STYLE Edit: Van Cleef & Arpels’ L’École School of Jewelry Arts aims to ‘fill the gap’ of high jewellery for connoisseurs
The brand’s Paris campus has welcomed more than 30,000 students since 2012, filling the gap between appreciation and education, and now boasts its only permanent outpost in Hong Kong
The world of high jewellery is a privilege which only some connoisseurs get to enjoy. You can buy some of the most precious jewellery pieces from the fanciest boutiques across the world, but an opportunity to delve deeper into the origins of these jewels and their craftsmanship is rare.
To fill this gap between appreciation and education, Van Cleef & Arpels set up the L’École School of Jewelry Arts in Paris in 2012. In less than a decade, L’École has welcomed more than 30,000 students from 50 nationalities through its courses and talks, and 32,000 visitors to its exhibitions.
“The maison is looking forward to giving more people access by establishing a permanent campus in Hong Kong,” says Elise Gonnet-Pon, managing director of L’École Asia-Pacific.
The campus fulfils a growing demand for jewellery arts education across the Asia-Pacific.
With an international faculty of around 60 experts – from master jewellers to stone setters and designers to jewellery art historians, gemologists and lacquer craftsmen, the school provides hands-on engagement for those who are interested.
The maison is looking forward to giving more people access by establishing a permanent campus in Hong Kong
In Asia, the savoir faire workshops are among the most popular courses. Students are guided by master jewellers, stone setters, mock-up makers, design teachers and lacquer craftsmen, to become familiar with jewellery arts and crafts, their techniques and know-how.
Courses include: Trying Out the Jeweller's Techniques, From Design to Mock-Up and From French Jewels to Japanese Lacquer. Gonnet-Pon says that introductory courses such as First Steps into the World of Jewellery have been well-received.