Long committed to preserving savoir-faire, Van Cleef & Arpels resolutely contributes to enhancing the prominence of artistic crafts. The de Mains en mains by Van Cleef & Arpels™ initiative aspires to raise awareness of jewelry professions and convey the full passion of craftsmen.
About the Maison
Van Cleef & Arpels was born in Paris, at 22 Place Vendôme, in 1906. Its founding resulted from the 1895 marriage of Alfred Van Cleef and Esther (known as Estelle) Arpels, both from families of jewelry merchants. The Maison’s sources of inspiration—including love, nature, couture and dance—open the gate to an enchanting universe.
Guided by excellence, Van Cleef & Arpels is distinguished for its gemstones selected according to the most stringent criteria, its expert savoir-faire and its taste for innovation, expressed throughout its High Jewelry, Jewelry and Watchmaking collections. Today, its style, embodied in numerous signatures such as the Mystery Set technique, the Minaudière, the Zip necklace and the Alhambra motif, continues to blend inventiveness and poetry.
Throughout its history, the Maison has continuously expressed its attachment to the values of creation, transmission and education. Today, it is championing expertise-based outreach by way of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, an institution dedicated to sharing jewelry culture with the general public since 2012. The de Mains en mains by Van Cleef & Arpels™ event serves to raise awareness of jewelry professions among young people, adults considering a career change and the general public.
"Since 2021, “de Mains en mains” has become an unmissable annual event, an opportunity for all Van Cleef & Arpels teams to share their passion for the jewelry professions. We have observed with joy this initiative expand, first to Lyon and, for the
first time in February 2025, to Clermont-Ferrand. This success, made possiblethrough the support of the French Ministry of National Education and our trusted partners, reflects a growing collective awareness that our savoir-faire is essential to future creations. In recognition of its value, we have launched numerous initiatives to ensure its preservation."
President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels
1600
student participants since 2021
310
participating employees
I was thrilled to experience the Savoir-Faire Pathway. My favorite activity was polishing.
Kevin, middle schoolPrevious events
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At the start of the year, I had no clear plans for the future. Now I know: I want to become a jeweler!
Eros, middle school
Discover the specific features of each field of expertise
Job profilesTo better support “de Mains en mains” target audiences, this section enumerates the different areas of focus.
The initiative features a week of discovery and interaction every year in Lyon. The general public, students and adults considering a career change are invited to discover jewelry professions and an exhibition featuring Van Cleef & Arpels creations, among other activities.
Alongside the annual event, this website aims to spark curiosity and offer a first glimpse into the world of jewelry professions. Here you will find job profiles, podcasts, as well as an interactive map of training programs.
Are you a student or an adult considering a career change? Our “Training” and “New path” pages provide you with ideas to clarify your career plan, as well as tips from the Van Cleef & Arpels Human Resources Department.
“de Mains en mains” partners with schools for a full academic year. The initiative's dedicated team works hand in hand with the school to design guest presentations. This support also includes the chance for students to attend the event in Lyon and participate in public speaking classes.
Of course! Simply contact us at demainsenmains@vancleefarpels.com to make a group reservation.
The Career Guidance area is open on weekdays and over the weekend for any ticketholder looking to learn more about careers in the jewelry sector, either as first-time jobseekers or professionals considering a career change.
Representatives of jewelry schools, agents of the French national employment agency and members of the Maison’s HR teams will be present to answer any questions.
The “de Mains en mains” exhibition is an original immersion into the Van Cleef & Arpels universe, designed as a captivating dialogue between the Maison's heritage creations and contemporary pieces. Intended to foster discovery of jewelry artistry and professions, every year the exhibition features a specially curated selection of stones.
L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts offers classes, lectures, as well as creative workshops for children. To view the full program and make a reservation, please visit the dedicated website: L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
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.