Past Online Conversations

Long sought after for their hardness before being appreciated for their brilliance, it is now also by their color that diamonds turn heads around the world.

For several years natural colored diamonds have seen a growth in popularity amongst connoisseurs, in particular blue and pink diamonds, the most popular among them. But what is at the origin of their color? Can it be measured, quantified and appraised? Is rarity the only aspect to explain the infatuation they evoke? As numerous are the mysteries surrounding these gems, during this talk we will attempt to unlock some of their secrets together.

With Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, Gemologist, Art Historian, Lecturer and Researcher at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts & Léonard Pouy, Art Historian PhD, Lecturer and Researcher at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

This online conversation will be broadcast live from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Paris.

Have you ever heard of Lacloche Frères? This family business, founded in 1892 and established since 1901 on rue de la Paix, in the heart of the Parisian jewelers' district, enjoyed dazzling success until the early 1930s, when it suddenly disappeared. Relaunched by Jacques Lacloche in 1936, it closed permanently in 1967. Forgotten by the general public, but not by collectors, come and discover what made the success of this great Parisian jewelry Maison, as well as the reasons for its fall. A story to be rediscovered without moderation!

This online talk was broadcasted live from the “Lacloche Jewelers” exhibition at L’ÉCOLE Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong.

With Nicolas Luchsinger, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Asia Pacific, Director of the « Heritage » collection & Mathilde Rondouin, Art Historian and Teacher from L'ÉCOLE Asia Pacific.

After a first exhibition held in Paris in 2018, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts is once again presenting Yves Gastou's breathtaking collection of men's rings in Tokyo from January 14th to March 13th, 2022.

The ring, by its visual and physical proximity to its wearer, is a jewel with a unique status, since Antiquity. In turn functional (to sign, contain, unite, play, even cheat!) or symbolic, an object of contemplation and sometimes a veritable sculpture, the ring has been used in both masculine and feminine forms throughout the centuries and cultures.

Yves Gastou, fascinated since his childhood by a ring worn by a Bishop, has built up over a lifetime of travels and encounters one of the most eclectic and therefore most representative collections of this type of jewel through time and space.

From the rings of the doges of Venice in the 17th century to those of the American bikers of the 1970s, from antique rings of ancient Egypt to vanities of the 19th century, from enamels of the 18th century to rings of contemporary artists, together we will explore the many facets of this masculine jewel, worn by bishops and Emperors as well as by bikers and rockers.

With Victor Gastou, Director of the Galerie Yves Gastou & Gislain Aucremanne, Art Historian, Antique Jewelry Specialist and Conferences Project Manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

This online conversation has been be broadcasted live from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Paris.

Have you ever wondered about the process of creating a piece of jewelry? How is a piece of jewelry born? Marina Fulchiron, a jewelry designer, and Inezita Gay-Eckel, a jewelry historian, will draw on extensive research conducted by L'ÉCOLE, using unpublished drawings and museum collections, such as that of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, to understand the creative process, from the first glimmer of inspiration to the final design for a jewelry workshop. Our duo will share with you this research, as well as practical knowledge, in order to unravel the secrets of the genesis of a work of high jewelry.

This online talk has been broadcasted live from the “Designing Jewels” exhibition at L’ÉCOLE in Paris.

With: Marina Fulchiron, Jewelry Designer and Teacher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts & Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Teacher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

In 1925, the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts was held in Paris, welcoming 21 countries and 15,000 exhibitors. This major event revived luxury industries and established a style that would later be called "Art Deco", in homage to this exhibition. If Paris was the place of development of this trend, its inspirations and its success would spread internationally. The decoration of French embassies abroad or that of the great transatlantic cruise ships would spread a fabulous style, from New York to Marrakech, from Rio to Shanghai... Come and discover the sources of Art Deco, a style that jewelry happily adopted between the two World Wars and which continues to fascinate us today.

This online talk was broadcasted live from the GemGenève fair.

