At a glance
- What? “Recreating Gesture”, the exhibition by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, on the recreation of a Celtic gold necklace.
- When? Opened on 5 November 2026 during Dubai Design Week, it will remain on view until 24 April 2027.
- Where? At the L’ÉCOLE campus, Dubai Design District (d3), Building 10, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- How much? Free admission, registration recommended.
- Highlight: a 24-carat gold replica of the Montans torc, discovered in France in 1843, shown with the tools used to remake it.
How did Iron Age goldsmiths shape a gold necklace without modern tools? To find out, L’ÉCOLE had a Celtic torc more than 2,000 years old faithfully remade, and in Dubai it shows every stage of the work. The exhibition, already shown in Paris, Lyon, Seoul and Shanghai, is coming to the Middle East for the first time.
A Celtic necklace remade in 24-carat gold
A torc is a rigid collar worn around the neck. The one used as the model was discovered in 1843 in Montans, France, and dates from the Second Iron Age, between 450 and 25 BCE. The project belongs to experimental archaeology: understanding the skills of a period by reproducing the object under study. Two replicas were made in 24-carat gold, faithful to the original according to L’ÉCOLE.
In Dubai, the torc is displayed with the tools and materials used to make it. Infographics detail each gesture, and documentary films follow the recreation of the Montans torc: archaeologists, goldsmiths and researchers discuss Celtic metalworking, the social role of the collar and the techniques it demands.
Who recreated the Celtic goldsmiths’ gestures?
The exhibition was created with the Centre archéologique de Montans and the Musée d’Archéologie nationale. The torc is the work of Antoine Legouy, goldsmith and master chaser, with Barbara Armbruster, archaeologist and goldsmith, and Grégory Weinstock, Director of High Jewelry Métiers at Van Cleef & Arpels. Research is one of L’ÉCOLE’s key educational pillars, and the school has launched a dozen research programmes since 2017.
From 5 November 2026 to 24 April 2027
The exhibition opened during Dubai Design Week, in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District, home to the L’ÉCOLE campus since April 2024. It will stay open until 24 April 2027, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with free admission. Registration is recommended. An open day was held on Saturday 7 November, with course demonstrations, children’s workshops and guided tours.
Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE for the Middle East, India, Africa and Turkey, aims to connect the school’s research with the region’s goldsmithing heritage and archaeological finds, through a cultural programme designed for the occasion.
Workshops, an Arabic podcast and talks
The Dubai version keeps the content of the Paris presentation and adds an interactive section. Visitors can handle the tools, feel their weight and work the metal, guided by L’ÉCOLE’s jewelers and lecturers. Savoir-faire workshops are scheduled five days a month until April 2027. Demonstrations, panel discussions and talks complete the programme, run with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Athar Dubai.
In the exhibition space, three episodes of L’ÉCOLE’s podcast, “Voice of Jewels”, are available in Arabic. Each tells the story of gold across centuries and cultures in about ten minutes.
From Montans to Saruq Al Hadid
The cultural programme links the Celtic torc to the region’s goldsmithing heritage and to the treasures of the Saruq Al Hadid archaeological site in the United Arab Emirates. A series of visits called “Jewels and Journeys” will take the public to partner museums and archaeological institutions in Dubai, Al Ain and Sharjah. In Sharjah, L’ÉCOLE plans to open a new campus in 2029, with research at its heart.
L’ÉCOLE: four addresses since 2012
Founded in 2012 with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts introduces the public to jewelry culture through courses, workshops, talks, exhibitions, books and a podcast. Its courses are open to all, with no prerequisites, in three areas: the history of jewelry, the world of gemstones and savoir-faire. It has four permanent addresses, in Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dubai, and travels regularly to Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. To go further, see the most prestigious jewelry brands in 2026 and, in the region, Frieze Abu Dhabi from 19 to 22 November.
| Exhibition | Recreating Gesture: Crafting a Gold Necklace from the Iron Age |
| Organiser | L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels |
| Venue | Dubai Design District (d3), Building 10, ground floor, Dubai |
| Dates | 5 November 2026 to 24 April 2027 |
| Opening hours | Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Admission | free, registration recommended |
| Centrepiece | 24-carat gold replica of the Montans torc (Second Iron Age) |
| Scientific partners | Centre archéologique de Montans, Musée d’Archéologie nationale |
| Programme | workshops five days a month, talks, Arabic podcast, Jewels and Journeys visits |
Information verified on 13 November 2026. Sources: Richemont press release of 11 November 2026 and L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts press kit.
