A JOURNEY THROUGH THE POETRY OF TIME - ENCOUNTER ON THE LOVERS' BRIDGE - Van Cleef & Arpels
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A JOURNEY THROUGH
T H E P O E T RY O F T I M E
E N CO U N T E R O N T H E LO V E R S’ B R I D G E
In February 2022, Van Cleef & Arpels will be celebrating some of its
emblematic sources of inspiration at a watchmaking event open to
the general public in Singapore. Pieces from the Maison’s patrimonial
collection and contemporary creations will be revealed in an immersive
environment that recreates the charm of Paris. Alongside the Jewelry
and High Jewelry collections, Van Cleef & Arpels’ watches take center
stage in four of its cherished universes: love stories – notably with the
Pont des Amoureux collection –, ballerinas and fairies, Poetic Astronomy
and Enchanting Nature. Each creation relates an instant of grace and
enchantment, expressing the Poetry of Time unique to the Maison.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
A journey through the Poetry of Time: event open to the public
from February 12 to 20, 2022 (by reservation)
–
Sand Expo Hall B - Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
T H E P O E T RY O F T I M E
Ever faithful to a poetic view of life, Van Cleef & Arpels instills a distinctive
dimension into the art of watchmaking: that of dreams and emotions.
A blend of inventiveness and fantasy, its creations interpret the measurement
of time as an invitation to imagine, wander and revel in happiness.
The Maison draws from its history and emblematic sources of inspiration
to depict the poetry of each instant. New tales of love and luck join pieces
evoking Van Cleef & Arpels’ heritage. Fairies and ballerinas tick away the
hours, while the rhythm of nature meets that of the cosmos. In line with
the various watch collections, each timepiece relates a moment of grace and
enchantment.
2
LOV E S TO R I E S
Advert for “la boutique”, 1958 Romance à Paris bracelet, 2009
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
© Publicis Conseil
Born out of the marriage of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, the
Maison has been celebrating love stories since its earliest creations. Like
a sign of destiny, the first piece listed in the sales book in 1906 was a heart
set with diamonds. Today, this founding theme continues to suffuse the
Maison’s creations with poetry and enchantment. From High Jewelry to
Watchmaking, they express every nuance of feeling and all the emotion of
shared moments.
3
Pont des Amoureux collection
The watches of the Pont des Amoureux collection celebrate love and the
intensity of longed-for reunions. United by tender feelings, a young woman
and a young man decide to meet on a Paris bridge. Indicating the hours and
minutes respectively thanks to a retrograde movement, they move towards
each other to exchange a kiss at midday and midnight. To relive the poetry
of that moment at any time, an animation-on-demand module enables the
romantic scene to be replayed at will.
4
Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux watch Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux Jour watch
- 38mm white gold case - 38mm rose gold case
- White gold bezel and crown, round diamonds - Rose gold bezel and crown, round diamonds
- White gold dial, grisaille enamel - White gold and rose gold dial, colored grisaille enamel
- Shiny blue interchangeable alligator strap, white gold - Shiny dark purple interchangeable alligator strap, rose gold
interchangeable pin buckle, round diamonds interchangeable pin buckle, round diamonds
- Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde - Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde
and on-demand animation module developed exclusively for and on-demand animation module developed exclusively for
Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece - Numbered piece
Grisaille enamel work on the dial Positioning the lovers-shaped hands
5
Faithful to the feelings that bind them together, the two lovers meet
throughout the year. Four jewelry watches reunite them against a backdrop
whose colors and motifs vary with the seasons. In spring, the city blossoms
with pink flowers, while in summer butterflies flutter through the streets. In
autumn, leaves dance around the loved-ones, before snowflakes cover the
roofs in winter.
Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux Printemps watch Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux Été watch
- 38mm rose gold case - 38mm white gold case, round diamonds
- Rose gold bezel and crown, round diamonds - White gold bezel and crown, round diamonds
- Rose gold and yellow gold dial, colored grisaille enamel, - Yellow gold dial, colored grisaille enamel,
miniature painting miniature painting
- Rose gold bracelet, round pink, mauve and purple sapphires, - White gold bracelet, round yellow sapphires, round spessartite
round diamonds, rose gold clasp garnets, round diamonds, white gold clasp
- Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde - Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde
and on-demand animation module developed exclusively for and on-demand animation module developed exclusively for
Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece - Numbered piece
6
Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux Automne watch Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux Hiver watch
- 38mm yellow gold case, round diamonds - 38mm white gold case, round diamonds
- Yellow gold bezel and crown, round diamonds - White gold bezel and crown, round diamonds
- Yellow gold dial, colored grisaille enamel, - White gold dial, colored grisaille enamel,
miniature painting miniature painting
- Yellow gold bracelet, round yellow sapphires, round - White gold bracelet, round sapphires,
spessartite garnets, round diamonds, yellow gold clasp round diamonds, white gold clasp
- Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a - Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a
retrograde and on-demand animation module developed retrograde and on-demand animation module developed
exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, 36-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece - Numbered piece
Miniature painting decor on the dial Setting the sapphires on the bracelet
7
The Maison also gives lovers the possibility of experiencing the Poetry of
Time together, with a masculine watch: the Midnight Pont des Amoureux.
