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TRAVELLER
PARIS
If you’ve ever wondered how
the craftsmen behind the world’s top
jewellery houses turn lumps of metal
intomasterpieces, a lesson in jewellery
making might be the perfect (if pricey)
V-Day present. This month, Van Cleef
&Arpels (VC&A) opens a jewellery
school at its Paris headquarters, allowing
members of the public to gain a unique
insight into one of the world’s most
prestigious jewellery houses. The
four-hour lessons cover subjects ranging
from the symbolismof precious stones
to the history of the various techniques
pioneered by VC&A.
What makes a good
piece of jewellery? For
those on the lookout for
a quality Valentine’s gift,
Lindsey Straughton,
marketing manager at
the British Jewellers’Association (BJA),
has these tips for choosing well:
1.
When buying gold, always look for
the hallmark. This guarantees the gold
Back to School
content and is mandatory in the UK.
2.
If you’re considering investing in
jewellery set with precious stones,
diamonds are your best bet, as they
are the hardest andmost durable.
Emeralds, because they are softer, are
more suitable for pieces that are not
going to be worn every day.
3.
When it comes to diamonds, you
should be looking for the four Cs – carat,
cut, clarity and colour – but clarity should
be top priority. You want tomake sure
unobstructed light gets through the
stone in order to get the most sparkle.
4.
Clean diamond jewellery regularly for
extra sparkle. Your jeweller will often
do this for free, but a rub over with a
sonic toothbrush will also work wonders.
5.
Never put perfume on your neck if
you’re wearing a pearl necklace, as it
damages their lustre.
Prices for jewellery lessons at L’ÉcoleVan
Cleef &Arpels range from€600 to
€950 (lecolevancleefarpels.com). For
more information about buying jewellery,
visit bja.org.uk
Now you can
discover howVan
Cleef &Arpels
craftsmen work
WonderCOOL
COPENHAGEN
Foodies, musos and fashionistas
should make a beeline for
Copenhagen during February, when
WonderCOOL – a conglomeration of
seven festivals –marks an explosion
of cultural events in the capital.
There’ll be jazz, food, fashion and
art in venues right across the city.
wondercoolcopenhagen.com
1-29 FEBRUARY
AV Festival
NEWCASTLE
This series of contemporary art,
technology, music and film events
announces itself as a festival in
slowmotion, with exhibitions and
screenings taking place at different
speeds and times across England’s
North-East. Things kick off with
an intriguing accelerated 24-hour
launch.
avfestival.co.uk
1-31 MARCH
FORTRENDSETTERS
What’s going on?
Fashion Week
MILAN
The sexiest of fashion weeks
returns for the women’s autumn/
winter 2012 collections, accompanied
by numerous glamorous events
and after-show parties. Gawp
at stunning catwalk creations,
trend-spot from the street or simply
soak up the well-attired atmosphere.
cameramoda.it
22-28 FEBRUARY
Astill from the film
Finesterrae
, a
ghostly tale from
Spain, which will
be shown at the
AVFestival
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