Baccarat
French luxury crystal house known for handcrafted tableware, lighting, decorative objects, jewelry and fragrance.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Baccarat is a French luxury house and crystal manufacturer founded in 1764 in the Lorraine town of Baccarat. It began as a glassworks established with royal authorization after the closure of a local saltworks created access to fuel and encouraged industrial development in the area. During the nineteenth century, the company developed expertise in high-quality lead crystal and became an important supplier to royal courts, heads of state and wealthy consumers around the world. Its products came to include stemware, vases, perfume bottles, paperweights, chandeliers and other decorative objects. The company’s identity is closely associated with the combination of technically demanding crystal production, elaborate cutting and engraving, and highly recognizable design signatures. Baccarat’s early royal commissions, international exhibitions and export growth helped transform a regional factory into a global luxury name. The company received its first royal order from Louis XVIII in 1823 and won a gold medal at the 1855 Paris World’s Fair. It registered a product mark in 1860 and later adopted more systematic acid or sandblasted signatures, helping establish authenticity and provenance for its pieces. Baccarat expanded significantly during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It developed colored crystal, millefiori paperweights, large-scale architectural installations, perfume packaging and luxury tableware. Its international reputation was reinforced by commissions for palaces and royal households, including major work associated with the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and Portuguese royal collections. At the end of the nineteenth century, the company maintained production and commercial facilities in Baccarat and Paris, while the local factory became a major employer in the surrounding community. After the Second World War, Baccarat strengthened its presence in the United States, establishing a New York subsidiary in 1948. The company continued to produce traditional crystal while experimenting with modern forms and collaborations. It diversified into jewelry in 1993 and fragrance in 1997. In 2003, its Paris museum and related activities moved to a new location, while the company continued to preserve its industrial heritage through museums in Baccarat and Paris. Ownership changed several times in the modern era. Groupe du Louvre was the majority shareholder until 2005, when Starwood Capital Group acquired the company. Starwood used the Baccarat name and design language in the Baccarat Hotel New York, which opened a hospitality-oriented extension of the brand’s luxury positioning. In 2018, Beijing-based Fortune Fountain Capital acquired an 88.8 percent stake from Starwood Capital Group and L Catterton. In December 2020, four Hong Kong-based investment funds took control of Fortune Fountain Limited, the holding company reported to own approximately 97 percent of Baccarat. The brand has continued to combine heritage collections with collaborations, hospitality, events and limited editions. Philippe Starck designed the Darkside collection in 2005, including a black version of the Zenith chandelier. Baccarat Rouge 540, created with Maison Francis Kurkdjian for the company’s 250th anniversary in 2014, became one of its best-known fragrance offerings. More recent collaborations have involved Woodford Reserve, Virgil Abloh, Supreme, Yoshiki, Imane Ayissi, Charles de Vilmorin and Thom Browne. Baccarat also operates or has operated boutiques and retail activities in major luxury markets and has used cultural, charitable and sporting events to broaden brand visibility. Its present positioning remains centered on French craftsmanship, collectible design, ceremonial entertaining, luxury interiors and high-end gifting.
History
Baccarat traces its origin to 1764, when Louis-Joseph de Laval-Montmorency received permission from Louis XV to establish a glassworks in Baccarat, Lorraine. The project followed the closure of the local Rozières saltworks and was intended to create productive use for local timber while reducing France’s dependence on imported artistic glass. Early production included window glass, mirrors and tableware. The first crystal furnace began operating in 1816, marking the transition toward the specialized crystal manufacture for which the company later became known. During the 1820s the enterprise underwent a major organizational and financial restructuring. Gabriel d’Artigues transferred the business to Pierre-Antoine Godard-Desmarest, François-Marie-Augustin Lescuyer-Vespin and Nicolas-Rémy Lolot. The crystal works obtained limited-company status in 1824. Godard-Desmarest placed day-to-day management in the hands of engineer Jean-Baptiste Toussaint, establishing a long-running distinction between the family group associated with ownership and the managerial leadership responsible for operations. Baccarat’s first documented royal commission came from Louis XVIII in 1823. Royal patronage and increasing international demand accelerated the company’s growth. Engineer François-Eugène de Fontenay helped develop colored glass and multicolored crystal paperweights after joining the business in 1841. Baccarat’s products were sold under watermarked or labeled identification, and the company registered its trademark in 1860. At the 1855 Paris World’s Fair it won a gold medal, strengthening its reputation in the expanding luxury and decorative-arts market. From the mid-nineteenth century through the early twentieth century, Baccarat expanded its range to include luxury tableware, chandeliers, vases, perfume bottles, paperweights and architectural installations. It supplied courts and prominent institutions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Large-scale work associated with the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and commissions for the Portuguese royal household illustrate the company’s role as a