Voice of Jewels

This is the penultimate chapter in the story of Cixi, Empress Dowager of the Qing dynasty, renowned for her enduring love of different types of jade. Even more precious than gold or diamonds, jade is considered the ultimate good luck charm. Over time, it has become a symbol associated with China’s emperors and empresses. Steeped in legends and myths, jade is believed to bring wisdom to all those who wear it... and maybe even eternal life.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.

Since the dawn of time, precious stones have been a source of wonder. Their beauty is such that secret virtues are sometimes attributed to them. Thus, the rarest gemstones have accompanied princes and princesses, adventurers and poets… Voice of Jewels adorns itself in green, blue, and a myriad of iridescent reflections, inviting you to rediscover the legends and histories of these precious gemstones.  Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam. 

My name is peridot. I am a transparent green gemstone. I was discovered by chance in the center of Patagonia… But I arrived there after a long and perilous journey through stars and sky. While most peridot stones are born in the Earth’s crust, my origin is rather different… I am extraterrestrial.  Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.  With the participation of Laetitia Gilles Guery, gemologist and professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.   Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam. 

What am I? A mineral? A plant? Or... an animal?  I am called Corallium rubrum, Precious Red Coral, and I have sparked many lively debates in my time! Not only was my classification difficult to determine but to find me, curiosity is required... I am hard to find! One has to dive deep into the depths.    Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. With the participation of Ann Lee, gemologist and professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.  Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.  

Lapis-lazuli…The blue stone… Pliny the Elder described me as “a fragment of the starry firmament.” My color—ultramarine, a deep blue flecked with gold—has led many to believe that I am the gem of the gods. I have traveled practically all around the world and have even given rise to one of the oldest trade routes…  Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.  With the participation of Laetitia Gilles Guery, gemologist and professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.   Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam. 

I am the Cullinan Diamond, and I come from far away. Very far away, in fact. From the farthest reaches of the Universe and the depths of the Earth. Let me tell you about my remarkable journey…  Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. With the participation of Laetitia Gilles Guery, gemologist and professor at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.  Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.  

One might think that gemstones, natural treasures adorning jewelry and ornaments, are static and immutable. But the reality is rather different and their history is one of constant movement.  In this season, be prepared to traverse the layers of the Earth with the diamond, to wander Oriental trade routes in search of lapis lazuli, to explore the seas on the hunt for precious coral, and to discover a strange peridot ... fallen from the sky.  Voice of Jewels is a podcast by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels. With the participation of Laetitia Gilles Guerry, and Ann Lee, gemologists and professors at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.  Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.  

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, earrings, a bracelet, watch, or a necklace... Some people prefer to embrace tradition, others like to rock the boat… Just like American rapper A$AP Rocky when he proposed to girlfriend and pop icon, Rihanna…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, Professor of Art History 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.

Richard Burton, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors, decided to give his beloved an extraordinary piece of jewelry... For Richard’s heart belonged to a star. An immense, internationally renowned star by the name of Elizabeth Taylor.And his gift is unlike any other... It's a royal pearl, once worn by the queens of England and Spain: La Peregrina.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.