She’s undoubtedly the most famous opera singer in the world. Chased by journalists from around the world, every one of her recitals at La Scala in Milan, or at the Metropolitan in New York have unleashed passions. Of course, I am talking about Bianca Castafiore. We might have never been able to hear her voice but we’re all familiar with her figure, her accent and her character. And possibly most of all with her unconditional love for jewelry… and her uncontrollable fear of having them stolen. Vo...
May 16, 2024•14 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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 Gau...
May 09, 2024•14 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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 mo...
May 02, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Eiichiro Oda’s manga One Piece is one of the most popular manga in the history of comics. In typical shonen fashion - a shonen is a tale of adventure and initiation – One Piece tells the story of a young hero on a quest for nothing less than… a treasure! 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 Manage...
Apr 25, 2024•10 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Anything can happen in comic books. You can own beautiful jewels, steal them or even find magical precious objects capable of changing destiny! Indeed, jewels and comic books share a common history filled with adventures and beauty. Voice of Jewels' new season explores the world of manga and comics of all kinds. Let us take you on an adventure filled with pirate’s treasures, gems with supernatural powers and sophisticated robberies… A podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van...
Apr 11, 2024•42 sec
From museums to exhibit spaces, one cannot stop marveling at this artist’s work. Daniel Brush had a golden touch. Painter and sculptor, Brush crafts gold with finesse and creativity, as if he were an alchemist. He can improvise with as much spontaneous creativity as a jazz musician during a jamming session… The Second Dome is one of his most iconic creations. This small gold dome is a childhood dream come true. It’s the story of his life. Brush’s personal saga… Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’...
Mar 28, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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...
Mar 21, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 3
If I told you there is an African country whose soil harbors a mineral with amazing powers that is used for making stunning, magical objects! Well, this country does exist and is no imaginary land. And the fascinating metal that was extracted from it was none other than gold. It’s the gold that jewels and holy objects were made out of. The same gold that was used to design this otherworldly jewel called the Rao pectoral. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported b...
Mar 14, 2024•10 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The history of gold is quite a saga. Some of its chapters have been written by surprising collectors, showcasing masterpieces fashioned by master goldsmiths throughout its history. The fascinating “River-God pendant” is one of those masterpieces. This piece of jewelry was designed by Etruscan goldsmiths during ancient times. It astonished and even changed the life of a legendary collector. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveil...
Mar 07, 2024•12 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Gold is the flesh of the gods. The Sun’s sweat. A King's power. Throughout the centuries, this precious metal has been at the root of bold actions and it has never ceased to inspire stunning pieces… From ancient Italy to New York, from medieval Senegal to Colombia, the history of gold is quite a saga… showcasing masterpieces fashioned by master goldsmiths all though time. Discover Gold’s intriguing epic, the latest season of Voice of Jewels. A podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts support...
Feb 29, 2024•56 sec
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 with secrets and mysteries that have yet to be brought to light. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’...
Feb 15, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 4
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. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the st...
Feb 01, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Wouldn't you say jewelry empowers us? Don't some jewels make us feel invincible ? Some stones and diamonds might. Take our blue diamond for example. In any case, that is how some kings felt as they collected gems, had them set on their crowns and had exuberant sets of jewelry and insignia designed as a means to display their power. The famous Golden Fleece King Louis XV had made for him is one of those. It reflects his absolute power… as well as his overthrow. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’É...
Jan 25, 2024•14 min•Season 2Ep. 2
They say diamonds are forever… but is that really true? That said, it is true that some have been known to last a very long time, sometimes going through some rather unexpected transformations. The Great Blue Diamond is one of those. Its incredible tale is the stuff of legend and myth. Our journey takes us around the world, from the Indian empire to King Louis XIV’s court in Versailles. It is one of the world’s most famous diamonds as well as probably the most intriguing. It disrupted the lives ...
Jan 18, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 1
They say diamonds are forever. Some have such a surprisingly rich tale to tell that you would think they had had one thousand and one lives! The Great Blue Diamond is one of those. Its barely believable story is the stuff myths are made of. Discover the Blue Diamond's One Thousand and One Lives, the latest podcast season of 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 jewel...
Jan 04, 2024•47 sec
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 something very passionate… and today, any kind of jewel can be used for an engagement.. rings, earring...
Dec 28, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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 rudimentary ring, which would eventually be set in gold... The story of a tragic passion - that of a wounded ...
Dec 21, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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 Cannes Film Festival: Jeanne du Barry. Born into the common folk, she rose to the rank of a countess and ...
Dec 14, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Look at me... That's what jewelry tells us. Because jewelry is always about gaze... and... feelings! But then, what do you do... when gazes have to remain secret? And feelings, clandestine?... What do you do in the case of a Secret Affair? That's exactly what Prince George, the heir to the English throne, wondered one day in 1785... He who was hopelessly (and scandalously) in love with a beautiful and young widow, Maria-Anne Fitzherbert! That's how the future George IV imagined a piece of jewelr...
Dec 07, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1
What do Bianca Castafiore and Rihanna have in common? What about the Andes Mountains and the Château de Versailles? And JRR Tolkien and James Cameron? Here’s a hint: they’ve been around since the dawn of time. They’ve induced passion and powerful emotions. Sometimes quaint or ostentatious… They’re jewels. Whether connected with feelings or power, whether mythical, magical or romantic…their beauty has unveiled many mysteries and unfolded a slew of adventures! Discover Sentimental Jewels, the firs...
Nov 30, 2023•1 min
