In partnership with the French Ministry of Education, Van Cleef & Arpels aspires to help middle school students discover the jewelry sector.
All year long
A veritable long-term career counseling program, the “de Mains en mains” initiative starts in October with visits by Van Cleef & Arpels experts to partner schools, and concludes in June with an oral presentation by students.
With a view to fostering a constructive dynamic, the “de Mains en mains” team contacts the school to present the project. This meeting is an opportunity to learn more about jewelry professions, talk with the experts slated to visit classes and co-design presentations.
Classes host “de Mains en mains” experts, who offer presentations, lead activities and establish links between the school curriculum and the world of jewelry. Examples may include a lesson on 19th-century necklaces in history class, a review of vintage Van Cleef & Arpels advertisements in English class, and even a poetry writing project centered on jewelry for French and art classes.
Students in partner schools are invited to the “de Mains en mains” event in Lyon, where they can discover an exhibition of classic and modern creations by Van Cleef & Arpels and meet the Maison’s craftsmen during a tour of the Savoir-Faire Pathway. As they explore this immersive venue showcasing six key jewelry professions, students can participate in hands-on workshops to practice jewelry-making gestures.
A partner of the initiative since 2021, the "Atelier de la Langue Française" leads in-class public speaking workshops for students. Over the course of two half-days, this training helps them prepare for the oral component of the Diplôme National du Brevet, while also building skills they can use in future presentations and interviews.
At the end of the school year, the students themselves take center stage! True to the program’s overarching aim of transmission, they prepare a final project based on their learning and the overall impact of the experience. With a view to encouraging creativity, students are free to choose any format they wish (performance work, poem, etc.). This work is presented at a closing assembly attended by their teachers, classmates and families, as well as representatives of the Board of Education and Van Cleef & Arpels employees.
creation of the “de Mains en mains” initiative
student participants since 2021
partner schools
“These professions are more accessible than people think. You just need perseverance and conviction.”
After earning a vocational degree (CAP) in jewelry, Mathéo completed an MBA in two years before joining the Maison’s incubator program.
School principals are invited to contact their regional education authority regarding partnerships with the “de Mains en mains” initiative. It is important to express your interest and motivation regarding your classes’ participation in the program. The final decision concerning partnerships and participation lies with the Board of Education.
We have developed a range of comprehensive educational resources to help you introduce your students to professions in the jewelry arts. On the “Teachers' portal” page, you will find a specific section offering teaching guides and activities available for download. These tools have been designed to help you prepare and facilitate enriching workshops in your class.
To organize a group or class tour of the exhibition, please contact us by email at: demainsenmains@vancleefarpels.com.
Only individual visitors can sign up for the Savoir-Faire Pathway.
Creation of a piece of jewelry is a collective process involving close collaboration among some ten different professions. Each profession requires specific skills, and each plays an essential role in the production process. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the main jewelry professions:
• Designer: Creative professional who imagines new creations and depicts the associated shapes and colors in a gouache rendering.
• Stone Expert: Craftsman specialized in the identification and selection of precious or ornamental stones.
• Model maker: Starting from sketches, model makers create three-dimensional mock-ups of creations to better study their volumes.
• 3D designer: Starting from sketches, these creative professionals design a digital model of jewelry pieces.
• Caster: Casters turn wax models of jewelry creations into fully formed gold pieces.
• Jeweler: Craftsman specialized in manufacturing jewelry pieces in precious metal, often adorned with stones.
• Gem setter: Gem setters adorn jewelry pieces with precious or ornamental stones.
• Lapidary: Craftsman specialized in cutting and polishing precious and ornamental stones.
• Diamond cutter: Specialist in the art of cutting diamonds and shaping rough stones to bring out their full radiance.
• Polisher: These craftsmen bring out the full radiance of jewelry creations through polishing procedures.
Our website features a wide variety of resources including podcasts, videos, job profiles, testimonials, as well as a map of training schools, for in-depth exploration of the jewelry professions.