Richemont embarks on the second edition of the Craftsmanship Programme in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia

20 DEC 2023

After its successful launch in 2022, Richemont proudly announces the second edition of the Craftsmanship Programme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), welcoming two new trainees to explore the world of jewellery and watchmaking.

Founded by the Richemont MEIA region to strengthen the Group's commitment to growing local talent, the UAE Craftsmanship Programme offers a seven-month training to two UAE and KSA nationals who aspire to master the art of luxury jewellery and watchmaking.

This second edition, from November 2023 to June 2024, marks an exciting collaboration with the prestigious Cartier Institute and the renowned Van Cleef & Arpels Maison. Both Maisons are supporting the programme and ensuring that trainees have access to leading experts in the world of luxury product design, creation and repair, while benefitting from working on real-life projects coached by the Maisons' craftsmen and women.

A detailed discovery of jewellery-making and watchmaking

The first eight weeks of the programme are centred around the fascinating world of high jewellery, after which trainees spend an additional two weeks collaborating with mentors from the Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels Maisons. After a final technical exam, the trainees spend two weeks in the Maisons' Dubai Mall boutiques to gain hands-on experience as boutique technicians, focusing on stock maintenance, workshop organisation and repairs. Once this initial phase of the programme is complete, trainees will be ready to conduct simple jewellery interventions such as chain sizing.

Following the voyage into jewellery-making, trainees spend 13 weeks learning all watchmaking facets. Focusing on savoir-faire and craftsmanship, they will hone their skills in battery services, bracelet adjustment and alterations, movement exchange and water-resistance services. To round out their immersion into the world of jewellery and watchmaking, in June 2024, the trainees will travel to Paris to spend time in the Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels Maisons, and visit some of the Group's academic institutions.

About Richemont

At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity, alongside online distributors that cultivate expert curation and technological innovation to deliver the highest standards of service. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, AZ Factory, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, Montblanc, Peter Millar including G/FORE, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. In addition, Richemont operates NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, THE OUTNET, YOOX and the OFS division.

Find out more at www.richemont.com