Jewels are everywhere. We admire them in the windows of master jewelers, and in the collections of the world's greatest museums.
Young lovers, movie stars, and heads of state each have their treasures: objects of desire, fascinating ornaments, or symbols of power. But every piece of jewelry also holds its secrets. Secrets of fabrication… but also… relationships. Stories of love and separation. Myth and curses. Moments of glory or downfalls. The height of an empire or civilization, the spark of a revolution.
Founded in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts has the mission to share jewelry culture with the widest possible audience. Discover Voice of Jewels, unveil the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.
A podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, also available in French as "La Voix des Bijoux."
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jewels are everywhere. We admire them in the windows of master jewelers, and in the collections of the world's greatest museums.
Young lovers, movie stars, and heads of state each have their treasures: objects of desire, fascinating ornaments, or symbols of power. But every piece of jewelry also holds its secrets. Secrets of fabrication… but also… relationships. Stories of love and separation. Myth and curses. Moments of glory or downfalls. The height of an empire or civilization, the spark of a revolution.
Founded in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts has the mission to share jewelry culture with the widest possible audience. Discover Voice of Jewels, unveil the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.
A podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, also available in French as "La Voix des Bijoux."
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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, a masterpiece of goldsmithing and a symbol of the encounter between indigenous and European cultures, has survived time and history. Now a national treasure, it once almost disappeared forever. Without a doubt, it is truly miraculous that this remarkable object can thankfully be still admired today.
Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the participation of Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, gemologist and art historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts,
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In 2001, in the village of Dahong, nestled in the heart of China’s Hubei province, the Lunar New Year was in full swing. As fireworks illuminated the night sky, another series of explosions, muffled and more sinister, suddenly resonated deep in the nearby mountain…
The villagers immediately realized that tomb robbers were about to strike, and they alerted the police.
Although the location of this tomb had been known about for a long time, its contents still remained a mystery…
Upon entering the mausoleum, after the arrest of the looters by the police, the archeologists sent by the authorities discovered a veritable treasure trove, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The find included thousands of breathtakingly beautiful objects made from gold, jade, and precious stones … as well as emeralds from the other side of the world.
Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the participation of Bei He, art historian and lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Since antiquity, emeralds have frequently been seen as symbols of eternity. Yet, paradoxically, they are often at the heart of stories where time is counted. As is the case here. This is the story of a dagger intended for Nadir Shah.
When a story begins with a dagger, we usually expect a crime or a tragedy... But this blade is unique. Encrusted with gigantic emeralds—including some of the most spectacular ever mounted on a weapon—it fascinates. Dazzles. And for centuries, this dagger has attracted envy and attention. It even inspired a cult comedy movie by the name of Topkapi.
But the story of Nadir Shah’s dagger is far from a comedy. It is an epic. A fresco of war and peace, of conquests and betrayals… An adventure worthy of the greatest Hollywood stories.
Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the participation of Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, gemologist and art historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts,
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
Fascinated by this stone, Emperor Nero always carried one with him. According to legend, he even watched chariot races while looking through an emerald. And as surprising as this may seem, some believe that this was the very first pair of sunglasses!
Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the participation of Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, gemologist and art historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts,
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City…”
In The Wizard of Oz, as elsewhere, the emerald is synonymous with mystery, desire, and wonder. And indeed, how could one not be awed? Its hypnotic green color, its refinement, and its preciousness... A symbol of power, protection, or love, depending on the culture, it has become one of the most iconic stones in jewelry. Since antiquity, this gem has continued to fascinate and inspire stories.
This season takes us on the discovery of emeralds: enjoy front row seats at a chariot race across ancient Rome, discover the precious belt of a Chinese prince, experience the twists and turns of a diplomatic mission between the Ottoman Empire and Persia, and participate in a procession through the streets of Bogotá, where a stunning monstrance shines a miraculous green. Allow yourself to be seduced by the irresistible charms of the emerald…
The Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
With the participation of Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, gemologist and art historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, and Bei He, art historian and lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Back to School]
Far from being round and regular, “baroque pearls” have strange and unique shapes. Long considered wonders of nature, they inspired goldsmiths throughout the Renaissance and into the Baroque and Neo-Classical periods. Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, known as the last descendent of the House of Medici, had a passion for such pearls.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, and Léonard Pouy, Art Historian and Content and Transmission Manager at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Back to School]
Where do new ideas come from? What is the genesis of those masterpieces that have redefined Modernity?
At the beginning of the 20th century, a revolutionary artistic movement emerged, with the ambition of changing everything. This movement was Art Deco. A new style, with clean, pure lines that owes its name to an event with global repercussions, held in Paris in 1925: The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.
At the heart of this avant-garde event, and amongst the jewels that were awarded the Grand Prix, was a bracelet. Its name: Fleurs enlacées, roses rouges et blanches or “Entwined Flowers, Red and White Roses”. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, this bracelet was the perfect combination of tradition and Modernity.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Back to School]
It's well known that the sword is the prerogative of knights and musketeers. But did you know that the weapon could also be transformed into a living symbol of the talents of men and women of letters? And sometimes even into exceptional pieces of jewellery...
In 1955, Jean Cocteau faced a major challenge: to become the first academician to design his own sword.
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 Charline Coupeau, doctor in art history, jewelry specialist, gemologist and researcher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Back to School]
Some superheroes draw their powers from precious stones. Well, gems, to be more precise. Gems that are endowed with the power to control time or space, or even the mind.
This is the saga of an out of this world piece of jewelry that was first published in an American comic book in the early 70’s, and now brought to the silver screen by Marvel Studios. Six primordial stones which, after they have been gathered into a gauntlet, endow their owner with a super powerful weapon called the Infinity Gauntlet.
