French jewellery brand Van Cleef & Arpels conducts fourth edition of its ‘De Mains en Mains’ programme

This initiative features a mentorship programme for middle and high school students along with public events. During the events, visitors are given the opportunity to watch live demonstrations by jewellery experts, set in an immersive workshop-style environment

Lyon (France): Van Cleef & Arpels recently hosted the fourth edition of its ‘De Mains en Mains’ (‘From Hands to Hands’) programme, aimed at introducing young individuals and career changers to professions in the jewellery industry and providing guidance on entering these career paths.

This initiative features a mentorship programme for middle and high school students along with public events. The programme kicked off with an open event held at the InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu from November 23 to December 1, 2024, and will continue at the Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand from February 12 to 16, 2025. These cities, known for their vibrant jewellery ecosystems and active job markets, provide an ideal setting for fostering interest in the craft. 

During the public events, visitors will be given the opportunity to watch live demonstrations by jewellery experts, set in an immersive workshop-style environment. The programme also includes an orientation area where attendees can explore training courses and career opportunities offered by various jewellery companies.

The mentorship component ran throughout the academic year, beginning in October. Experts from Van Cleef & Arpels and L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, collaborated with teachers to deliver in-class presentations tailored to the school curriculum. For instance, gemmology is introduced in Physics and Chemistry classes with the help of a gemmologist, the history of medieval jewellery is explored in History and Geography classes under the guidance of an art historian and, hands-on workshops in jewellery design conducted by the fine arts department.

This foundation prepares students for the Parcours Métiers (Professional Pathways), a signature feature of the programme held annually in November. The 2024 session took place in Lyon, where one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ workshops is located, and in 2025, it will expand to Clermont-Ferrand.

As part of the programme, students participate in a week-long exchange with artisans from Van Cleef & Arpels’ workshops. Craftsmen share their expertise, detailing the stages of jewellery creation—from design and gouaché painting to stone selection, cutting, setting and polishing. Students also gain hands-on experience at the jeweller’s workbench. Representatives from the Human Resources team are present to guide participants on the training paths and career opportunities available in the jewellery field.

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