STYLE Edit: L’École, School of Jewellery Arts presents the history of Lacloche – discover the forgotten Paris jewellers beloved by European royals and Hollywood stars

Mar 7 , 2022

The storied high jewellery maison of Lacloche, which ran from the French capital from 1892 to 1967, is celebrated at an exhibition at L’École, School of Jewellery Arts in Hong Kong’s K11 Musea, with pieces on display like this 1925 bracelet in platinum and white gold, ruby, emerald, obsidian and diamond. Photo: L’École Van Cleef & Arpels

The storied high jewellery maison of Lacloche, which ran from the French capital from 1892 to 1967, is celebrated with an online exhibition presented by L’École, School of Jewellery Arts

Curator Laurence Mouillefarine has pulled together more than 40 historic pieces – including jewellery items, clocks, watches and compacts – all making their public debut

In 1892, a maison opened in Paris that would go on to write its name in giant, glittering letters across the history of high jewellery, becoming the choice of royalty and celebrity, before gradually fading from view in the latter part of the 20th century. Now, thanks to the exhibition “Lacloche, Parisian Jewellers, 1892-1967”, hosted online by L’École, School of Jewellery Arts, jewellery lovers in Hong Kong and beyond have a rare chance to acquaint themselves with some of that maison’s most spectacular creations.

Lacloche pendant watch from 1908, in platinum, gold, sculpted rock crystal, pearls and diamonds, with a miniature painted on alabaster and a dial covered with faceted amethyst. From the Vacheron Constantin Heritage Collection. Photo: L’École Van Cleef & Arpels

One of the world’s most important jewellery houses in the first half of the last century, Lacloche initially came to prominence in 1901, when it opened its first boutique, on Paris’ Rue de la Paix, which runs north from the iconic Place Vendôme, home to the flagship boutiques of several other legendary jewellers.

Over the following decades, it carved out a stellar reputation for jewellery that combined creative innovation, glamour and sophistication in equal measure, becoming a favourite among everyone from European royalty to Hollywood stars. In particular, it gained widespread recognition for its exquisite modernist art deco pieces, alongside equally beautiful art nouveau, chinoiserie and Egyptian revival work.

The Lacloche exhibition hosted by L’École, School of Jewellery Arts will be available to view online. Photo: L’École Van Cleef & Arpels

The maison disappeared for good in 1967, but its reputation has lived on among discerning lovers of fine jewellery, as have many of its most notable pieces.

The current exhibition pulls together more than 40 of those coveted creations, with a line-up that includes jewellery items, clocks, watches, compacts and vanity cases, and that features 11 pieces making their public debut. Among the highlights are several creations that owe their inspiration to East Asia, including a spectacular 1920s platinum and white gold bracelet decorated in a delicate pattern picked out in rubies, emeralds, obsidian and diamonds; and a platinum and gold Imperial doors vanity case, also from the 1920s, embellished with lacquer, jade and diamonds.

Lacloche pendant and necklace set from 1925 in platinum, enamel, jadeite, rock crystal, moonstones, sapphires, pearls, jade and diamonds. Photo: L’École Van Cleef & Arpels

The exhibition’s curator, historian and journalist Laurence Mouillefarine performed what she describes as “detective work” to piece together the relatively small amount of archival material available on Lacloche. That material has been used to put together a monograph, “Lacloche Joailliers”, that accompanies the exhibition.