From June 6th to October 5th, 2025, the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG) and L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts are proud to present “Designing Jewels: 200 years of French Savoir-Faire (1770-1970)”, an exhibition that explores the rich history of jewellery graphic resources from some of the most prominent French Maisons.



For the first time, UMAG and L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts collaborate on an exhibition highlighting the intersection of jewellery and graphic arts, co-curated by Florian Knothe, an Art Historian, Curator, and Director of UMAG; and Mathilde Berger-Rondouin, Art Historian specialising in the field of European decorative arts and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE. The display focuses on jewellery drawings, mostly dating from the 19th century, and benefits for technical studies of the drawn representations.







Jewellery designs — whether as preliminary line drawings or gouaché illustrations — are unique in that they represent different stages in the manufacturing process of jewels and preview the appearance of a veritable work of art in its beauty, colour and material application. Rarely exhibited, under studied and often unpublished, jewellery drawings remain relatively unknown to the public despite their essential role, serving as the references for all master craftsmen involved in the creation of the jewellery. Since the Renaissance, drawings have constituted the initial and guiding step in a creative process that gives life to an artistic idea and allows for the development from inspiration to masterpieces.







Benefiting from Van Cleef & Arpels Patrimony Collections combined with the Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry Culture Fonds (set up for research, presentation and educational purposes in 2019), loans from Lalique Museum France and private jewellery collections in Hong Kong, this exhibition features a remarkable collection of about 100 drawings alongside 13 exquisite jewellery pieces. This exhibition is supported by the French May Arts Festival.







“Together, the different stages recorded in the drawings and the jewellery masterpieces not only testify to the expertise and fine craftsmanship for which the represented Maisons are known, but they also illustrate the preparatory steps and transfer of knowledge as a sketched idea becomes a priceless jewel.” - Florian Knothe, Director of the University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong



Offering visitors a 360-degree exploration, a satellite exhibition will be hosted at L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts, showcasing the behind-the-scenes of one of the most iconic Zip Necklace crafted by high jewellery Maison Van Cleef & Arpels. This segment delves deep into the design processes, archival practices, and technical renderings that bring such masterpieces to life. The Zip Necklace stands as a monumental testament to the Maison’s unwavering spirit of innovation and extraordinary technical mastery. Through inspiring, iconic, and often internationally influential displays, the exhibition underscores the essential transfer of knowledge that fuels the creations captivating connoisseurs across cultures worldwide.







“Thanks to the launch of the L’ÉCOLE research project in 2018 and the establishment of the Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry Culture Fonds in 2019, these have led to the creation of this exhibition dedicated to jewellery drawings, highlighting their historical significance and beauty.



This unique exhibition invites visitors to explore the initial stages of the jewellery-making process, by understanding jewellery drawings’ history, technique, authors and status. It is our vision to ignite in a wider audience a passion for jewellery culture and cultivates a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art of jewellery design.” - Olivier Segura, Managing Director of L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts







On the occasion of this exhibition, multiple programmes from intricate craftsmanship of legendary jewellery designs, to hands-on workshops and accessible programming designated for the exhibition are provided at the two venues – UMAG and L’ÉCOLE campus situated in K11 MUSEA. These include in-person and online conversations, L’ÉCOLE’s iconic “Open House”, and accessibility tours for visually impaired individuals, in partnership with Beyond Vision International (BVI).



Along the journey in the exhibition, engaging activations further enrich the visitor experience, providing a dynamic platform for learning, connection and creativity. These include live gouaché demonstrations by jewellery designer and L’ÉCOLE lecturer every weekend, colouring activities for adults and kids, and an interactive digital game that blends art with technology.



Satellite Exhibition

Date: From June 6 to October 5, 2025

Opening Hours: 1pm – 7pm (Monday to Sunday, except special closure)

Location: 510A, 5F, K11 MUSEA

*Free Admission



L’ÉCOLE Open House

L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific is delighted to invite you to our Open House at the K11 MUSEA campus on Saturday, August 16, where visitors will unveil the secrets of Paris Place Vendôme’s jewelry ateliers. The steps in creating a high jewelry creation from gouaché drawings to sourcing gemstones and finally to crafting the piece, can be discovered at each of the one-hour open house sessions. 



*Pre-registration for the event is required. 



Event Details: 

Date: Aug 16, 2025 (Saturday)

Time: 12pm-7pm

Location: 510A, 5F, K11 MUSEA



*Each session lasts for 1 hour, with the last session at 6pm. Please arrive at the School 5 minutes prior to your registered session.



[Here to Register]