Van Cleef & Arpels will hold the "L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels Japan Special Course" from July 17th to 31st at the Tokyo Station Hotel in Marunouchi, Tokyo.
The brand established "L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels," a school dedicated to imparting the expertise and excellence of jewelry and watches, on Place Vendôme in Paris in February last year. This special course is being held for a limited time to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its arrival in Japan. This is the first time the course has been held outside of Paris.
The Japan Special Course will consist of nine courses covering three themes: art history, traditional craftsmanship, and the world of jewelry, with a total of 56 sessions. Each course will have 10 to 12 participants. Lectures will be delivered by local L'Ecole instructors, accompanied by an interpreter. Depending on the theme, there are two types of courses: a lecture format with explanations and workshops, or a hands-on experience led by technicians. A certificate will be issued upon completion. Course fees are 60,000 yen or 80,000 yen. As of April 8, the company has received 400 inquiries, with two-thirds of the 660 seats filled, and some courses are already fully booked. The company also plans to hold a special "Evening Conversation" course, a Japan-only opportunity for students to interact with the brand. Nicolas Boss, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, emphasized, "Japan is a special place. Our three-year retrospective, which began in 2009, traveled from Tokyo to New York, Shanghai, and Paris. The fact that this exhibition will once again begin in Tokyo in the year of our 40th anniversary celebration speaks to the importance of Japan to Van Cleef & Arpels." He also announced that Alain Bernard, President and CEO of the Japanese subsidiary, will become President and CEO of the US subsidiary, with Hitoshi Miki, Worldwide Commercial Director of Chloé International, officially taking up the role on July 1.
Finally, President Marie Varane Delhomme said, "We are starting in Japan because it is a country that has cherished culture and skills for thousands of years. We are also considering holding the event in New York next."
