Stone to jewels: L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific series of programs to discover the journey of diamonds

A diamond’s journey—from rough stone to polished jewel—is now on display in Hong Kong through a cultural series blending art, science, and centuries of craft by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.

Spanning until April, the program, titled "Discover the Diamond: Art & Science," is supported by Van Cleef & Arpels and will feature exhibitions, talks, courses, and various themed cultural activities.

Among the activities, the centerpiece diamond presentation will trace the evolution of diamonds from their origins in 18th-century India to modern-day dazzling gemstones. 

Visitors are invited to follow in the footsteps of the French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier along historic trade routes, encountering raw crystals, various cuts, and antique tools along the way.

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Notably, two sets of famous diamond replicas will be on display: the Tavernier collection, showcasing forgotten 17th-century Mughal cuts, and The Lesotho Legend, highlighting modern diamond-cutting techniques.

Meanwhile, two Exploration Days of Diamond will be held at the K11 MUSEA campus on January 31 and February 28, offering special talks and engaging educational experiences for participants of all ages.

In addition to the exhibition tour, attendees can witness live jewelry-making demonstrations by L’ÉCOLE instructors. 

Interactive diamond-matching games and educational origami workshops will also provide a fun, hands-on learning experience for younger visitors.

Additionally, a new course titled "The Lesotho Legend: From a Rough Diamond to a High Jewelry Collection" will guide participants through the journey of one of the world's most celebrated gemstones—from its discovery in Lesotho to its transformation into an exquisite high jewelry collection.

Attendees can examine the story of the 910-carat Lesotho Legend rough diamond, which was cut into 67 gems and set into 25 Mystery Set high jewelry pieces.

The program also includes in-person expert-led talks and cultural walks, led by Sampson Wong, author of Hong Kong Strollology, to the historic Kowloon Squatter settlement of Diamond Hill.