The men’s and women’s models echo one another, enabling hearts to beat
in unison. On this piece, the reunion scene – featuring revisited details –
is enclosed inside a 42mm case. The scenery in grisaille enamel has been
reworked to bring out an urban feel: the roofs, chimneys and paving stones
of Paris form the backdrop for this encounter, while the Moon and star-
studded sky lend a gentle touch to the cityscape. The characters – slightly
larger than on the feminine versions – move across a bridge in white gold,
notable for its geometric lines. On the back of the case, an engraved scene
traces a nocturnal view of the city.
Back of the case
Midnight Pont des Amoureux watch
- 42mm white gold case
- White gold bezel and crown
- White gold dial, grisaille enamel
- Black alligator strap, white gold folding buckle
- Self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde and on-demand
animation module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels,
36-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece
8
Aïda & Radamès secret watch
Love lends a romantic enthusiasm to a set of High Jewelry watches, which
recount the stories of mythical couples from literature, mythology and opera.
They include this very precious secret watch, which reinterprets the story of
Radamès – a young Egyptian commander – who falls in love with Aïda, an
Ethiopian princess.
On the bracelet, slender curves in mirror-polished gold echo the warm sand
dunes that border the Nile in Egypt. The river is represented by blue sapphires
of assorted hues, which flow around the wrist in thin bands. A lotus seems to
float at the center of the piece: composed of colored gems, ornamental stones
and diamonds, it is crowned with a Madagascan sapphire weighing 5.93 carats.
The Maison’s High Jewelry expertise combines with watchmaking savoir-
faire to reveal a sliding dial beneath the central motif, adorned with fine stone
marquetry. Lapis lazuli and turquoise form interlaced fish motifs. Set with
diamonds, one of them indicates midday like a precious rendezvous.
Aïda & Radamès secret watch
- White gold, rose gold
- One cushion-cut pink sapphire of 5.93 carats (Madagascar), sapphires,
turquoise, lapis lazuli, diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Unique piece
9
Amytis & Nabuchodonosor secret watch
This piece evokes colonnades, pools of clear water and luxuriant gardens,
in homage to the mythic Hanging Gardens of Babylon. According
to legend, this token of love – considered one of the seven wonders of
the ancient world – was a present from King Nebuchadnezzar to his wife,
Queen Amytis. Cones of turquoise surrounded by buff-topped emeralds
are arranged in a row, on a structure made up of columns of rose gold,
white gold and baguette-cut diamonds. In the center of the piece is
a baguette-cut diamond surround: at its heart, a 6.75-carat Burmese
sapphire in a sugarloaf cut cleverly conceals a diamond-paved dial.
The central motif can be raised at will, majestically revealing the time.
Amytis & Nabuchodonosor secret watch
- White gold, rose gold, one sugar loaf sapphire of 6.75 carats (Burma), emeralds,
turquoise, diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Unique piece
10Tristan & Iseult secret watch
This watch brings together vine leaves and a rose bush in homage to the
courtly love story of Tristan and Iseult. A cushion-cut sapphire weighing
5.59 carats seems to bloom like a rose at the center of a diamond leaf,
its intense color evoking Iseult’s fresh complexion. It is accompanied by
a pear-shaped diamond, in a precious tête-à-tête: weighing 1.13 carats, the
stone is set on a leaf of blue and pink sapphires representing the young
knight Tristan. Thanks to a secret mechanism, the center of the leaf can
be raised to reveal a dial and an inscription: “Ni vous sans moi ni moi sans
vous” (Neither you without me, nor me without you). A signature of the
Van Cleef & Arpels style, the asymmetry of shapes and colors instills the
piece with subtle dynamism, echoing the two lovers’ tumultuous union.
