Voice of Jewels

In the early 1920s, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb resulted in a spectacular phenomenon, like few archeological digs had before. This Egyptian fever is summed up in one word: “Tutmania”. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels. With the participation of V...

Drawn from the depths of time in the Egyptian desert, the scarab – a symbol of eternity and reincarnation – is an enduring talisman. It made a remarkable comeback in Rome in the mid-19th century, when a certain Baroness crossed the threshold of the Castellani brothers’ workshop. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stori...

In 1923, a French archeologist made a remarkable discovery on the coast of Lebanon: a gold pectoral representing a falcon with outstretched wings. This jewel tells how the land of the Pharaohs inspired and stimulated the creativity of the goldsmiths of Byblos… Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behi...

Ancient Egypt is one of humanity’s oldest civilizations. Its pyramids, sarcophagi, hieroglyphs, and mysterious gods have shaped the imagination of artists, creators, and notably jewelers. The jewels inspired by the Egypt of the Pharaohs are at the heart of this new season. Visit a goldsmith’s workshop in Byblos and the boutique of a famous Italian antique dealer, enter Tutankhamun’s tomb, and delv...

Have you ever heard of abraxas? These are talismans in the shape of oblong shields, covered with motifs inspired by Egyptian, Greek, and Roman mythology, and engraved with Kabbalistic prayers, Hebrew words, and magical symbols. One could easily believe that these strange jewelry pieces belong to the wizards of tales and legends… And yet, they were made by a human hand! No surprise then that the Qu...

“It was in Megara, a suburb of Carthage, in the gardens of Hamilcar…” This is the opening sentence of Salammbô, Flaubert’s great historical novel, which has become a cult classic. Just like its heroine … the Carthaginian princess with dazzling finery and a tragic destiny. Salammbô was a profound source of inspiration to the artists of the Belle Époque and particularly, one of its avant-garde jewel...

In Spanish, the word “lechuga” means lettuce. But it is also the nickname for a sacred object, a monstrance adorned with so many emeralds that it takes on the color of lettuce. These precious stones come from the famous mines of Colombia, known for centuries by the native populations. Even today, these mines are the source of some of the world’s most beautiful emeralds.   The monstrance,...

Diamonds are often thought to have been exclusively reserved for kings and queens, treasures meant for royalty. However, there is another category of individuals who adorned themselves with these precious gems, treating them as trophies and even weapons for liberation - the courtesans! At the forefront of these courtesans is a woman whose romantic destiny captivates hearts and even opens the Canne...

Some jewels are like history books… The most beautiful and mysterious pieces have often belonged to famous figures, and the events they have witnessed are worthy of an adventure novel! This summer, Voice of Jewels invites you on a voyage through space and time, from ancient Carthage to Versailles and Bogota, to the Age of Enlightenment, as well as taking in the intrigues of the French court during...

In Emerald City, the enchanted city in The Wizard of Oz, everyone wears glasses with green lenses. But did you know that this practice actually dates back to ancient times? To a Roman emperor in fact, and his passion for a precious green stone: the emerald.  For centuries, the emerald was believed to have almost magical properties, including the ability to improve eyesight.    Fasci...

Pearls have always been considered precious. Almost miraculous. According to more than one legend, they fell to Earth from the Moon! Others say that they are the fruit of thunder. Some say that they are the seed or even the tears of the gods… That is why the attempt to find the very first pearl is a fascinating quest, shrouded in mystery! Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry...

The Hope Diamond has lived through its own veritable Odyssey. From the time of its first sale in London at the beginning of the 18th century, all the way to its sudden appearance in Washington, hidden in a brown paper envelope with a two dollar postmark … This fabulous blue diamond is now at home under high-security glass in the Smithsonian Institute. And yet, this heavenly-colored gem still oozes...

