Gemmology Class

Gilbert models brown diamond - Diamond with Grading report - I model 2 carat Diamond

We had five sessions with Martine Naman of Natural Fancy Coloured Diamonds, Antwerp. In these sessions we learnt about Gemstones, Diamonds, Coloured Diamonds, Pearls and for our final class for this subject we visited a diamond cutter in Paris.

This was a very popular class - particularly amongst the girls - as we got to see first hand many precious diamonds, gemstones and pearls. Often the jewels were in settings so we could try them on. Everyone would gush as the different stones were handed around the class.

Martine shared with us many interesting stories about the industry. How when she started out it was difficult to sell coloured diamonds as the trend was still for colourless diamonds. I was suprised at how much I loved the Brown diamond, it doesn't sound glamorous but it was.

Other interesting stories she shared was of a colleague who had their yellow diamond stolen by a person known to them. A few years have passed since this happened and just recently a similar stone has been put up for auction in China so her colleague is going to travel to the auction to see if it is his. No two diamonds are exactly the same and her colleague is an expert so if it is his he will recognise it however there is a rule in the industry that if the diamond has been exchanged more than 7 times it is not possible to claim your stone back.

Other things I learnt were that it is illegal to fish for natural pearls and that W.A is the best place to find pink diamonds - I might have to go visit when I get back!

I model a Tahitian Pearl ring - Asami models a pearl ring.- Gilbert models a yellow Diamond

15th Anniversary of MBA Luxe & 2010 Graduation Ceremony

Friday 10th September ESSEC threw a party in the Baccarat Crystal Ballroom to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of the Luxury Brand Management MBA. It was a fun to get dressed up and go out in the city with our classmates but it also gave us an opportunity to meet many of the Alumni from our course. There were some really interesting people there along with the majority of the 2010 graduating class who reassured us that, even though throughout the year we would feel like the teaching staff were trying to kill us, they are living proof that you can get through it all and that it will be an amazing year.

Maison Baccarat, 11, place des Etats-Unis, 75116 Paris
http://www.baccarat.com/en/the-world-of-baccarat/maisons-baccarat/maison-baccarat-paris.htm




Monday 15th September we had the Graduation Ceremony for the class of 2010. It was held at another grand ballroom - at the Westin on Rue De Castiglione. We gained further insight into what was in store for us this year through speeches from the graduating class. We also heard from representatives from Gucci Group, YSL Beaute, L'oreal and Firmenich. It was another really fun night but we also had, for the first time that night, a taste of what things to come as I was up till 2am with my accounting group finishing off our assignment due the next day.

Vogue's Fashion night out

Wednesday night last week a group of us attended Vogue's Fashion night out. To mark the start of Fashion week the stores on Avenue Montaigne stay open late for fashion lovers to come into their stores and party. All the stores were heaving and it was difficult to get into many of the stores but the group I was with managed to go to Marni, Jimmy Choo, Loewe, Emilio Pucci and Dior.

It was pretty hectic and not sure if it's something I would go to every year but it was awesome to be in Paris and to be enjoying a champagne or two in all the top stores. Highlights were the buzz around Chanel when Karl Lagerfeld arrived, getting a snap with Karl's car and the crazy party in the Dior couture room. The Dior room was packed, two DJ's entertained a crowd of probably over 80 people whist we danced amongst Dior's most expensive couture gowns. Definitely not something that would happen in Sydney!

Oenology Class

Week 2 started with an overview of the luxury industry followed by our first Oenology class! Our professor said that Oenology is probably the wrong name for this class as the definition of Oenology is the scientific study of wine and we are really just studying the different wines of the world whilst getting to sample a few along the way.

In our first Oenology class we were supposed to have a guest speaker from the Reidel wine glass company but due to the train strikes he wasn't able to get to the school. I was pretty disappointed he couldn't make it but we got to drink out of four different Riedel wine glasses for our tasting so that made up for it a little. In our first class we sampled a Sancerre, a Meursault, a Bordeaux and a Burgundy.

Our Second Oenology class we had a guest speaker from Bouchard Pere & Fils winery in Burgandy. We got to sample 5 different wines, some Grand Cru and the others premier cru all from the Bouchard Pere & Fils vineyard. The wines we sampled were a Chabils, a Meursault, a Corton, a Chambertain Clos de Beze and a Beaune Grave. The Chambertain was the stand out and at around 300 euros per bottle most people chose to not spit that one out.

In the Beginning

I have survived day one and two and so far they have been pretty easy on us. Day one we had a breakfast followed by an informal introduction session where students had to get up and speak for one minute about themselves and a picture of their choosing. It was a great way to get to know our fellow classmates and demonstrated the diversity of the students.

There are 45 students in the 2010-2011 year which included students from 18 different countries; U.S.A, Canada, Romania, Mauritius, Croatia, Brazil, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Russia, Japan, Germany, India, Spain, France and of course Australia!

There are 34 women and only 11 men but the professor said 25% was fairly indicative of the industry.

After the first session we had a champagne lunch where we had further opportunity to get to know each other. Then in the afternoon we had an induction on how to use the online portal for ESSEC.

Tuesday Night I was visited by the lovely Bec Towns who not only trekked out to Cergy to visit me............ but also bought me a lovely housewarming pressie. Yum! Thanks Bec x

Day two was a full day of team building, a lot of fun, which saw us playing different games getting to know each other. Some of the games included: directing teammates to build a pyramid out of plastic cups blind-folded, doing collages and forming a company based on your collages and finally we had do do a group song and performance. The last activity was cringe-worthy but also hilarious. The group that won did theirs to 'I got a feeling' by Black eyed peas. I am still laughing!

Residence du Port ESSEC

I arrived at ESSEC in Cergy Pontoise on Friday 27th August a few hours late due to a delayed Easy Jet flight to Orly from Olbia, Sardinia.

After a transfer the the city from a friend of a friend (thanks Alex by way of Bec!) I caught a taxi from Paris to Cergy which cost around 60euro - so I won't be doing that too often. I had grand plans of catching the bus from Orly to Invalides then getting the red RER to Cergy but after my morning of traveling and with my heavy bags I opted for the lazy option.

I checked in with the school and met the lovely staff who provided me with information on the course, the school and Paris and then I was assigned my room.

I am staying and the newly built Residence du Port. We are the first year of students to stay here so everything is nice and new. Some fellow students have mentioned problems with things not being finished yet or working properly but I have not had any problems thus far with the exception of the laundry being out of service.

The rooms are spacious and have their own kitchen and bathroom. I have a lovely view out onto the neighbouring property's garden and I have sun coming through my window which I am pretty pleased about.

Cergy near the station and at the local mall (trios fointaines) is pretty dodgy. I mentioned this to a fellow classmate and he said that that was an understatement. However there is a really nice port and older style buildings at the other end of the street and there is also a really nice park which I walk through to get to school and the train station.