What is the traditional Champagne term for the metal capsule collected from a bottle’s wire cage?

The traditional Champagne term for the metal capsule collected from a bottle’s wire cage is plaque de muselet.

The small metal piece sits between the cork and the wire restraint, usually on top of the cork. Producers print it with logos, illustrations, anniversaries, or special-edition designs. After a bottle is opened, the plaque can be kept as a souvenir or added to a collection.

Collectors of these plaques are known in France as placomusophiles. The hobby became especially visible in Champagne, where thousands of designs circulate and specialist catalogues help identify producers, years, and variations. A plaque’s value usually depends on rarity and condition rather than on the wine inside the bottle.

The plaque should not be confused with the muselet itself. Muselet means the wire cage, while plaque de muselet refers to the metal capsule. Coiffe generally refers to the foil covering around the cork and neck, and bouchon is the French word for cork.