I’m Charlotte Charlotte Guislain, the designer and craftswoman behind Chakshu.
My story began in Burkina Faso, in a clay courtyard where, from a simple drawing in the sand, my first jewels were born. That day, I discovered much more than a profession: I discovered my path. .
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been creating, shaping and transforming materials to bring my ideas to life. Carved wooden bows and knives, wedding dresses, tissue paper lamps… Creation has always run through my veins. .
Chakshu was born of an irrepressible desire to express my creativity, to conjure up powerful symbols and energies through raw materials, and above all, to pay tribute to the craftsmen around the world who inspire me with their know-how and humanity.
Each piece of jewelry I create is a living tribute to the beauty of imperfection, to the hand that shapes, to the strength of human bonds and to the power of symbols.
My jewels are soul companions, symbolic anchors, daily reminders of who you are and of your inner power.
I work intuitively, organically and freely. I sometimes turn away from the strict codes of classical jewelry to privilege the authenticity of the gesture, the vibration of the material. Each creation is unique, charged with meaning, energy and beneficial intentions.
My dream? That my jewels become more than just ornaments for you: they become allies, silent guardians of your inner path, intimate presences that celebrate your unique soul. .
Through Chakshu, I want to radiate the magic of the handmade gesture, the power of natural materials, imperfect and vibrant beauty, and above all… the reminder that each of us carries within us a precious light.
At Chakshu, I celebrate inner beauty, the magic of symbols and our universal connection through handcrafted creations imbued with meaning. I conceive my jewelry as amulets charged with energy, with powerful symbols that tell stories.
My travels to ancestral peoples whose art fascinates me, my practices of yoga, tantra, free dance and my exploration of Chinese and Indo-Tibetan energetics infuse my creations with vibrant wisdom and spiritual depth.
My jewels reflect the encounter of these wisdoms and my path to self-knowledge, offering support to each person in their unique quest.
Born of my my passion for the alchemy of symbols and their energies, my jewelry accompanies me in this dance towards my essence, in my quest for wisdom, and helps me to understand myself a little better every day.
The Chakshu collections dance around emblematic symbols: the Jaguar, the Scarab, the Serpent, the Ouroboros, the Third Eye and other inspirations: the Yoni, Aphrodite, the Virgin Mary, Ganesh, the Dragon, the Tiger… Each creation bears the trace of a ritual, a spirituality, an energy that crosses time and cultures.
Designed and crafted by hand with noble materials – silver, gold, coral, shells, beetles and precious stones – they transcend the boundaries of time and space. silver, gold, coral, shells, beetles, precious stones – they transcend the boundaries of time and space.
Each piece becomes a story in its own right, a treasure trove of profound meaning.
Meeting the artisans of Chakshu is an adventure guided by trust in what the universe puts in my path.
Fascinated by symbols and traditions from all over the world, I draw my inspiration from my travels immersed in native communities, such as the Chawis near Iquitos in Peru, the Huichols near Tequila in Mexico, the Cofans in Putumayo in Colombia, the Bishnois in Rajasthan in India, the Mandingos in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. I create pieces that celebrate the soul of the world .
Since I started out, I’ve been working with Ahmed, a Tuareg craftsman in Ouagadougou, Ganesh & Rajkumar, master craftsmen in Jaipur, Maï & Thierry, gilders and Moïse, foundryman in Paris. Their exceptional know-how, inherited from several generations, contributes to the beauty and authenticity of my creations. These relationships are not simply professional, but embody genuine partnerships based on trust and mutual respect. .
But Chakshu would not be what it is today without the support of people dear to my heart: Salimata, my coordinator from the early days in Ouagadougou, Marie, who takes over with energy, and Moumouni, my griot friend from Bobo-Dioulasso, who introduced me to my first craftsman, Bastianine in Paris who supports me in communications. In Jaipur, Neetu, my friend and coordinator, also plays an essential role. Their talents and kindness breathe a unique energy into this project. .
Although each piece of jewelry is created and designed in my workshop, I also make some pieces myself. In 2023, I learned the trade of jeweler thanks to a dear friend, and this experience opened up a new creative path for me. Alongside these talented craftsmen, I use traditional techniques such as chiseling, hammering and lost-wax casting. Each piece is shaped by hand, slowly, in small batches, to preserve the richness of these crafts. This process takes time, with lead times of 6 to 8 weeks.
Chakshu is founded on strong values: respect, justice, ecology and solidarity. Together, we honor ancestral know-how and promote ethical craftsmanship. At Chakshu, we celebrate the diversity and richness of traditions, while cultivating relationships imbued with human warmth and curiosity about others.
FIND YOUR FINGER CIRCUMFERENCE EASILY
To make sure your jewelry fits perfectly, here’s a simple tip to find out your finger size at home:
Take a piece of string or a strip of paper and wrap it loosely around your finger. Make a mark where the string or paper overlaps. Using a ruler, measure the distance between the two marks. Multiply this result by 10 to obtain your size in millimeters.
Example: If you get 5 cm, your size is 50. If you get 5.4 cm, your size is 54.
RING SIZE MEASURING TOOL
For greater precision, we also offer a small ring size measuring tool which you can order.
SIZE NOT AVAILABLE
We can make jewelry to order in 6 to 8 weeks. Feel free to leave a message with your size in the shopping cart or contact us for more information.
For assistance, please contact us at:
info@chakshu.com
