Following the death of his father, René Lalique began an apprenticeship in 1876 with the jewellery maker Louis Aucoc. It was at this time that he acquired the techniques of jewellery making. In 1885, he took over the workshop of the jeweller Jules Destapes and launched his career as a jeweller. Lalique was already using enamel and glass to adorn his jewellery and his avant-garde designs were a hit. He made jewellery for princesses and artists, such as the actress Sarah Bernard. The Universal Exhibition of 1900 marked the high point of his career as a jeweller.