This is the penultimate chapter in the story of Cixi, Empress Dowager of the Qing dynasty, renowned for her enduring love of different types of jade. Even more precious than gold or diamonds, jade is considered the ultimate good luck charm. Over time, it has become a symbol associated with China’s emperors and empresses. Steeped in legends and myths, jade is believed to bring wisdom to all those w...

Since the dawn of time, precious stones have been a source of wonder. Their beauty is such that secret virtues are sometimes attributed to them. Thus, the rarest gemstones have accompanied princes and princesses, adventurers and poets…  Voice of Jewels adorns itself in green, blue, and a myriad of iridescent reflections, inviting you to rediscover the legends and histories...

My name is peridot. I am a transparent green gemstone. I was discovered by chance in the center of Patagonia… But I arrived there after a long and perilous journey through stars and sky. While most peridot stones are born in the Earth’s crust, my origin is rather different… I am extraterrestrial.    Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the suppo...

What am I? A mineral? A plant? Or... an animal?  I am called Corallium rubrum, Precious Red Coral, and I have sparked many lively debates in my time! Not only was my classification difficult to determine but to find me, curiosity is required... I am hard to find! One has to dive deep into the depths.      Voice of Jewels is a podcast...

Lapis-lazuli…The blue stone… Pliny the Elder described me as “a fragment of the starry firmament.” My color—ultramarine, a deep blue flecked with gold—has led many to believe that I am the gem of the gods. I have traveled practically all around the world and have even given rise to one of the oldest trade routes…    Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Art...

I am the Cullinan Diamond, and I come from far away. Very far away, in fact. From the farthest reaches of the Universe and the depths of the Earth. Let me tell you about my remarkable journey…    Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.  With the participation of Laetitia Gilles Guery, gemologist and...

One might think that gemstones, natural treasures adorning jewelry and ornaments, are static and immutable. But the reality is rather different and their history is one of constant movement.    In this season, be prepared to traverse the layers of the Earth with the diamond, to wander Oriental trade routes in search of lapis lazuli, to explore...

Ever wondered why lovers kneel on one knee to ask, “will you marry me”? It’s actually less about the kneeling - it’s more about the ring… Engagement rings are part of a tradition which dates back to Ancient Rome. They symbolized a legally binding commitment, reserved for the most solemn of oaths. Pretty unromantic... Things have changed quite a bit since ancient times… asking somebody’s hand is so...

Richard Burton, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, decided to give his beloved an extraordinary piece of jewelry... For Richard’s heart belonged to a star. An immense, internationally renowned star by the name of Elizabeth Taylor. And his gift is unlike any other... It's a royal pearl, once worn by the queens of England and Spain: La Peregrina. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, Sc...

Can a piece of jewelry save a life? Or guarantee eternity? Napoleon Bonaparte believed this to be the case. His military campaigns around the world had already introduced him to the supernatural power of jewelry... But it was after escaping death a first time that his faith in the power of jewelry was properly set. So much so that he imagined a strange talisman, a lucky charm and symbol of his lov...

Did you know that in the trenches of World War I, soldiers made... jewelry? In the chaos and horror of war, love still exists! But how did a simple aluminum ring, fashioned in the midst of turmoil from a German shell, end up at the heart of one of the greatest love stories in literature? The wild love of Guillaume Apollinaire for the beautiful and rebellious Lou... This is the story of a rudimenta...

Every love story is unique. Some are secrets, others famous. Some are fairy tales, while others have a more tragic ending… Rare and elusive loves, sealed in incredible jewels.   In this season of love, Voice of Jewels invites you to rediscover unforgettable romances symbolized by: a steel ring, a talisman shrouded in mystery, a wandering pearl… and even famous grillz!  Voice of Jewe...

[Winter tales] Imagine a story at times tragic yet at other times magical with a lost diamond as its common thread… a blue diamond standing for hope and fortune, love and special feelings... The Heart of the Ocean, the jewel at the core of the Titanic movie's plot. But the Heart of the Ocean is no fictitious jewel. It was inspired by a real jewel and an equally famous diamond, the Hope diamond. Vo...