Fontana was a famous Parisian jewellery firm. It was founded by Thomas Fontana from Switzerland (1813-1861) in the 1840s, starting with a small workshop in Paris. Due to success and an increasing reputation, the workshop grew larger and was taken over by his nephew Joseph Fontana when Thomas died. Charles Fontana, the son of Thomas, started participating in the firm in 1871, renaming it Ch. Fontana & Cie. in 1896, the firm moved to a larger and more prestigious location at the Rue Royale in Paris, where they kept the quality of the firms jewels high. Their clients were numerous among the Parisian bourgeoisie and they were best known for their gem-set jewellery. In 1882, Joseph Fontana ended the partnership with Charles and established a new firm called Fontana Frères.