Tristan & Iseult secret watch
- White gold, one cushion-cut pink sapphire of 5.59 carats (Madagascar), one pear-shaped
EVVS2 diamond of 1.13 carats, blue and pink sapphires, white mother-of-pearl, diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Unique piece
11FA I R I E S A N D B A L L E R I N A S
Product-card of a Dancer clip, 1946 Fée rayonnante clip
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives Van Cleef & Arpels Signature
High Jewelry Collections
Symbols of joy and hope, fairies and ballerinas form an emblematic
Van Cleef & Arpels tradition, which began in the early 1940s. Born out of
Louis Arpels’ passion for the world of dance, the first dancer clips soon won
over collectors with their elegant poses and beautiful costumes. Created
during the same period, the fairy clips are recognizable for their ethereal
winged silhouettes, sometimes complemented by a magic wand.
Today, these feminine figures also adorn the Maison’s watches: like muses,
they accompany the passage of time on creations that combine craft skills and
watchmaking savoir-faire.
12Lady Arpels
Ballerines Musicales watches
As an expression of its attachment to the world of dance, Van Cleef & Arpels
has designed the three Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales watches: a blend
of music and movement in a genuine experience that is both acoustic and
visual.
The creations are inspired by the ballet Jewels, created by George
Balanchine in 1967, following his encounter with Claude Arpels. The
work by the American choreographer – and founder of the New York City
Ballet – is made up of three chapters, each focusing on a precious stone to
the music of one composer: Gabriel Fauré for Emeralds, Igor Stravinsky for
Rubies and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for Diamonds.
Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Émeraude watch
- 44.5mm white gold case, round diamonds
- White gold bezel and crown, round emerald, round diamonds
- White gold dial, round diamonds, miniature painting
- Shiny green interchangeable alligator strap, white gold interchangeable
folding buckle, round diamonds
- Manual-winding mechanical movement with retrograde
time indication, on-demand musical animation,
52-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece
13Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Rubis watch Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Diamant watch
- 44.5mm white gold case, round diamonds - 44.5mm white gold case, round diamonds
- White gold bezel and crown, round ruby, round diamonds - White gold bezel and crown, round diamonds
- White gold dial, round diamonds, miniature painting - White gold dial, round diamonds, miniature painting
- Shiny red interchangeable alligator strap, white gold - Shiny grey interchangeable alligator strap, white gold
interchangeable folding buckle, round diamonds interchangeable folding buckle, round diamonds
- Manual-winding mechanical movement with retrograde time - Manual-winding mechanical movement with retrograde
indication, on-demand musical animation, time indication, on-demand musical animation,
52-hour power reserve 52-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece - Numbered piece
Echoing this triptych, the Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales watches
reinterpret the depth effect of a real theater stage: sculpted draperies,
engraved and painted by hand, respectively highlight shades of green, red
and tones ranging from blue to white. On demand, the dial comes to life:
the curtain sweeps aside to reveal five ballerinas, their tutus and colors
evoking different schools of dance – French, American and Russian – and
the gems that inspired George Balanchine.
Music rings out to accompany the scene. Thanks to a technical achievement,
the melodies of the different pieces are played by two instruments with
crystalline tones: a music box and a carillon. The innovative combination
and harmonization of these elements enable the ear to easily pick out the
musical themes of the ballet.
14In keeping with one of the Maison’s cherished traditions, the watches also
include a retrograde function for telling the time. At the top of the dial, a
star – a tribute to “étoile”, the French term for a principal dancer – indicates
the passage of time on a scale graduated with the 12 hours.
From top to bottom and left to right:
Drapes of the Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Émeraude
Realization of the ballerinas in miniature painting on the Rubis disk
Engraving of the drapes on the Diamants disk
Hand engraving of a ballerina on the back of the case
15Lady Féerie watch
Like a protective muse and symbol of femininity, a fairy in a sapphire
and diamond gown watches over the Poetry of Time. Her wings – a
combination of grisaille enamel and turquoise plique-à-jour enamel – echo
the nuances of the starry sky in guilloché mother-of-pearl and diamonds.
Sitting lightly on a cloud, she indicates the minutes with her magic wand
thanks to a retrograde movement. The Moon harbors the passing hours
in a window of mother-of-pearl, haloed by a gentle glow. On the back of
the watch, the visible oscillating weight is engraved with a full Moon in a
star-studded sky.