supplier of ceremonial and decorative luxury. The factory was a major employer in Baccarat: by the late nineteenth century thousands of local residents were connected to the works and its workforce had grown substantially from the 1850s. The company developed a Paris commercial and production presence, including a warehouse, sales location and bronze workshop near the Gare de l’Est. Its Paris premises later became associated with the Baccarat museum before the museum moved in 2003. Perfume bottles became an important product category, with substantial production volumes reported in the early twentieth century. In 1936, Baccarat began marking its works through acid or sandblasted signatures, improving identification of its pieces. The Second World War forms a difficult chapter in the company’s history. The factory was taken over during the German occupation and used as a prisoner transit facility, while the company’s wartime relationships and the later presence of alleged collaborators in senior circles have attracted historical criticism. After the war, Baccarat rebuilt its international business. It created a United States subsidiary in New York in 1948 and continued developing both classic and contemporary designs. Baccarat diversified beyond traditional crystalware during the late twentieth century. It entered jewelry in 1993 and fragrance in 1997. In 1994, it produced a large anniversary chandelier with 230 lights. The company also pursued museum exhibitions and design collaborations, including the 1964 Louvre retrospective marking its bicentenary and later presentations at the Petit Palais. Ownership and commercial strategy changed in the twenty-first century. Groupe du Louvre remained the majority shareholder until 2005, after which Starwood Capital Group acquired Baccarat. Starwood extended the name into luxury hospitality through Baccarat Hotel New York, whose interiors used Baccarat lighting, decorative objects and glassware. In 2005, Philippe Starck designed the Darkside collection, including a black interpretation of the Zenith chandelier. In 2014, the company marked its 250th anniversary with Baccarat Rouge 540, a fragrance developed with Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and an exhibition at Paris’s Petit Palais. Fortune Fountain Capital acquired 88.8 percent of Baccarat in 2018. In 2020, four Hong Kong-based investment funds took control of Fortune Fountain Limited, the holding company reported to own approximately 97 percent of Baccarat. The brand has since continued to combine heritage production with collaborations, hospitality, fragrance, fashion, art and event marketing. It appointed Margareth Henriquez as chief executive in 2021 and Adam Banfield as president and chief executive of North American operations in 2023. Baccarat remains an active French luxury house, with its identity anchored in crystal craftsmanship and high-end decorative design.
- 2023
Adam Banfield appointed North American chief executive
[1]Banfield became president and chief executive of Baccarat’s North American operations.
- 2021
Margareth Henriquez appointed chief executive
[1]Henriquez joined Baccarat as chief executive after leading Krug Champagne.
- 2020
Control of holding company changes
[1]Four Hong Kong-based funds took control of Fortune Fountain Limited.
- 2018
Fortune Fountain Capital acquires majority stake
[1]Fortune Fountain Capital purchased an 88.8 percent stake in Baccarat.
- 2014
Baccarat Rouge 540 introduced
[1]The brand introduced Baccarat Rouge 540 with Maison Francis Kurkdjian for its 250th anniversary.
- 2005
Starck designs Darkside collection
[1]Philippe Starck created the Darkside collection, including a black Zenith chandelier.
- 2003
Paris museum moves
[1]Baccarat moved its Paris museum activities to a new location.
- 1997
Fragrance business launched
[1]Baccarat extended its product portfolio into perfume.
- 1993
Jewelry business launched
[1]The company expanded into jewelry as luxury-market conditions challenged its traditional categories.
- 1948
United States subsidiary established
[1]Baccarat created a New York-based American subsidiary.
Products and positioning
Baccarat positions itself as an ultra-luxury French crystal house whose value rests on heritage, artisanal production, technical mastery, collectible design and association with prestigious interiors, hospitality, fashion and cultural events.
Tableware
Crystal stemware and tableware
Baccarat’s core tableware business includes wine glasses, champagne flutes, tumblers, decanters and related serving pieces. These products combine clear or colored crystal with cutting, engraving and sculptural forms. Historic patterns such as Harcourt helped establish the house’s ceremonial and hospitality credentials, while newer collections extend the range toward contemporary dining and barware.
Lighting
Chandeliers and lighting
Baccarat produces chandeliers, lamps and other lighting objects that use crystal prisms, colored elements and metal structures. The category includes monumental commissions as well as residential products. The Zenith chandelier is among the house’s best-known designs, and the Darkside version created with Philippe Starck demonstrated how Baccarat has used reinterpretation and collaboration to modernize its historic lighting vocabulary.
Home decoration
Decorative crystal
The decorative range includes vases, sculptures, animal figures, paperweights, ornaments and collectible objects. Baccarat’s nineteenth-century development of colored crystal and millefiori paperweights remains an important part of its heritage. Contemporary decorative pieces often emphasize limited production, distinctive color treatments and collaborations with designers or artists.
Fragrance · 2014
Baccarat Rouge 540
Baccarat Rouge 540 is a fragrance created with Maison Francis Kurkdjian and introduced in 2014 for Baccarat’s 250th anniversary. It translated the crystal house’s identity into perfumery and became a prominent modern expression of the brand beyond glassmaking. The line has supported Baccarat’s expansion into fragrance and luxury personal goods.
