[FINISHED] “Gems” Exhibition

In collaboration with Van Cleef & Arpels, the “Precious Stones” exhibition immerses visitors in several fields which are closely connected and yet rarely brought together: minerology, gemology and the art of jewelry making.

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, aquamarines, turquoise etc... Extracted from the depths of the earth, coveted and sought after for thousands of years, gems (precious stones worked on by human hands) have always been considered as instruments of power and objects of seduction. Furthermore, since the 18th century, they have become the subject of various scientific studies.

Through a contemporary scenography, this exhibition brings together over 500 minerals, gems and objets d'art from the Natural History Museum’s collections and more than 200 gems and jewelry creations from the House of Van Cleef & Arpels. This unprecedented link between minerals, gems and jewelry, structures the tour, immersing visitors in the history of the earth, the processes of mineral formation and the latest scientific advances in geoscience. It also allows visitors to marvel at the most beautiful creations fashioned by humans and created from natural diversity.

The "Precious Stones" exhibition is accompanied by a varied program of meetings, workshops, books, conferences, screenings and more.

The Exhibition Commission: Didier Julien-Laferrière (MNHN), François Farges (MNHN), Lise Macdonald (Van Cleef & Arpels)

The Scientific Commission: François Farges (MNHN), Emilie Bérard (Van Cleef & Arpels)

Scenography: Patrick Jouin et Sanjit Manku (Jouin Manku agency)