NEWSROOM

Precious Coral, from Curiosity to Treasures by L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Hong Kong

30 June 2026

L'ECOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, exhibition in Hong Kong.

From May 23rd to October 11th, 2026, the exhibition brings together around 120 jewelry creations and exceptional specimens on loan from distinguished collections and institutions. The exhibition will explore precious coral — one of the most fascinating jewelry material — through three lenses: Biology and Gemology, Craftsmanship, and History.

A deep dive into a unique material

Unpolished Precious Coral Branch. Precious Coral (Corallium rubrum), wood. Chii Lih Coral museum.

Unpolished Precious Coral Branch
Precious Coral (Corallium rubrum), wood
Chii Lih Coral museum

Polished precious coral branch. Precious coral (Corallium japonicum), rocky substrate. Chii Lih Coral Museum.

Polished precious coral branch

Precious coral (Corallium japonicum), rocky substrate

Chii Lih Coral Museum

Precious coral has been worn, traded, carved, polished, revered, and mythologized for millennia. Despite its long history, it was frequently misidentified as a stone or a plant. The exhibition opens by addressing that misconception: coral is an animal.

 

Precious coral lives in deep waters, far below the sunlit reefs commonly

associated with tropical seas. Precious coral species grow slowly at depths up to several hundred meters, building dense, branch-like skeletons prized for their natural hues. Their natural colors range from pale blush and salmon to oxblood red and creamy white.

Impressive specimens and precious objects

Polished precious coral branch. Precious coral (Corallium japonicum), wood. Chii Lih Coral Museum.

Polished precious coral branch

Precious coral (Corallium japonicum), wood

Chii Lih Coral Museum

"Sailing boat sculpture. Precious coral, wood. Chii Lih Coral Museum."

Sailing boat sculpture

Precious coral, wood

Chii Lih Coral Museum

Tiara. Precious coral, metal. Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Tiara
Precious coral, metal
Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Carving of Precious Coral (Peony). Precious Coral (Trade name : Momo coral). Chii Lih Coral museum.

Carving of Precious Coral (Peony)
Precious Coral (Trade name : Momo coral)
Chii Lih Coral museum

The Akai Amoronagu Necklace. The Ancient Fetus Collection by Austy Lee. Private Collection.

The Akai Amoronagu Necklace

The Ancient Fetus Collection by Austy Lee

Private Collection

The exhibition approaches precious coral as both a living organism and a cultural object, tracing its biological structure, its transformation through craftsmanship, and the symbolic meanings it has accumulated across centuries.

Parure. Second half of 19th century. Precious coral, metal. Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Parure

Second half of 19th century

Precious coral, metal

Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Pocket watch with precious coral chain. Precious coral, pearl, metal. Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Pocket watch with precious coral chain

Precious coral, pearl, metal

Coral Museum - Liverino Collection

Around 120 works — including jewels, sculptures, art objects, and

naturalia — are presented in the exhibition, on loan from distinguished institutions. Together, these pieces create a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary panorama of coral’s life in both nature and culture.

  • Exhibition : Precious Coral, from Curiosity to Treasures by L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Hong Kong

     

    Saturday, May 23rd to Thursday October 11th, 2026

    Open every day

    10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (except special closures)

    Free Admission

    Registration Required

     

    L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

    510A, 5/F, K11 MUSEA, Hong Kong

     

    Information and registration:

    https://www.lecolevancleefarpels.com/hk/en

     

    @LECOLEAsiaPacific #LECOLEHongKong

    #PreciousCoral