Assistant Buyer — Jewellery (Internship)
Van Cleef & Arpels — Paris: Assistant Buyer Jewellery (Internship). Support buying operations, sourcing and product costing for haute joaillerie.
Overview
Van Cleef & Arpels is a Parisian haute joaillerie maison renowned for artisanal craftsmanship, poetic design and exceptional gemstones. As part of the Richemont group, the brand combines heritage ateliers with an international retail network and a commitment to discreet luxury and creative excellence.
Role & Responsibilities
- Support the buying team in assortment planning for high jewellery collections, including SKU tracking and season cadence coordination.
- Assist with supplier and atelier liaison: prepare briefs, follow up on prototypes, and monitor production timelines and quality control.
- Compile and update purchase orders, delivery schedules and supplier confirmations within the ERP system.
- Perform product costing, margin analysis and price positioning support for new styles and reorders.
- Maintain and enrich the materials and gemstones database, ensuring accurate item descriptions and sourcing documentation.
- Prepare presentation materials and commercial reports for buying meetings using Excel and PowerPoint.
- Monitor inventory levels, replenishment needs and sales performance to inform purchasing recommendations.
- Contribute to ad-hoc market research, competitor benchmarking and trend analyses relevant to high jewellery.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in luxury management, business, fashion buying, supply chain, gemology or a related discipline.
- Strong analytical ability with proven competence in Excel; comfortable working with data and financial spreadsheets.
- Familiarity with jewellery materials (precious metals, gemstones) and an understanding of high jewellery production processes.
- Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the capacity to manage competing priorities in a fastidious environment.
- Professional communication skills; able to liaise with internal stakeholders and external suppliers with discretion and clarity.
- Previous internship or relevant exposure to buying, product development or retail within luxury goods is a strong advantage.
Skills
Experience
Internship-level role: ideal candidate will have academic experience and 0–12 months of relevant internships or project work in buying, product development or luxury retail; prior exposure to jewellery or watches is advantageous.
Education
Enrolled in a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree (luxury management, business, fashion buying, supply chain, gemology or similar).
Culture
The maison places a premium on craftsmanship, refined aesthetics and meticulous attention to detail. Teams operate collaboratively across ateliers, creative and commercial functions, balancing heritage techniques with international commercial ambitions and a client-focused ethos.