Van Cleef & Arpels has reopened its Paris school in a new location and introduced classes on watch-making.
Due to demand the new 750 m2 L’École will launch with a new watch-making course designed with the assistance of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie that will seek to demystify the world of mechanical watches by taking apart and reassembling a complete watch movement.
L’École was first opened two years ago by Van Cleef & Arpels President Marie Vallanet-Delhom as a school promising members of the public an insight into the history and jewellery making techniques used by the renowned manufacturer of high jewellery.
Two years later a larger L’École offering more classes taught by historians, virtuoso craftsmen, experienced jewellers, gemologists and master watchmakers has replaced it, in Paris’ centre of high jewellery, Place Vendôme. The new school offers more classrooms and workshops allowing for an expanded syllabus.
In the two years since it opened, L’École Van Cleef & Arpels has seen 2,200 students of 30 different nationalities through its doors. The school also makes one international visit each year to expand its reach, in July 2013 it spent two weeks in Tokyo teaching more than 600 students.
