptism medals are Augis’s founding category and still the most consistent part of the range. The collection covers religious subjects, including the Virgin Mary, Angel, Saint Christopher, and cross designs, as well as secular options. Pieces are available in white and yellow gold, with mother-of-pearl and openwork variations throughout.

Personalization through engraving is standard and handled in-house. Pricing sits above mass-market options but below the entry point of larger French houses. For the craftsmanship level, with 18k gold throughout and French manufacture, the value equation is solid.

What Augis does consistently well is continuity. Pieces from different decades share the same quiet craftsmanship, which matters when you are buying something intended to outlast trends and move between generations.

For who? Parents, godparents, or anyone buying a baptism gift with the intention of quality over quantity.

Service and ordering: what “client for life” actually means

Augis operates with a service model described internally as a client for life philosophy. In practice: no deposit required on custom or personalized orders, a dedicated follow-up process, and after-sales care that extends well beyond the initial purchase.

For buyers outside France, the no-deposit policy is worth noting explicitly. Many heritage jewelry houses require partial payment upfront on personalized pieces. Augis does not. It is a small policy detail with a significant signal about how the brand views the customer relationship.

The atelier remains in the Lyon area, so lead times on personalized orders should be factored into any timeline-sensitive purchase. Delivery to international addresses is available through authorized retailers and the official site. Customer feedback consistently highlights the quality of contact during and after purchase, which aligns with the positioning.

For who? Buyers who value after-sales relationships and want a jeweler who will still know their name in ten years.

How does Augis compare to better-known names?

The honest comparison is with Arthus Bertrand, which sits in the same ownership group and serves an overlapping audience. Arthus Bertrand carries stronger name recognition, a broader catalog, and a higher starting price point. Augis offers comparable craftsmanship at a slightly more accessible entry level, with the Love Charm as a clearly differentiated signature piece.

Against Pandora, Augis operates in a fundamentally different register. The Love Charm is 18k solid gold, made in France, and built to outlast fashion cycles. A Pandora love-themed charm is a fashion accessory at a fashion accessory price. Neither is wrong, but they serve different intentions and different relationship timelines.

Where Augis genuinely lags is global brand visibility. Outside France, it is not yet the first name buyers search for when they think “French gold medal.” That gap is closing as the Love Charm’s secondary market profile grows internationally, but it remains a real friction point today.

How to choose based on your profile?

You want the Love Charm specifically

Augis is the original maker and the only source for a new piece with full documentation. The secondary market offers vintage options if you prefer an older example, but for a current piece with clear provenance, buy directly from Augis.

You want a baptism medal with broad religious options

Augis covers the main categories well. If you need a very specific patron saint or unusual iconographic design, a specialist religious jeweler may offer a wider selection. For the classics, Augis is a reliable choice.

You want the most recognized French jewelry name

Arthus Bertrand has broader institutional recognition and a stronger international retail presence. The trade-off is a higher entry price point and a catalog that may feel less focused if you have a specific piece in mind.

You are working with a tighter budget

For solid 18k gold, Augis represents fair value at the lower end of French fine jewelry pricing. For gold-plated or silver alternatives, mass-market options offer more flexibility at the cost of provenance and durability.

Our verdict

Before: you are spending time comparing French jewelry brands, wondering whether the less-recognized name is worth the commitment.

After: Augis makes the case on its own terms.

The Love Charm has a century of documented history. The Lyon atelier is genuine. The no-deposit service model is distinctive. The pricing is honest for what you receive in 18k French gold.

The gap in brand awareness is closing, particularly as the Love Charm finds new audiences internationally. If you know what you are looking for, Augis delivers it without asking for proof of commitment first. That is a rarer combination than it sounds.

FAQ

Is Augis jewelry made in France?

Yes. Augis pieces are crafted in their Lyon atelier, where the house has operated since 1830. All core collections use 18k gold and meet French manufacture standards.

Where can I buy Augis jewelry outside France?

Augis ships internationally through the official augis.fr website and a network of authorized retailers. Select vintage and pre-owned pieces also appear on platforms like 1stDibs.

What makes the Love Charm different from a standard pendant?

The Love Charm is a specific design created in 1907, bearing the rebus Plus qu’hier, moins que demain (more than yesterday, less than tomorrow). It typically includes ruby and diamond accents on an 18k gold base. A standard pendant does not carry this documented origin or symbolic language.

Is the Augis Love Charm a good investment piece?

Vintage Augis Love Charms show consistent secondary market demand, with sold prices ranging from $400 to over $2,000 depending on age and gemstone setting. As an 18k gold piece with a documented heritage, it holds value significantly better than fashion jewelry. It is not a financial instrument, but it is a piece with proven resale depth.