2021 2021
Prix de la Complication Prix de la Complication
pour Dame pour Dame
Back of the case
2021 2021
Ladies’ Complication Ladies’ Complication
Watch Prize Watch Prize
Lady Féerie watch
- 33mm white gold, round diamonds
- White gold bezel and crown, round diamonds
- White gold dial, round sapphires, round and rose-cut diamonds, white mother-of-pearl,
grisaille on plique-à-jour enamel, miniature painting
2021
- Shiny white interchangeable2021 alligator strap, white gold interchangeable pin buckle,
Prix de la Complication
pour Dame pour Dame
round diamonds
Prix de la Complication
- Self-winding mechanical movement with a jumping hours and retrograde
minutes module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels,
36-hour power reserve
- Numbered piece
2021 2021
Ladies’ Complication Ladies’ Complication
Watch Prize Watch Prize
ROUGE: pantone 485 C,
CMJN: 0 - 100 - 100 - 0
JAUNE: pantone 114 C,
CMJN: 0 - 0 - 70 - 0 16CO U T U R E I N S P I R AT I O N S
Product-card of a Flower secret watch, 1951 Macaron Hexagon Ludo secret watch, 1941
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Ever since its foundation in 1906 on Paris’ Place Vendôme, Van Cleef & Arpels
has drawn inspiration from the world of couture, like a homage to its place
of birth. Over the years, the Maison has reinterpreted the fluidity of fabric in
gold and precious materials, giving rise to creations of timeless elegance.
Revisiting the style of the Ludo bracelets or presenting unique long necklaces
hiding secret dials, Van Cleef & Arpels blends flowing lines and refined
materials to bring new delight to the art of telling the time.
17Ludo secret watch
Reinterpreting the Ludo bracelet, the Ludo Secret watch reveals a luminous
combinations of yellow gold, chrysoprase, emeralds and sapphires.
In an interplay of colors and materials, precious and hard stones come
together within a symmetrical rose motif. The petals – depicted by gems
of different sizes – blossom around a generous hard stone cabochon, haloed
with diamonds. Recalling the outline of a belt, the extremity of the bracelet
is made up of a gem-set motif that echoes the rose.
In keeping with the Maison’s tradition of transformable pieces, these
creations can be worn in a variety of ways: the motif with the dial can be
replaced on the bracelet by an hexagonal mesh buckle set with precious
stones, to create a new piece of jewelry. The rose can also be transformed
into a clip or a pendant, threaded onto a long chain.
Ludo secret watch
- Yellow gold, sapphires, emeralds, chrysoprase, white mother-of-pearl, diamonds
- Quartz movement
18Pompon Margaret transformable long necklace watch
Made up of rows of cultured pearls, jewelry motifs and a fluid tassel, this
long necklace reveals a 6.19-carat Sri Lankan sapphire at its heart, in a well-
proportioned cushion cut. Its remarkably intense color contrasts with the
whiteness of the pearls and establishes a dialogue with the sapphire details
and lapis lazuli beads present on the piece. Hidden beneath the central
motif, a secret dial is revealed by delicately pressing one of the diamonds.
Extremely transformable, this creation is simultaneously unique and graced
with a multiplicity of functions: the secret watch and tassel can be removed
to vary the length of the long necklace, which can be shortened even
further thanks to removable strands of pearls. The latter metamorphose
into two bracelets, while the secret watch can be attached to a third bracelet
in diamonds, sapphires and cultured pearls.
Pompon Margaret transformable long necklace watch
- White gold, one cushion-cut sapphire of 6.19 carats (Sri Lanka), sapphires, lapis lazuli,
white cultured pearls, white mother-of-pearl, diamonds,
- Quartz movement
19Pompon Margaret transformable long necklace watch
- White gold, one cushion-cut sapphire of 6.19 carats (Sri Lanka), sapphires, lapis lazuli,
white cultured pearls, white mother-of-pearl, diamonds,
- Quartz movement
20Pompon Gaia transformable long necklace watch
With their dazzling colors, these creations are characterized by an interplay
of materials and contrasts. The palette of blues provided by lapis lazuli is
enriched by the greens of emeralds and amazonite on this long necklace,
which harbors a secret watch. On the top of the tassel, a set motif slides to
reveal a dial in mother-of-pearl.
Pompon Gaia transformable long necklace watch
- Yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, emeralds, lapis lazuli, amazonite, white cultured pearls,
white mother-of-pearl, diamonds
- Quartz movement
21POETIC ASTRONOMY
Product-card of a Meteor secret watch, 1955 Zodiac set leo clip
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry collections
Since 1906, the wonders of the heavenly vault have inspired creations that
elicit dreams and contemplation. After finding an echo throughout the years
in the Maison’s Jewelry and High Jewelry pieces, the theme of the cosmos
has been extended to Watchmaking with Poetic Astronomy. From the starry
night to the constellations of the Zodiac, the trajectories of the Sun and Moon
and the ballet of the planets, the timepieces combine the poetry of the celestial
bodies and the measurement of time to evoke a unique emotion with every
second.
