Van Cleef & Arpels R&D Assistant — Métiers d'Art (Internship)
- Location
- Employment
- Internship
- Seniority
- Intern
- Industry
- High Jewelry
- Posted
- Apr 29, 2026
About Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is an haute-joaillerie maison renowned for exceptional craftsmanship, poetic design and technical mastery. Part of the Richemont group, the maison combines artisanal ateliers and multidisciplinary R&D to develop innovative techniques and sustain its legacy of fine jewellery and decorative arts.
Van Cleef & Arpels — Meyrin: Internship for an R&D Assistant, Métiers d'Art supporting prototyping and artisanal technique development.
Role & Responsibilities
- Support the Métiers d'Art R&D team in the conception and prototyping of jewelry and decorative objets, from brief to sample.
- Participate in material research, testing of new techniques and iterative development of handcrafted processes.
- Produce technical sketches, CAD models and physical mock-ups; translate creative concepts into manufacturable solutions.
- Collaborate with design, production ateliers and external suppliers to validate feasibility, tolerances and finishing methods.
- Document development cycles, compile technical specifications, maintenance of sample archives and lab/atelier organisation.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a program in jewellery design, materials science, fine arts, industrial design, gemology or related artisanal discipline.
- Strong manual dexterity and demonstrable experience with model‑making or workshop practice (school projects, personal work or prior internships).
- Ability to interpret technical drawings and translate creative intent into prototypes.
- Professional attitude, attention to detail and capacity to work within multidisciplinary teams under tight schedules.
Skills
Experience
Practical experience through academic projects, workshop practice or prior internships in jewellery or artisanal workshops is preferred; this position is oriented toward students or recent graduates seeking hands-on R&D exposure.
Education
Enrolled in or recently completed a relevant undergraduate or graduate program (Jewellery Design, Materials Science, Industrial Design, Fine Arts, Gemology or equivalent).
Workplace
This position is based in Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland, within easy reach of Geneva.
Culture
The maison values meticulous artisanal savoir‑faire, rigorous technical standards and creative collaboration between ateliers and design teams. Van Cleef & Arpels fosters an environment where heritage techniques meet experimental R&D, offering interns close mentorship within boutique-scale workshops and multidisciplinary projects.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Van Cleef & Arpels, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «R&D Crafts Intern», «Assistant, Artistic Crafts R&D (Intern)», «Artisanal Techniques R&D Assistant (Intern)», «Jewellery R&D Assistant — Métiers d'Art (Intern)», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.