Jewelry · 1993
Jewelry
Baccarat entered jewelry in 1993, applying its crystal expertise and decorative vocabulary to wearable objects. The category forms part of the company’s broader diversification from traditional tableware and interiors, and is typically presented within the same high-luxury design context as its crystal collections.
Packaging and fragrance
Perfume bottles
Perfume bottles have been an important Baccarat product since the nineteenth century and became a major production category by the early twentieth century. The format showcases the company’s ability to combine functional packaging with collectible crystal craftsmanship, making it relevant both to fragrance houses and to private luxury consumers.
Controversies
2021
Trademark dispute with Kalliope Amorphous
Baccarat became involved in a trademark dispute with artist Kalliope Amorphous, which generated a public social-media controversy.
2020
EEOC harassment settlement
Baccarat Inc. paid $100,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging harassment of a Manhattan sales consultant on the bases of race, sexual orientation and disability.
2019
Asbestos exposure claims in France
The Baccarat crystal factory was ordered to compensate employees affected by asbestos exposure. A later decision found the factory responsible in connection with the death of a worker from cancer, and former employees were subsequently recognized as suffering anxiety-related harm from exposure.
1999
Spanish-speaking worker discrimination case
A jury found Baccarat Inc. liable in a case involving discrimination against a Spanish-speaking worker.
1991
California lead-crystal complaint
California authorities filed a complaint alleging that Baccarat’s sale of leaded-crystal decanters violated provisions of California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.
1940
Wartime occupation and alleged collaboration
During the German occupation, Baccarat’s factory was taken over and used as a prisoner transit camp. Historical accounts also criticize the company’s continued association with alleged Nazi collaborators in senior positions after the war, reportedly extending into the late twentieth century.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational presentation
United States
The 2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational was presented by Baccarat at Gulfstream Park.
Outcome. The sponsorship associated Baccarat with elite horse racing and high-end event culture.
- 2023Baccarat Speakeasy at the Tony Awards
United States
Baccarat created a Speakeasy installation at the 76th Tony Awards in collaboration with Zacapa.
Outcome. The event positioned the brand within American theater, hospitality and premium spirits culture.
- 2023Baccarat Petit Slam
United States
Baccarat staged its inaugural Petit Slam at Baccarat Hotel New York with tennis players Maria Sakkari and Jannik Sinner.
Outcome. The event extended the brand’s experiential marketing into luxury sports hospitality.
- 2019Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition
United States · International
Baccarat and Woodford Reserve introduced a limited-edition American whiskey presented through Baccarat crystal craftsmanship.
Outcome. The collaboration linked Baccarat’s crystal heritage with premium spirits and limited-edition collecting.
- 2019Virgil Abloh collaboration
International
Baccarat announced a collaboration with Virgil Abloh during Miami Art Basel.
Outcome. The project connected Baccarat with contemporary fashion and art audiences.
- 2019Supreme collaboration
International
Baccarat partnered with American streetwear brand Supreme.
Outcome. The partnership brought Baccarat into a limited-edition streetwear and collector context.
Brand decisions
2020
Change of control at Fortune Fountain LimitedM&ABackground
Fortune Fountain Limited was the holding company reported to own approximately 97 percent of Baccarat.
Action taken
Tor Investment Management, Sammasan, Dolphin and Corbin took control of Fortune Fountain Limited.
Aftermath
Baccarat remained privately controlled through a Hong Kong-linked investment structure.
Reported Baccarat stake held by Fortune Fountain Limited. 97% (2020)
2018
Fortune Fountain Capital acquisitionM&ABackground
Baccarat was privately held after Starwood Capital Group’s ownership period.
Action taken
Fortune Fountain Capital acquired an 88.8 percent stake from Starwood Capital Group and L Catterton.
Aftermath
Control shifted to a Beijing-based financial group, followed by a later change in control of its holding company.
Equity stake acquired. 88.8% (2018)
2014
Baccarat Rouge 540 launchProduct launchBackground
The company wanted to mark its 250th anniversary and strengthen its presence in luxury fragrance.
Action taken
Baccarat introduced Baccarat Rouge 540 in collaboration with Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Aftermath
The fragrance became one of the brand’s most visible modern products and broadened its recognition beyond crystal.
2005
Philippe Starck’s Darkside collectionProduct launchBackground
Baccarat sought to reinterpret historic crystal forms for contemporary luxury consumers.
Action taken
Philippe Starck created the Darkside collection, including a black Zenith chandelier.
Aftermath
The collection demonstrated the brand’s strategy of pairing heritage manufacture with prominent modern designers.
1997
Expansion into fragranceStrategyBackground
Baccarat was extending its brand into categories that could carry its design and luxury identity beyond home crystal.
Action taken
The company entered perfumery.
Aftermath
Fragrance became a continuing component of Baccarat’s product architecture, later reinforced by Baccarat Rouge 540.
1993
Diversification into jewelryStrategyBackground
The luxury-goods market was experiencing pressure and Baccarat sought to broaden its activities beyond crystalware.
Action taken
Baccarat began producing and selling jewelry.
Aftermath
Jewelry became part of the house’s wider luxury portfolio.
Sources3 sources
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