Ringing in old: L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts’ new exhibition

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

From November 7 to April 26, 2025, L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, will present the exhibition ‘Men’s Rings, Yves Gastou Collection’ to the Middle Eastern audience for the very first time in Dubai. The presentation, hosted in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), will display the outstanding collection of men’s rings, which belonged to late French collector and antique art dealer, Yves Gastou. The impressive collection stands as a testament to an extraordinary quest, embodying a man’s 40-year passion. As the largest edition of the exhibition, featuring more than 700 exceptional rings, Men’s Rings centres on five themes that allows an immersive exploration of the collector’s personal taste: History, Gothic, Christian Mysticism, Vanitas and Eclecticism.

The opening of the exhibition marks a significant moment in the region’s art and design calendar as the L’ÉCOLE Middle East show coincides with the milestone 10th edition of Dubai Design Week, the region’s leading design festival (Nov. 5 – 10) in strategic partnership with d3, the global creative ecosystem by TECOM Group. A Public Open Day takes place on November 9, inviting the community to experience L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s course demonstrations, kids workshops, guided tours and activities. The events bring together the pillars of the cultural landscape, offering an unprecedented opportunity for visitors to explore the intersection of jewellery, art and design.

“We are thrilled to present the ‘Men’s Rings, Yves Gastou Collection’ in Dubai, a city that perfectly balances tradition with modernity,” said Sophie Claudel, Director of L’ÉCOLE Middle East. “The universe of design is vast and extraordinary. This inspiring exhibition by L’ÉCOLE Middle East emphasises just how versatile its disciplines and crafts can be,” said Khadija Al Bastaki, Senior Vice President, Dubai Design District. “Through such events, valued partners like L’ÉCOLE enrich d3’s community and continue to expand the dialogue of design, fashion and art, positioning Dubai as the beating heart of the creative industry.”

“We are delighted to welcome L’ÉCOLE Middle East’s exhibition ‘Men’s Rings, Yves Gastou Collection’, taking place in Dubai Design District (d3) during Dubai Design Week,” commented Natasha Carella, Director of Dubai Design Week. “This exhibition not only enriches our programme, adding to the diversity and depth of design disciplines, but by highlighting the artistry and historical significance of jewellery, L’ÉCOLE fosters a dialogue that resonates with our commitment to foster creative exchange, as well as inspire, educate and connect the wider community.”

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Yves Gastou, a reputable antique and sculptural furniture dealer, had a taste for pushing curatorial boundaries. His gallery in Paris opened in 1986 and was an iconic showcase of his bold aesthetics. Gastou was also an avid collector and, among his all-encompassing treasure trove, he orchestrated a jewellery collection dedicated to men’s rings, which he would not just keep as an envied rarity - neither offered as gift or for sale - but worn as proud regalia. Gastou’s fascination with rings originated in his childhood and remained with him till his last days. Over the years, he carefully selected an eclectic collection of over a thousand rings, some precious, some mass-produced, with a vast geographical and temporal span: from the 17th-century Venice doge rings to American biker rings back in the 1970s, from ancient Egyptian rings to “memento mori” skull rings of the 19th century, and from 18th-century enamelled rings to unique creations by contemporary artists.

His relentless quest led him across auction houses, merchants, workshops, flea markets and studio collections, on ears to the ground hunts for treasures. The signet, episcopal, posy or biker’s rings, lend an idiomatic expression to the man’s insatiable appetite for exceptional objects “that delight the eye with their intense beauty and enlighten the mind with their myriad functions”, from wedding oaths to mystical amulets and from symbols of power to statements of defiance. After a successful debut in Paris in 2018, the exhibition travelled to Tokyo and Hong Kong in 2022, and Shanghai in 2023.  New rings have been added to the selection for its fifth edition in Dubai. In addition to the exhibition, L’ÉCOLE Middle East has resumed its courses offering an enriched schedule, including two newly introduced courses: ‘The Making of a Jewel’ and ‘Discovering the World of Gemstones’.

Open to all, from absolute beginners to enlightened amateurs to knowledgeable collectors and those with an insatiable curiosity for the world of jewellery, L’ÉCOLE is known for its rich programme of courses and talks around the three pillars: the history of jewellery; the world of gemstones; and the savoir-faire of jewellery-making techniques. L’ÉCOLE Middle East, School of Jewelry Arts, also partners with Dubai Cares, the UAE-based global philanthropic organisation - both showing their committment to youth empowerment in developing countries. 100 per cent of the proceeds raised from L’ÉCOLE Middle East public courses, talks and conferences, are donated to Dubai Cares, to support their youth education programmes.

L’ÉCOLE now has five permanent addresses: two in Paris, one in Hong Kong, one in Shanghai and one in Dubai. In 2023, L’ÉCOLE marked its presence in Asia and in the Middle East with the opening of two new campuses: in Shanghai and in Dubai, in d3. Since its inception, L’ÉCOLE has been travelling in Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East for talks, exhibitions or travelling course programmes that last one to three weeks, thereby contributing to the promotion and visibility of jewellery culture on a global scale.