Atelier Saturne: original jewelry designer in Montreal, a story of magic and uniqueness

Hello! I'm Cindy, and I've always been a little different.

I was born in the south of France, in Provence. Where the cicadas sing, where lavender perfumes the air and where the sound of the sea always seems close, no matter the season.

Since childhood, I've always felt a little apart. A wandering soul, an immense sensitivity. I didn't always like what others liked, and I had this deep feeling that there was something different about me.

I grew up surrounded by creativity: my father is an artisan, and somehow, that deeply marked me. Very early on, I was fascinated by everything related to art, music, painting, craftsmanship... and especially the magic of objects that you can touch and that tell a story.

My first job was as an aesthetician. Soon, I fell in love with the world of perfume. My dream was to create my own fragrances, to give birth to scents. But in France, to do that, you needed a scientific background... and I really wasn't good at math or physics-chemistry.

So I changed course. I studied sales and digital marketing, with the idea of one day working for a major house like Guerlain. But over time, something no longer resonated. The compositions, the ingredients, the highly industrial universe... all of that was the opposite of my values, my love for nature, beauty, and authenticity.

It was at that moment that I created a YouTube channel and an Instagram account around natural and organic beauty. At the time, few people were talking about it. I built an initial community, I shared, learned, taught... without knowing that all of this was already preparing me for Atelier Saturne.

In 2018, while tidying my teenage bedroom at my mother's, I came across a box of broken jewelry. I had never thrown them away. As if, deep down, I knew they could still be useful, that they could become something again.

I bought my first pliers, the ones I still use today, and I started creating.

With these beads and charms, I assembled my first pieces. It was a bit wacky, a bit unusual, especially in the south of France... but people loved them.

I started selling them on second-hand sites, never daring to say that I was the one making them. And yet, they were selling like hotcakes. That's when I realized something was happening.

Then life took me elsewhere. Australia. Asia. Travel transformed me. It nourished my creativity, my perspective, my desire to create even more. Every object became a source of inspiration.

When I arrived in Montreal, everything accelerated. A month and a half later: the global pandemic. I found myself alone, in a place I didn't know, with Alexis, my fiancé who works with me today, without friends, without landmarks, without a solid foundation.

I asked myself a very simple question: do I go back to France... or do I create?

I had already accumulated a huge amount of vintage jewelry and beads at Renaissance upon my arrival. I started making upcycled jewelry, which I posted on Instagram... and it took off immediately.

My first orders came from France, because I already had a community thanks to my old platforms. But little by little, a Quebec community was born. And I realized that all my past lives had led me exactly here.

Atelier Saturne was born like that.

Saturn has always been my planet. As a little girl, I used to say it was my favorite, because it is different, with its ring, impossible to mistake. I am a Capricorn, and this name became an obvious choice.

Atelier Saturne is an unusual brand. The majority of my jewelry is unique. It is not made to please everyone, but to find the right people. Those who recognize themselves.

In Quebec, I started selling in a small natural cosmetics boutique on Mont-Royal. Everything sold. The feedback was incredible. Then I went on to do craft markets, almost every weekend in Montreal, sometimes working up to 80 hours a week.

I made my jewelry next to my bed. There were beads everywhere, pieces of metal, it was chaos... but a magical chaos.

Then the boutique closed. And there, a choice: go back to an uncertain job... or try Atelier Saturne 100%.

I jumped.

I thought it would last three months. In the end, it worked. Not to say it was a huge success.

I built a strong, loyal, close-knit community. But I was exhausted. And after two years of working from my bedroom, I knew it was time to move on.

In 2022, I found a tiny space. The very first magical Cottage.

A space by appointment, where you could drink tea in slippers and discover my jewelry in a timeless atmosphere. It was small, really small... but full of soul.

Then there were moves, spaces that were too narrow, lines, and also very difficult moments. A space that was too noisy, an unbearable environment, mental exhaustion.

And then, thanks to artisan friends and a lawyer client, I was able to bounce back.

Today, we have a large space, with several rooms. A showroom bathed in an intimate atmosphere, a workshop, and a complete universe with clothing, objects, and creations. One of the first 100% witchy thrift stores in Montreal.

A real safe space for modern witches.

Today, I am no longer alone. Alexis joined me in the adventure. Together, we developed a bigger vision: a place where you can find jewelry, but also clothing, objects, an atmosphere... and even a house range, Arcane, inspired by the scent of the Cottage.

Each Atelier Saturne piece is unique or exists in very small quantities.

I transform broken vintage jewelry and forgotten materials to give them a second life and create magical pieces, full of power.

Some parts of my creations are new, like the chains of my necklaces, the clasps of my earrings, and sometimes certain charms that have become impossible to find in deadstock despite numerous searches and calls on different platforms. It is a balance between old and new. These are my values. There is ALWAYS upcycling in each of my pieces, whether it is the beads and/or the charms.

The chains and clasps are always stainless steel, chosen for their durability and quality. They are always new.

And if you have the slightest question about the origin of a charm or an element, you can simply ask me. It will always be a pleasure to tell you its story.

I want every person who wears my jewelry to feel good about their difference, their uniqueness. So that two Saturns who cross paths in the street can recognize each other... and exchange that little knowing wink.

Atelier Saturne is also a community. Bonds that are created, friendships that are born, people who meet and share much more than jewelry.

When you wear an Atelier Saturne piece, I want you to feel powerful. Aligned. Proud to be you.

Today, after six years, Atelier Saturne has become much more than a handmade jewelry brand in Montreal. It is a refuge. A universe. Proof that difference is a strength.

So... welcome to my world.

Cindy 🖤✨