L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, will launch their seventh edition of the L’ÉCOLE Festival at the Twin Villas in Shanghai. The event will take place over two consecutive weekends — May 16th–17th and May 23rd–24th, 2026. It is free and open to the public. This year, the spotlight turns for the first time to The World of Gemstones, one of L’ÉCOLE’s three core pillars. Through a lively program of course demonstrations, talks, hands-on mineral encounters, creative workshops, and a treasure hunt with exclusive rewards, visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a joyful celebration of jewelry culture.
Course Demonstrations
During the festival, visitors can attend a series of course demonstrations at the Twin Villas highlighting the three core pillars of L’ÉCOLE: The World of Gemstones experience centers on knowledge about the journey “from Mineral to Gemstone”, Savoir-faire workshop demonstrations explore the knowledge and gestures of stone setting, and Art History of Jewelry sharing sessions focus on the history of the utilization of minerals and gemstones.
A special “Treasure Hunt” is also held during the festival, with some clues cleverly hidden within the course demonstrations. Visitors can follow a treasure map through the Twin Villas, answer questions related to the knowledge shared by lecturers, and redeem exclusive festival gifts.
L’ÉCOLE in Shanghai has also recently launched a new course—Pearls: History, Science and Legends. This course takes participants on a journey into the pearl, a mysterious gem born from a living organism. By exploring natural and cultured pearls, as well as freshwater and sea pearls, participants will uncover the secrets of their origins and formation. They will have the opportunity to get hands-on experiences with pearls of different origins, shapes, and sizes, and learn how to classify a pearl using different criteria.
Art History of Jewelry Course. Photo courtesy of L’ÉCOLE.
The World of Gemstones Course. Photo courtesy of L’ÉCOLE.
Savoir-faire Course. Photo courtesy of L’ÉCOLE.
Mineral Encounters
On the second floor of the Twin Villas, the educational space offers an interactive mineral discovery experience for visitors of all ages. Beginning with the fundamentals — chemical elements and crystal structures — the space introduces concepts such as the periodic table and crystal systems through tactile displays, films, and interactive installations.
Complementing this exploration, a cultural experience program is offered on the second floor. Curated by L’ÉCOLE, the creative workshop From Mineral to Color invites participants to delve into the world of minerals. The natural mineral pigments are used to create a mineral-inspired bookmark, transforming the learning into a tangible creation shaped by hand.
A Curated Reading Space
Additionally, on the third floor, a dedicated reading space offers a curated selection of jewelry art books from L’ÉCOLE’s cabinet. Visitors are invited to browse at their own pace, including titles such as Discover Gemstones and Laura, a Journey into the Crystal, immersing themselves in a wealth of knowledge and inspiration in a tranquil setting.
Talks
A curated series of gemology-themed talks led by L’ÉCOLE’s experts and guest speakers will also take place throughout the festival, offering insightful perspectives on gemstone origins, craftsmanship, and cultural significance.
© MAD, Paris / Jean Tholance. Photo courtesy of L’ÉCOLE.
Floral in Jewelry Arts
The lecture takes us on a journey through history, exploring how the vibrant and diverse flowers of the natural world have sparked inspiration in jewelry design and creation. It reveals how flowers, imbued with different symbolic meanings, have been transformed into breathtaking masterpieces of jewelry. At the same time, we see that regardless of the artistic medium, artists and jewelers have skillfully employed various techniques on canvas or gemstones to immortalize the ephemeral beauty of flowers, allowing their splendor to live on eternally in jewelry and other works of art…
Talismans, Gems & Marvels
Amulets, talismans, and lucky charms have obsessed people since prehistoric times, even before each culture developed its own favorite motifs and jewelry. Discover the imaginary powers attributed to stones and their symbolism, the beliefs attached to protective animals, as well as the stories associated with certain legendary jewels.
Precious Ornamental Gems
Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations used lapis lazuli in ornaments and amulets, alongside ribbon agate, rock crystal, carnelian, and turquoise. This was long before Pliny the Elder (1st century C.E.) listed fine and precious stones in Natural History.
The Middle Ages revived glyptic art, with ornamental stones adding color to cameos, intaglios, and religious talismans. By the 17th century, Italian refinement influenced French craftsmen, leading to the 19th-century European trend of decorating furniture with elaborate hardstone marquetry. Join our speakers as they explore the revival of ornamental stones, from their historical significance to their resurgence in the 1970s, when societal and spatial conquests reignited interest in long-neglected materials like malachite.
Butterflies & Jewelry: The Art of Metamorphosis
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Photo courtesy of L’ÉCOLE.
This talk explores the evolving symbols and significance of the butterfly. It brings to light the endless interpretations related to this subject, from early depictions in ancient art and mythology, through its lasting inclusion in decorative arts, to its continuous role as a major source of inspiration for the jewelry maison Van Cleef & Arpels since 1906.
Committed to making jewelry knowledge accessible to all, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts continues to open the doors of this fascinating world to a wider public. Reservations for the festival are now open, and visitors are warmly invited to begin their gemstone discovery journey at the Twin Villas.
About 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, research, books and podcast.
Activities at L’ÉCOLE cover three main areas: the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones and savoir-faire.
The courses are open to everyone, with no prerequisites: complete beginners as well as enlightened amateurs, collectors and those with a curiosity for the world of jewelry. Students experiment with gestures, skills and tools, guided by their lecturers – art historians, gemologists and craftsmen.
L’ÉCOLE now has four permanent addresses: in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai. In Shanghai, L’ÉCOLE chose the Twin Villas as its home, a neoclassical building that is a symbolic landmark in the historic Huaihai Road neighborhood.
About Van Cleef & Arpels
Founded at Paris’ 22 Place Vendôme in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels came into being following Estelle Arpels’ marriage to Alfred Van Cleef in 1895. Over the decades, the excellence and creativity of the High Jewelry and Watchmaking Maison established its reputation across the world. With a blend of inventiveness and poetry, Van Cleef & Arpels perpetuates a highly distinctive style that has produced numerous signatures: the Mystery Set technique, the Minaudière precious case, the transformable Zip necklace and the Alhambra motif. Its selection of gems that instill an emotion and the savoir-faire of its virtuoso craftsmen have given birth to enchanting jewelry and watchmaking collections. Whether inspired by nature, couture, dance or imaginary worlds, the Maison opens the gate to a timeless universe of beauty and harmony.
Practical Information
L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Festival in Shanghai
May 16th-17th & 23rd-24th, 2026
10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Information and registration on L’ÉCOLE WeChat Mini Program
L’ÉCOLE WeChat Mini Program
Course Demonstrations
May 16th-17th & 23rd-24th
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Creative workshops
From Mineral to Color
May 16th-17th & 23rd-24th
1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Talks
Floral in Jewelry Arts
May 16th
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Talisman, Gems & Marvels
May 17th
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Precious Ornamental Gems
May 23rd
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Butterflies & Jewelry: The Art of Metamorphosis
May 24th
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Articles about L’ÉCOLE:
https://gem-spectrum.com/tag/lecole
