Van Cleef & Arpels | L'École Van Cleef & Arpels Opens in Tokyo, Following Paris

Van Cleef & Arpels│Van Cleef & Arpels

Celebrating the Maison's 40th Anniversary in Japan

Following Paris, L'ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels Opens in Tokyo

Founded in February 2012 on Paris’s Place Vendôme as a school of jewelry for all lovers of beauty, L'ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels makes its debut in Japan this July, the first international outpost. From Wednesday, July 17th to Tuesday, July 31st, the Tokyo Station Hotel will host a special curriculum illuminating the mysterious world of jewelry and watchmaking.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Learn Craftsmanship and the Secrets of Beauty from French Masters

From its inception, L'ÉCOLE Van Cleef & Arpels, the school of jewelry, was conceived to travel the world. This year, to commemorate Van Cleef & Arpels' 40th anniversary in Japan, its first overseas course will be held in Tokyo.

The venue is the historic Tokyo Station Hotel, which opened in 1915 and reopened last October after renovations, sharing a rich history with the Maison. The curriculum offers nine introductory courses over two weeks, including weekends, taught by art historians, gemologists, and the Maison'sHigh Jewelrymaster craftsmen, known as "Mains d'Or" (Golden Hands), who work in the ateliers, flown in from France.

Classes will be conducted in French with Japanese interpretation, and to foster interaction with instructors in a refined and special atmosphere, each class is limited to a maximum of 12 students.

The lectures are organized around three main themes: "Art History," "Savoir-Faire" (the art of craftsmanship), and "The World of Gemstones." Participants can get up close with precious stones, learn how to identify and interpret them, and peer inside the movements of mechanical watches, offering an intimate glimpse into the Maison's craftsmanship. A unique lecture, "Enjoying Jewelry," is also included to help participants hone their personal sense of style.

This is a special two-week period to hear from artisans, witness their techniques, and experience their mastery firsthand in Tokyo. It's an opportunity to understand, learn, and refine the beauty that Van Cleef & Arpels has cultivated over many years.