How Cartier inspires and trains the next generation of jewelers

December 14, 2023

Cartier is one of the world's top luxury jewelers. Image: Matthew Oliver, Cartier

French jeweler Cartier, eyeing the next generation of artisans and craftspeople, is presenting at Les De(ux)mains du Luxe, an event organized by France’s Comité Colbert.

Held in Paris' Station F Dec. 14-17 for the second time to date, the event invites young people ages 12-18 to discover luxury professions and the associated training programs. TikTok is a key sponsor of the event.

Cartier will be present throughout the event, “particularly committed to ensuring the perpetuation, transmission and development of savoir-faire,” per the Richemont-owned brand.

The flagship brand of Swiss conglomerate Richemont, Cartier is one of the world’s leading luxury jewelers, competing with Bulgari, Graff, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard and increasingly since LVMH’s acquisiton, Tiffany & Co.

Enticing and training the next generation of jewelers is key as Cartier seeks to shore up talent for the future security of its operations in line with similar behavior from some competitors. Image: Matthew Oliver, Cartier

Deep bench
In view of the success of last year's workshops, Cartier has doubled the number of workbenches in this year's edition, enabling young visitors to try out four main jewelry-making crafts.

To further consolidate the educational dimension of its involvement, Cartier will offer a showcase explaining each stage in a piece's production, as well as an HR workshop for middle- and high-school students, outlining training and career opportunities in the jewelry sector and at Cartier, in particular.

Useful CV writing and interview preparation techniques will also be provided.

Furthermore, with the objective to preserve this exceptional heritage, Cartier will hold a round table with key training stakeholders on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:45 p.m. CET entitled, "Public authorities, Schools and Companies: A vital alliance to teach young people the jewelry-making savoir-faire and pass on an exceptional French heritage."

In attendance will be Prisca Thevenot, French State Secretary for Youth; Thibaut Lilas, human resources director of Cartier Jewelry and Watchmaking; Bernadette Pinet-Cuoq, president of the Haute École de Joaillerie (HEJ) and executive president of the French Union of Jewelry, Silverware, Stones and Pearls (UFBJOP); and Laurent Scordino-Mazanec, director of the École Boulle.

Poster for Les De(ux)mains du Luxe Dec. 14-17 in Paris

At the heart of Cartier savoir-faire
“By taking part in De(ux)mains du Luxe, Cartier wishes to raise awareness and promote the savoir-faire and crafts which have managed to combine a centuries-old tradition with cutting-edge technologies to benefit quality and design,” the brand said in a statement.

Cartier’s jewelry and high jewelry workshops – with 340 artisans of more than half of whom are women – are vital to the brand’s operations.

The artisans will host 20-minute sessions to provide a hands-on introduction to various expertise around the workbench.

Cartier’s four main crafts – jewelry-making, gem-setting, stone-cutting and polishing – will be presented to the young visitors to immerse them in Cartier's jewelry culture.

“This year, the introductory workshops will be part of a comprehensive information drive testifying to Cartier's far-reaching commitment to training and its desire to offer young people tangible future prospects in challenging, captivating and constantly evolving artistic professions,” Cartier said in a statement.

Like last year, Cartier will welcome some 20 middle-school participants on stage at the Cartier Jewellery Institute.

Enticing youngsters to work with their hands on creative but repetitive tasks is a special challenge for luxury brands such as Cartier that rely on delicate craftsmanship and personalization. Image: Matthew Oliver, Cartier

Cartier trains the jewelers of tomorrow
Cartier's dedication to guiding, preserving and transmitting jewelry-making savoir-faire has led the maison to get involved with a number of initiatives throughout the year.

Recently, Cartier inaugurated the creation of two new classes in jewelry-making and polishing at the Haute École de Joaillerie (HEJ) and the École Boulle respectively.

Cartier has also recently celebrated the second anniversary of the undergraduate degree in digital design developed with the HEJ.

Cartier also welcomes some 40 apprentices each year in its workshops and approximately 30 interns, with the aim of hiring them at the end of their course.

“Cartier hopes to increase these numbers in coming years, in order to respond to demand from a high growth sector,” the brand stated.

“These tangible initiatives in the field of training and recruitment go hand in hand with a desire to contribute to raising awareness among the general public about the savoir-faire and its significance from a heritage and economic standpoint.

“This is one of the main reasons why the Cartier Jewellery Institute has opened its doors to the general public during the European Heritage Days since 2022.”

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