Black beauty; meet the Frenchwoman behind some of the most exquisite designs in jewelry.(Accessories Flash)

W, October, 2006 by Poreman, Katya

It's tea time at Muriel Grateau's cavernous boutique on Paris's Left Bank. Everything about the space is artfully curated, from the sparse glass cabinets and slick black floor to the arrangement of several smoky gray glasses and a plate of charcoal-hued licorice macaroons on a table. Grateau sneaks a quick bite of a cookie before explaining why, after a successful career as a designer of minimalist housewares, she has now decided to move into fine jewelry. "I started off with a desire for black," says Grateau. "I couldn't believe how hard it was to find black stones in jewelry--they 're such beautiful things."

Grateau thus set out to design pieces she wanted herself but couldn't find in stores. The result, Les Collections Precieuses, debuted last year and...