Among the flowers that nature offers us each season, some have strongly influenced jewelry creation. Although these flowers die with the passage of time, they become eternal in their jewel-like forms and never fade. From botanical naturalism to artistic stylization, come and follow this original Conversation between a garden specialist and a jewelry historian, where the question of accuracy in the representation of flowers in jewelry will be debated. An 18th century "giardinetti" ring or an Art Nouveau orchid in enamel and glass transcribe nature that surrounds us differently. Indeed, the setting of precious stones in metal most often leads to a stylized version of flora. 

Two jewelry historians offer you a bouquet of legendary flowers. Have you ever wondered why laurel wreaths crown the heads of victorious sports champions? Or why papyrus was so critical in ancient Egypt? Love, passion, remembrance, tributes to the gods are just a few of the many symbolic meanings of flowers that we will find throughout time.

This online talk has been broadcasted live from the FLORAE exhibition, organized by Van Cleef & Arpels with Mika Ninagawa, at the Hôtel d'Evreux, place Vendôme (from September 10th to November 14th, 2021).

With: Paul Paradis, Art Historian, Decorative Arts and Jewelry Specialist, Teacher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
& Gislain Aucremanne, Art Historian, Antique Jewelry Specialist and Conferences Project Manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, aquamarines, turquoise, etc… Extracted from the depths of the earth, coveted and sought after for thousands of years, gems (precious stones worked on by human hands) have always been considered as instruments of power and objects of seduction. Furthermore, since the 18th century, they have become the subject of various scientific studies.

In collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, “Gems”, the exhibition of the French National Museum of Natural History, immerses visitors in several fields which are closely connected and yet rarely brought together: mineralogy, gemology and the art of jewelry making.

This unique exhibition, open to the public until August 22nd, brings together some 360 minerals, gems and objets d’art from the Museum’s collections (including pieces from the former French royal collections), more than 250 jewelry creations from Van Cleef & Arpels, as well as 50 exceptional loans from Mines ParisTech, the musée de la Légion d’honneur and international great private collectors.

We offer you to discover this exhibition, from the comfort of your home, with:

François Farges, Distinguished Professor, mineralogist at the French National Museum of Natural History, scientist-in-charge of the National Gems’ Collection, and scientific co-curator of the “Gems” exhibition & Inezita Gay-Eckel, Art Historian and Professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

Considered as one of the most major historical figures, Marie-Antoinette (1755-1793), Queen of France, still arouses fascination and unfailing enthusiasm today. Fashion figure, in love with adornments and other jewels, the sovereign is known for her refined, delicate taste… and her penchant for spending! This inclination for luxury and splendor of the one then nicknamed "Madame Deficit" will unfortunately be lethal to her at the dawn of the French Revolution. But behind this character, decried and contested in his time hides, in reality, a fragile and sensitive nature. Immerse yourself in the existence of a sumptuous sovereign and in the intimacy of a woman in search of simplicity. With: Cécile Lugand, Professor and Researcher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts & Gislain Aucremanne, Art Historian, and Professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

On the occasion of the reopening of the exhibition “Jean Vendome, Artist Jeweler”, we offer you a virtual guided tour with Sophie Lefèvre, art historian and curator of the exhibition, and Léonard Pouy, art historian and teacher-researcher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Come discover the unique and daring works of this true pioneer of modern jewelry and great lover of minerals, who never stopped creating during all his life, from his first jewelry collection the 1950s until his last creations in 2017. (in French only)

Author of "Women Jewellery Designers", Juliet Weir-de La Rochefoucauld will take us on a journey of exploration to discover the names of some of the great figures in jewelry such as Suzanne Belperron, Jeanne Toussaint, or Elsa Peretti, as well as lesser known names such as Elisabeth Treskow, Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hûbe, and Wendy Ramshaw. Let’s discover or re-discover these great women who drove design through jewels made and conceived in the 20th century.

Established on the occasion of the marriage of King Francis I to Eleanor of Habsburg, his second wife, the institution of the Crown Jewels of France experienced three and a half centuries of acquisitions, but above all twists and turns. Deeply affected during the Revolution, then definitively dispersed at auction in 1887, they continue to arouse the fascination of collectors and historians alike given their many secrets and mysteries. Similarly, while some of the most beautiful pieces of the collection are now preserved in the Galerie d'Apollon of the Louvre, others are still awaiting rediscovery and remain eagerly sought after.

