Story Highlight
– Cartier partners with The King’s Foundation for artisanship training.
– New program focuses on preserving rare artistry crafts.
– Postgraduate students receive five months of training.
– Applications open on April 27 for prospective students.
– Students will study in Scotland and Switzerland.
Full Story
Cartier has entered into a three-year partnership with The King’s Foundation to cultivate the next wave of artisans within the watchmaking sector. This collaboration has led to the introduction of a new educational initiative titled ‘The King’s Foundation and Cartier: Decorative Métiers d’Art in Watchmaking,’ reflecting a shared commitment to the preservation of rare artistic skills and the nurturing of emerging talent.
The partnership, which is supported by bursaries, is a continuation of the longstanding efforts by Cartier and The King’s Foundation to foster creative potential.
The postgraduate programme consists of five months of formal training complemented by an additional two months dedicated to project work, focusing on specialised techniques such as champlevé and grisaille enamelling, as well as marquetry.
Applications for the programme will be available on The King’s Foundation’s website from 27 April, with the inaugural cohort set to present their projects in a final exhibition scheduled for spring 2027.
Louis Ferla, president and CEO of Cartier, emphasised the importance of imparting watchmaking expertise as integral to the company’s strategy. He stated, “Support for creative talents in watchmaking and the métiers d’art is crucial to ensure these ancestral skills are transmitted to the next generation, where they can continue to share their singular beauty. This commitment reaffirms the Maison’s longstanding dedication to the shared human adventure of preserving, developing and, of course, celebrating these rare and traditional crafts.”
The fellowship will be accessible to jewellery and watch-making graduates based in the UK, as well as emerging designers in the early stages of their business ventures, who are seeking to enhance their technical skills.
Students will be based at Dumfries House, the headquarters of The King’s Foundation in Ayrshire, Scotland, with residential experiences taking place at Cartier’s Maison des Métiers d’Art in Switzerland. They will receive guidance from expert tutors and master craftspeople affiliated with both organisations.
Jacqueline Farrell, executive director of Education at The King’s Foundation, remarked, “At The King’s Foundation, we are passionate about protecting traditional crafts and we are delighted to be partnering with Cartier – who share this passion – on this exciting new education programme. This course will give students a rare opportunity to learn the highly specialised skills involved in the decorative arts for watchmaking. By nurturing the next generation of makers in two extraordinary settings in Scotland and Switzerland, we hope to ensure that these remarkable skills are preserved and developed for years to come.”
