Elegance, beauty, touch of creativity, innovation and distinctive designs are all criteria that define the beauty of Van Cleef & Arpels. The house always obtains its inspiration from the unique creative energy that stems from love and the house would not have been seen without love.
At the end of the 19th century, a young girl named Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a dealer in precious stones, met a young man named Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a stone-cutter. It was the beginning of a love story like no other, a great adventure beyond expectations. In 1895, they were married. The young lovers had much in common: youthful enthusiasm, a pioneering spirit, an ethic of family solidarity, and a passion for precious stones.
Van Cleef & Arpels announces the forthcoming arrival of L’École to Dubai, marking the school’s first foray to the Middle East. The Paris-based School of Jewelry Arts sets up a nomadic campus at Hai d3, in the Dubai Design District to shed light on the hidden worlds of jewelry and watchmaking, from the 7th to the 25th of November, 2017.
As part of its nomadic program, L’École will present a full set of courses led by professional jewelers, art historians, gemologists and watchmakers and other activities around jewelry will complement the offer of the first visit of L’École in the Middle East.
“Bringing L’ÉCOLE to the GCC is part of our commitment to give back to the region we operate in. It allows us the opportunity to transmit our knowledge of fine craftsmanship, jewelry and watchmaking, a profession which the Maison Van Cleef & Arpels has been at the heart of for over a hundred years.” said Alessandro Maffi, Managing Director Middle East & India Van Cleef & Arpels. “We are honored that our initiative is being supported with reputed educational and cultural institutions from our region. We look forward to inspiring the new generation and gaining their interest in the art of jewelry design and watchmaking.”
The school's program includes 14 main courses for adults, and is organized around three main themes: Savoir-Faire, Art History of Jewelry, and the Universe of Gemstones. In addition to creative workshops for the young public and a wide range of free activities to welcome the public, which include a series of evening dialogues and a series of exhibitions and outdoor cinemas to provide a unique experience for those interested in the areas of design and history of jewelry.
L'École Van Cleef & Arples in Dubai will also be supporting the "Year of Giving", as declared by the UAE president, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This means that all funds collected from course registrations during the event will be donated to Dubai Cares.