A Conversation With Arthur Rousseau

Can you introduce yourself? 

My name is Arthur, I am 20 years old and I come from Limousin. I'm a jeweler by day, and for the past three years,

I’ve been a climber by night.

What do you like most about climbing? 

I think what I like most about climbing is dynamic movement: that moment when you launch yourself and your body detaches itself from the wall, with that feeling of hovering for a fraction of a second. It's very addictive.

I also really like the people you can meet,

as well as the constant progression,

both in your technique and in your physique.

In life you are a jeweler. What brought you to this profession? 

I have always been a very hands-on person. When I was little,

I collected stones a lot. One day, when I learned how to read,

I came across an article in Paris Match

which talked about the job of an artisan jeweler.

At that moment, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

It first became a theoretical passion,

then I started practicing it at 14 years old.

What similarities can you find between your work as a jeweler and climbing? 

There are hands-on and exciting aspects to both disciplines, but what stands out to me above all is their addictive nature: they both make me want to surpass myself and become better every day.

The boulder you dream of climbing ? 

My goal is to climb in the 8th grade

Do you wear jewelry? If so, what does it mean to you? 

My friends and family ask me for so many pieces that I never have time to make some for myself !

Where do you find your inspiration? 

I find my inspiration everywhere. I am a very curious person:

I like to look around, visit places, discover new things

and learn about various topics. A detail, a shape,

or a story can be enough to inspire me.

I am also very attracted to everything old, particularly Art Nouveau. Mixing this world of jewelry with that of climbing gave me the idea for the Karma Ring.

Is there a particular artist who inspires you? 

There is not one but two artists who inspire me immensely: Joel Arthur Rosenthal and Wallace Chan

The sound you are listening to on repeat at the moment? 

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

Where do you see yourself in ten years? 

In ten years, I will have opened my own jewelry workshop

in Paris. But more importantly I will have a large farmhouse

in the countryside, with a pond for fishing,

a good wine and cheese cellar…

and obviously a climbing wall in the garden!

What is your motto? 

Don’t be afraid of being crazy. Do not listen to beliefs,

social codes, the do’s and dont’s that try to put us in boxes.

I think you should listen carefully to the dreams

that make you vibrate.

When you have a dream in your head,

no one can take it away from you.

It is what pushes us to move forward every day.

And even when there are doubts or failures,

it's not the end: on the contrary, they are often

the ones that teach us the most.

The important thing is to keep pushing and never give up.

You have to dare, even when it seems crazy.

Because deep down, you miss all of the shots you don’t take.

And I am convinced that life is well made:

the dreams that you pursue end up finding their way to you.