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 Léonard Pouy, Art Historian and Content and Transmission Manager at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
References :
Iron Man (vol.1)
Marvel Comics - 1973
Captain Marvel (vol.1)
Marvel Comics - 1973
Avengers
Marvel Studios - 2012
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September is here, ushering in a wind of change. For some, it’s back to schoolbags, notebooks… a promise of knowledge that can sparks vocations and sometimes changes lives! For others, it’s the season of novels, literary revelations, and ink-and-paper gems that leave a lasting mark.
To celebrate the new school year, Voice of Jewels invites you to brush up on your classics by revisiting episodes dedicated to a sword, a precious bouquet, a mother-of-pearl cradle, and even some infinity stones!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Summer of Epics]
Some treasures disappear forever ... but others resurface.
Like the sunken treasure of Belitung.
Once submerged in a reef, somewhere in the Java Sea, the treasure now holds pride of place, in the heart of the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore.
Presented in a display that evokes the benevolent and impetuous waves on which it once sailed, the Belitung Treasure contains remarkable riches.
It is also connected to the great history of the Silk Roads. Synonymous with human adventure, full of wonder and peril.
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 Léonard Pouy, Art Historian and Content and Transmission Manager at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts;
Bei HE, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Summer of Epics]
Pilots are sometimes superstitious, and Jackie Cochran, one of the first female pilots in the American Air Force, is no exception… She is never injured and never has an accident. Her luck seems endless. But there is a reason for this, a necklace assembling a variety of lucky charms into a single object. A charm necklace…a piece of jewelry said to bring good luck wherever its wearer. Even in the skies!
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Summer of Epics]
In comics, jewels are often at the core of the plot. But they also may be the hero’s attribute like in the adventures of Corto Maltese, the famous romantic pirate born out of the imagination of Italian author Hugo Pratt in 1967.
What turned Corto Maltese into an icon is precisely the jewel he always wears on his left ear : a gold hoop earring.
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 Léonard Pouy, Art Historian and Content and Transmission Manager at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
References :
Corto Maltese - Vol.1 - La ballade de la mer salée
Hugo Pratt - Casterman - 1975
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
[Summer of Epics]
Many legends have been told about the gold of Pre-Columbian civilisations of the Americas. Imagine… Finding gold deep in the middle of the jungle is a dream that has long tantalized the Western world. The peoples of South America did leave traces and genuine treasures behind them…
Among these wonders, there is an odd, striking piece which looks as sublime as it is frightening: the Zenù people’s golden claw necklace.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts and
Paul Paradis, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Summer is the season of getaways and grand adventures! It’s the perfect time for Voice of Jewels to whisk you far from home… across turquoise waters, into emerald-colored jungles, and even up into silver-tinted clouds!
Rediscover an impressive necklace made of golden claws, a lucky charm belonging to a fearless aviator, a pirate’s earring hiding a tender heart - and even a fabulous treasure, lost in the depths of the Java Sea.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Paris, in the 1920s, a myriad of languages was spoken. Elegant ladies from all over the world flocked to the French capital to shop to their heart’s content. The city, a veritable crossroads of influences, drew inspiration from the most diverse sources. But if there was one country whose charms enchanted high society, it was China. Shanghai was on everyone’s lips. The exotic name made people dream, and it inspired and offered a repertoire of new forms to designers.
In the workshop of the Lacloche Brothers, a famous jewelry-making duo, traditional Chinese know-how influenced the most ambitious Art Deco creations. A door had opened onto a new world - a world that accompanied women in their desire for novelty and innovation.
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.
Xiaojia WANG WASZACK, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can jewelry be used as an instrument in liberation or a tool in the struggle for freedom?
It is the early 20th century. The world is abuzz with countless battles: those that tear nations apart, but also those for women’s rights.
It is in this tumultuous context that the Art Deco movement emerges.
The jewelry pieces born from this artistic movement become symbols of modernity, freedom, and audacity. In their own way, they accompany the emancipation of women, in particular in the 1920s, nicknamed the “Roaring Twenties”! Their elegance stems from their audacity, mixed with an apparent simplicity. Yet, some of these jewelry items hide unexpected secrets... and even sly war strategies, like the famous Zouzou bracelet worn by Josephine Baker!
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Movie stars have always worn jewelry. In the 1920s, the Art Deco style gradually took over red carpets and film reels. Worn by some of the greatest actresses of the day, from Louise Brooks to Brigitte Helm, Art-Deco jewelry was the epitome of modern beauty.
Raymond Templier, one of the leading jewelry-makers of that time, seized this opportunity to free his creations from tradition, and mark his era with bold pieces, celebrating speed and pure lines.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where do new ideas come from? What is the genesis of those masterpieces that have redefined Modernity?
At the beginning of the 20th century, a revolutionary artistic movement emerged, with the ambition of changing everything. This movement was Art Deco. A new style, with clean, pure lines that owes its name to an event with global repercussions, held in Paris in 1925: The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts.
At the heart of this avant-garde event, and amongst the jewels that were awarded the Grand Prix, was a bracelet. Its name: Fleurs enlacées, roses rouges et blanches or “Entwined Flowers, Red and White Roses”. Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, this bracelet was the perfect combination of tradition and Modernity.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jewelry is often turned towards the future… In the interwar period, changes were stirring in the world of creative design. Jewelry was imbued with Modernity: radical forms, new materials, speed, lightness... These novel jewelry pieces reflected the changing standards of beauty.
In this new season, Voice of Jewels takes listeners to the heart of a creative explosion, where daring women and secrets abound, told through stunning jewels in an innovative, influential style … Art Deco.
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 Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
And, Xiaojia WANG WASZACK, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.