Discovered in India in the 17th century, the original blue diamond weighed in at a hefty 115 carats, was cut for King Louis XIV of France, stolen during the French Revolution, and then recut as the Hope Diamond. From India to France, from England to America, the story of this diamond is a narrative of ownership and conquest, art and science, facts and myths… This Talk is live directly from inside the museum in the "Gems" exhibition in the Grand Gallery of Evolution.

A great connoisseur of stones, Roger Caillois (1913–1978) left behind him a poetic and aesthetic view of the world of minerals, which he helped introduce to the general public. Through his texts and his “dreamstones” collection, he leaves us a unique legacy, which we invite you to rediscover at the Museum. In particular, nearly one thousand of his stones have recently reappeared to join the Museum collection.

Misunderstood for centuries, even nicknamed “Little Silver” pejoratively by the Spaniards, when they found it in South America, platinum had to wait a long time to reveal its secrets! In the beginning of the 20th century, the great Maisons, began to elevate this metal to its proper noble status in jewelry. Let’s discover how platinum forever changed modern jewelry.

French adventurer, tireless traveler, art and precious stones dealer, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605-1689) is one of the major figures of the 17th century. From his many trips to Asia, the merchant will bring back many treasures. Nonetheless, it is the famous diamonds from the mines of Golconde in India that will make his glory with King Louis XIV and his court. As a privileged witness to the relations between East and West in a Europe passionate about distant and foreign cultures, the life of this atypical traveler nevertheless remains largely unknown. Who really was Jean-Baptiste Tavernier? Which diamantiferous legacy did he leave?

Comparing the world of classical ballet and the jewelry arts is to enter such a universe where the perpetual search for beauty reigns. The time devoted to perfecting every detail and the precision of the gestures are skills which these two worlds share.

Gold is a fascinating material: the color, the radiance, and especially the combination of its characteristics make it the favorite metal of Humans to create jewels, adornments, and precious objects. In Nature, gold can take different shapes, from the most irregular nuggets to practically perfect crystalline shapes. In jewelry, to create volumes and textures which are as varied as they are astounding, gold is generally alloyed, especially in order to make it more durable, but also to give it a broader color range. From its atomic structure to its different deposits, to its exceptional properties and its unexpected alloys, discover gold in all its incarnations!

An opportunity to discover these true contemporary works of Art. 67 years of creation, emotion, and beauty. We will reveal the originality and poetry of one of the most important creators of his time.

As a source of emotion, jewelry has always been chosen to express love for the beloved one. Intimate gifts, sometimes concealing a secret relationship, these jewels have so much to tell! Let us go through their history, from Antiquity to the present day, and decipher the secret language of Love.

Who remembers that Paris was the world capital of the natural pearl trade? Traveling from “the pearl coast”, as the Gulf countries were previously called, to France, this conversation looks back on half a century of shared history, from the 1900s until World War II.

The richness of the floral universe has long been a source of inspiration for all jewelers. The Flora book, which the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris had published in partnership with L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts deciphers an intricate selection of jewels, from the 17th century to the present day.

In the aftermath of the First World War, New York city inspired the creators. At the heart of Art Deco aesthetics, let's discover how skyscrapers, urban lines, and modernity profoundly changed the face of jewelry.

Amulets, talismans, and lucky charms have obsessed people since prehistoric times, even before each culture developed its own favorite motifs and jewelry. Discover the imaginary powers attributed to stones and their symbolism, the beliefs attached to protective animals, as well as the stories associated with certain legendary jewels.

The most ancient diamonds date all the way back to 3.5 billion years ago. A miracle of nature, their geological formation gave them remarkable physical properties, which conferred upon them a unique role in history and mythology. The very origin of the word, “adamas” (“invincible, unconquerable” in Greek), recalls the uniqueness of this gem. Embark on a voyage to discover the diamond, between science and history, with our experts as your guides.

As a period characterized by an unprecedented artistic and cultural revolution, Renaissance will have profoundly marked the world of jewelry. New trading networks, innovative techniques, and original sources of inspiration combine to give it a new refinement, as an object from now on serving multiple powers.