Schools on the Riviera

These human-scale private schools between Grasse and Monaco strive to impart our regional expertise in sectors at the forefront of luxury and the Riviera art de vivre.

Ecole Internationale de Gemmologie Monaco

Dedicated to jewels

The Côte d'Azur attracts some of the top designer jewellery houses. You have them all between the Place du Casino, the Hôtel de Paris, and One Monte-Carlo. From kings of diamonds Harry Winston and Laurence Graff to the Italian and French brands Buccellati, Boucheron and Chanel Joaillerie. EIG Monaco is the Institut National de Gemmologie de Paris’s official partner for the South of France. The Monegasque school trains future gem experts and traders in the four main precious stones — diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires — and other coloured gemstones. "Our training courses also provide support to players in the Côte d'Azur luxury goods market such as jewellers and auction houses," explains Jérôme de Rocquigny. He heads up a teaching team comprising gem hunters, designers and artists, jewellery history buffs and specialist auctioneers. Affiliated to markets from Antwerp to Bangkok and including Madagascar, the school will also soon be opening a cutting workshop.

eigmonaco.com

The Sustainable Design School, Cagnes-sur-Mer Dessiner l’avenir 

This is the story of three designers, specialised in education, cars, and yachting, respectively. Together, they decided to contribute to one of the major technical challenges we currently face: sustainable design innovation. Their objective is to open people's minds to new values, so they can look ahead to the future with equanimity, enriching it with sensitivity and poetry. The school was founded in 2013 in Nice because the founders are sea-lovers and have family there. It relocated to a larger campus in the town of Cagnes-sur-Mer where its Fab Lab, music studio, photo studio and even a collective vegetable garden are thriving. “We have strong links with the local community and work with players such as Toyota’s European Design Centre in Sophia and many local SMEs," asserts Gregory Luddeni, Head of Development at the school, which admits more than 100 young people a year. “After completing master's degrees, our students go on to join large corporations, work in agencies or set up their own companies."

the-sds.com

Navy Services Antibes Juan-les-Pins. Un équipage à flot

The Riviera occupies a strategic position in the Mediterranean basin and its 33 ports make it a major yachting destination. Ships come here to take part in international events, to take advantage of milder temperatures for wintering and the warm-summer climate. A sector accounting for more than 450 businesses in the Alpes-Maritimes, with strong spin-offs in the local market. Navy Services trains professionals from deckhands to 200 UMS captains in small family-atmosphere groups. "Some boat owners come to be able to transport clients, as well as Côte d'Azur restaurants who also transport their clients from yachts", explains Cécile Costa, the Administration Manager in this 15-trainer sea school sponsored by Maud Fontenoy.

navyservices.fr

Ecole Supérieure du Parfum, Grasse. Exuding health

Galimard, followed close behind by Molinard and Fragonard, began creating perfumes because of the smell of the old tanneries, or so the story goes. Three of the names that make the Pays de Grasse popular with tourists. An agglomeration where the perfume and cosmetics industry is the main economic engine. "After creating our Paris campus in 2011, we created one in Grasse in 2018 at the behest of local stakeholders", reveals Chantal Artignan, director of the school. Although being a ‘nose’ is the occupation that often springs to mind, there are wide-ranging job opportunities in this sector, from sourcing raw materials to creating fragrances, from production to marketing. She adds, "the perception of perfume is a function of experience and memories. Smells can be used to treat addictions or for well-being in neuropsychiatry. Thanks to Dr Alexandre's method, we have formed a partnership for children in a Belarusian hospital, and we train doctors in olfactory therapy. "

ecole-parfum.com

By Eve Chatelet