Behind the brilliance: L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts presents Engagement Ring: A Love Story
Getting married in Hong Kong has always had an East-meets-West charm, blending time-honoured customs with modern romance. Long before the big day, a quiet choreography of tradition unfolds: the giving of symbolic sanjin, or “three golds”, the solemnity of the Guo Da Li betrothal ceremony and the shared understanding that a marriage unites two families as much as it joins two hearts.
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Then comes the sweep of Hollywood-inspired romance, from the grand proposal to the belief that a diamond should shine brightly enough to reflect the depth of one’s devotion, each carat speaking its own sparkling vow.
Credit: © L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Engagement ring. Circa 1880, France. Gold ring with a crowned rose-cut diamond set in platinum prongs, in the center of a circle of calibrated rubies.
Credit: © L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
Roman ring. 3rd century. Gold. Private collection Rouen.
Credit: © L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
The Engagement Ring: A Love Story is a new course at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts that illuminates the many facets of this meaningful jewel. Guided by an art historian, a gemmologist and a jeweller, you’ll trace the ring’s evolution from a token of courtship and symbol of devotion to the diverse multitude of styles offered and treasured today – complete with a few surprising discoveries.
For instance, few people know that diamonds only began to gleam at the centre of proposals after Marilyn Monroe’s iconic performance of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” captured the world’s imagination in 1953. In Hong Kong, diamond engagement rings became commonplace only towards the end of the 20th century, once they finally became attainable for more couples.
Credit: L’ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts
Ring, circa 1919, Van Cleef & Arpels. Platinum diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection.
Credit: © L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
It’s insights like these that you’ll explore during the 2.5-hour course, which unveils the history and artistry behind these cherished pieces. You’ll discover the sequence of skills that bring a piece from idea to creation, a process that involves at least 10 specialised jewellery-making techniques.
Open to the simply curious as well as to devoted jewellery enthusiasts, the class forms part of L’ÉCOLE’s Discover the Diamond, Art and Science cultural programme, which traces the journey of diamonds from rough stone to brilliant companions through talks and hands-on courses blending art history, gemmology and craftsmanship.
Learn more about The Engagement Ring: A Love Story and book your place on the course here .