L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Established in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts aims to introduce the public to all aspects of jewelry culture through various activities: courses, workshops, talks, exhibitions, books and podcast.
Activities at L’ÉCOLE cover three main areas: the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones and the savoir-faire of jewelry-making techniques.
L’ÉCOLE now has four permanent addresses: in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai.
Moreover, since its inception, L'ÉCOLE regularly travels abroad, in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, for talks, exhibitions or travelling course programs that can last one to three weeks. L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts therefore contributes to the promotion and visibility of jewelry culture on an international scale.
For further information, please check L’ÉCOLE's website or subscribe to our newsletter.
The Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau
In Paris, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts welcomes you in an eighteenth-century mansion on Paris’s Grands Boulevards. Constructed in 1778 from plans by Firmin Perlin and financed by the Marquis of Laborde, the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau owes its name to its first occupant, Florimond-Claude, Count of Mercy-Argenteau, the Austrian ambassador to France from 1766 to 1790 and Marie-Antoinette's right-hand man. Gaining distinction both as one of the first residences to be built along Paris' Grands Boulevards and one of the last to be conserved, the hôtel, transformed endlessly and recently restored, today opens its doors to students and visitors at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Discover more about it by reading the L'Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau : a setting for history by Léonard Pouy, co-edited by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts and Parigramme.
The Library of the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau
Located in the heart of the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau, the library of L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts invites you to step into a world entirely devoted to the art of jewelry. Here, every facet is explored: art history, savoir-faire, and gemology. Its comprehensive resources currently bring together more than 7,000 documents, available in multiple languages, including historical books, auction catalogs, university theses, and a curated selection of specialized press.
The library fully embodies the transmission, a fundamental value of L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, by supporting its readers. Librarians deploy their expertise through personalized research assistance, active support for L'ÉCOLE's scientific and educational activities, and guided tours.
Access to the library's resources is open to all audiences – students, researchers, professionals, or jewelry enthusiasts.
Contact us
The library team is available to assist you with your research. For any information request, please submit your request to the following address: bibliotheque@vancleefarpels.com.