Van Cleef & Arpels creates its school of Jewellery, open to all those who love beauty, be it the connoisseurs or professionals.
Shedding light on…
Revealing…
Sharing…
Conveying… the spirit of artistic craftsmanship that inspires Van Cleef & Arpels’ unique expertise.
Ever since its beginnings in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels has embodied the brilliance of Jewellery savoir-faire. Inspired by constant inventiveness, the Maison’s excellence has given birth to timeless creations and exceptional techniques: Mystery Setting™, Zip necklaces, Poetic Complications® watches, the outstanding Pierres de Caractère precious stone collection… all have revolutionized the world of Jewellery.
Van Cleef & Arpels takes an important step in its history.
The Maison Van Cleef & Arpels has decided to create a school in order to cast a light on the very secretive world of Jewellery and to share its most precious asset: its savoir-faire. Give insight, help understand, in a nutshell, reveal the essence of this exceptional craft.
For Van Cleef & Arpels, an ardent defender of the artistic crafts, passing on, sharing and teaching knowledge is a duty. This is why the Maison has decided to create a school of Jewellery, open to all. It offers a unique method of discovering and learning for those who are passionate about Jewellery, lovers of beauty or simply curious and anyone who wishes to acquire “inside” knowledge of this fascinating world.
The school is open to an international public.
A different teaching approach
The school offers a non-technical curriculum, the discovery of an art, the development of a discerning eye, the knowledge of materials. Its ambition is to encourage the intellectual and emotional grasp of the “soul” of Jewellery and convey skill through personal experience.
L’ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels opens a path of discovery to Jewellery that is structured around 3 steps: “Unveiling”, “Shedding light on” and “Revealing”. The steps, each composed of several “chapters”, follow a progressive learning process. L’ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels is located on the place Vendôme in an 18th century town house that embodies French Artistic Style.
An experimentation salon for handling, trying on…
Training salons for listening, watching, learning…
A boudoir-library for discussing, going in-depth…
The Program
The course of study is flexible for the first 2 Levels. It is possible to sign up for one or several chapters according to one’s interests, tastes or knowledge. However, fundamental concepts about the world of Jewellery (in the fields of art history, gemmology or art craftsmanship) are required in order to follow the Level 3 «Revealing» chapters. It is thus compulsory for participants, in order to enrol, to have attended any 2 chapters of the “Unveiling” and “Shedding Light On” Levels. (Classes are in English or French).
Unveiling:
- A1: Stories and Inspirations
You will immerse yourself in the very essence of the history of Jewelry to grasp the great aesthetic themes in their diversity and to understand their origin, to gain an understanding of the great jewellers who have marked the different chapters in its evolution. You will discover also how the human eye and hand have joined together to learn how to make a marriage of metal and stone in order to create unique and extraordinary pieces, continuing to write the marvellous story of Jewelry. - A2: Interpreting the Gemstones
You will begin an extraordinary voyage plunging deep into the heart of the stones, from their birth to their extraction then to their shaping.
You will touch and handle these stones, their unbelievable diversity will be revealed to you and you will understand, while listening to the gemmologist, the origins of and reasons for their value. You will leave behind any previous suppositions you may have had, letting your emotions lead you to the discovery of how the human hand and the human genius have made this fabulous gift of nature attain the sublime. - A3: Jewellery Mix and Match
After the epic of the origins and history of styles, after the adventure with stones, here is another facet of the world of jewels: wearing them, on your own skin, a part of you… the personal and intimate experience. Conceived with specialists in style, this new stage will help you discover how the wearing of jewels has evolved from a very codified universe, which prescribed what had to be worn, hour by hour, occasion by occasion, to an era of liberty when the wearer can dare to be different led by her own imagination. You will understand the love story and reciprocal influences between Jewels and Couture…
And finally, it will be your turn to invent “Jewellery Mix and Match”, advised by a professional stylist: to develop your creativity, to dare to wear jewels in your own very personal way, as you refine your own style in mixing and matching.
Shedding light on:
- B1: Symbols and Power of Jewels
This module conceived as an initiation, will enable you to explore the symbolic dimension of jewels to discover its mysterious mythic origins, to enter into the heart of human passions and to relive the emotions which have accompanied these memorable adventures!
You will understand the deep imprint which jewels have made on different cultures. - B2: Admiring Uniqueness and Team Craftsmanship
A jewel is a very particular object. Beyond the value of the metal and the stones with which it is made, it carries within itself the Human Genius. You will discover how the subtle combination of “savoir-faire” (ancestral skills passed on from generation to generation) and the most modern techniques give birth to masterpieces proceeding from tireless team effort. You will understand why France and its cultural heritage have such a unique role and place in Jewellery creation. While listening to and watching jewellers, and in experiencing hands on some of the techniques, you will feel the effect of all the richness of this craft profession of Art.
Having access to Van Cleef & Arpels Creations:
After having discovered, understood and experienced the Universe of Van Cleef & Arpels, the time has come to enter into the very
- heart of the Maison.
In the studio, you will have direct exchanges with the Creation Team.
Then, you will follow step by step the formation of the jewels in the actual workshop by visiting the Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewellery - Atelier and in personally meeting the artisans who bring the Art to life.
Finally, with the Maison’s Designers, you will live out the exceptional experience of conceiving a jewel created by special and uniqueclient consultation: ‘‘Designing to Your Dreams’’.
List of fees in Euro for the Jewellery course
Chapter A1: Stories & Inspirations 600
Chapter A2: Interpreting the Gemstones 800
Chapter A3: Jewellery Mix and Match 600
SHEDDING LIGHT ON:
Chapter B1: Symbol and Power of Jewels 600
Chapter B2: Admiring Uniqueness and Team Craftsmanship 800
REVEALING:
Chapter C1: Entering the Van Cleef & Arpels Universe 800
Chapter C2: Accessing Van Cleef & Arpels Creations 950
About Marie Vallanet-Delhom
The first President of the brand new ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels, Marie Vallanet-Delhom’s professional experience has been dedicated to teaching, the passing on of knowledge and expertise and High Jewellery. After a Master’s degree in Literature, Marie Vallanet-Delhom began her career as a teacher. In 1986 her professional path takes a crucial turn: she joins the Richemont group and its Jewellery Maisons, Cartier and then Van Cleef & Arpels. For 25 years, this true lover of beauty has been sharing and conveying her passion and extensive knowledge of Jewellery with clients and colleagues. Her expertise and personal qualities are the perfect assets to lead the Maison’s new creative and historical challenge: in 2011, this passionate lover of music and literature, careful tender of gardens and friendships becomes President of L’ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels.