Jewelry Experiences You'll Never Forget

This fall, two venerable names in jewelry are doing exactly that Opened in February 2012 in its 18th-century townhouse on Paris's Place Vendôme, the jewelry immersion program-which offers a nontechnical curriculum structured around three pillars: savoir-faire, gemology, and art history-has since expanded to include sessions in Hong Kong, Dubai, and, in 2015, a previous stint in New York City Courses, which can be purchased la carte, range in price from $125 to $250.

In addition to classes, L'École will offer seven conversations between jewelry experts exploring topics such as jewelry in film; three exhibitions, including a showing of chokers and bangles by the American artist Daniel Brush; and four workshops designed for children and teens The workshops "Involve interacting with a jewelry designer and other jewelry-expert teachers for immersion into the creative process and making something fun to take home, like their own 'treasure chest,'" says president Marie Vallanet-Delhom What's unique about L'École is that it allows both novices and connoisseurs to experience the rich world of jewelry from the point of view of an apprentice.

Called "Hidden Gems: Jewelry Behind the Scenes," the $875 course includes handling sessions coupled with lectures on topics such as "The Great Tiffany & Co Designers," "A Global Tour of Sapphire Sources," and "How Art, Fashion, Technology & Globalism Defined Art Deco Jewelry." Although the program promises to imbue its participants with a considerable degree of esoteric jewelry knowledge, the experience, says Christie's course leader Marisa Kayyem, delivers more than education "Part of what makes the course special is that we bring together people from all ages and locations who share a passion for jewelry" The class is limited to 20 because many of the visits to jewelry houses, galleries, and workshops have limited space, but that size allows for individual attention and for the forging of connections among the students. Source