22Lady Arpels Planétarium watch
In 2018, Van Cleef & Arpels has revisited its Midnight Planétarium watch
to provide a feminine interpretation. Featuring both refined aesthetics and
an automatic movement developed exclusively for the Maison, the Lady
Arpels Planétarium watch depicts the Sun and its closest planets: Mercury,
Venus and Earth – accompanied by its satellite, the Moon. Each heavenly
body moves at its actual speed, orbiting the dial in 88 days for Mercury,
224 days for Venus and 365 days for Earth. In a major innovation, the
Moon also rotates around the Earth on this piece, completing its orbit in
29.5 days and bringing the dial to life with its daily dance.
Lady Arpels Planétarium watch
- 38mm case in white gold set with diamonds
- White gold bezel and crown, diamonds
- Dial: aventurine, Sun in pink gold, shooting star in rhodium-plated gold, Mercury in pink
mother-of-pearl, Venus in green enamel, Earth in turquoise, Moon in diamond
- Case back: white gold, pink gold, aventurine, sapphire glass, calendar, oscillating weight in white
gold and black PVD, Moon in white gold with serti neige style diamonds, Earth in turquoise and
ornamental stones echoing the planets.
- Self-winding mechanical movement featuring a Planétarium module developed exclusively for
Van Cleef & Arpels, 40-hour power reserve.
- Numbered edition
23The choice of planets, imbued with feminine symbolism in the case of
Venus and the Moon, is accompanied by the careful adaptation of the
timepiece’s dimensions to a woman’s wrist. The Lady Arpels case – 38mm
in diameter and set with diamonds on the sides of the case and bezel –
houses a movement redesigned for this smaller size, with an exclusive
module based on an idea from Christiaan van der Klaauw. The dial’s
refined design combines the spectacle of the planets with that of a shooting
star in rhodium-plated gold, indicating the time with poetic grace. On the
back of the watch, two apertures display the day, month and year in the
midst of enchanting decoration.
From top to bottom and left to right:
Polishing and sizing the turquoise representing the Earth
Assembling the Sun and Mercury discs on the movement
Assembling the aventurine discs on the movement
Positioning the turquoise at the center of the oscillating mass
24Midnight and Lady Arpels
Zodiaque Lumineux
Poetic Astronomy offers an invitation to live in harmony with the rhythm of
the cosmos. In 2019, it was enriched with a new set of twelve feminine Lady
Arpels Zodiaque Lumineux models, which join the masculine Midnight
Zodiaque Lumineux watches introduced at the Salon de la Haute Horlogerie
(now called Watches & Wonders), in 2018. These watchmaking creations
recreate the sparkle of the stars with an exclusive light-on-demand module,
first developed in 2016 for the Midnight Nuit Lumineuse watch. This
automatic mechanical movement now illuminates the twelve signs of the
Western Zodiac.
The astrological theme has been a dear one for the Maison ever since the
first lucky medals created in the 1950s. Here, it comes to life in twelve
luminous dials: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
Midnight Zodiaque Lumineux Capricorni (Capricorn) watch Lady Arpels Zodiaque Lumineux Arietis (Aries) watch
- 42mm case in white gold - 38mm case in white gold set with diamonds
- White gold bezel and crown - White gold bezel and crown, diamonds
- Dial: blue glitter enamel, sculpted white gold, enamel tracing, - Dial: glitter blue enamel, enamel tracing, translucent blue enamel
translucent blue enamel beads beads. yellow gold, yellow sapphires, blue sapphire, spessartite
- Bracelet in black alligator, folding buckle in white gold garnets, yellow enamel with golden foil.
- Self-winding mechanical movement with a light-on-demand - Glitter blue alligator strap with a white gold pin buckle set with
module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, diamonds
40-hour power reserve - Self-winding mechanical movement with a light on demand
- Numbered edition module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels,
40-hour power reserve
- Numbered edition
25The Midnight Zodiaque Lumineux watches’ spellbinding illumination
has its origins in a phenomenon known as piezoelectricity. An object of
study since the 18th century, it refers to the capacity of certain materials to
accumulate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical constraints.
Developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, the module incorporates
a piezoceramic blade whose vibration – under the effect of the watch’s
movement – enables electrical energy to be generated mechanically. This
energy is then used to supply from four to six LEDs: at the press of a button,
they backlight the dial’s translucent enamel beads for about three seconds.
Midnight Zodiaque Lumineux Aquarii (Aquarius) watch Lady Arpels Zodiaque Lumineux Piscium (Pisces) watch
- 42mm case in white gold - 38mm case in white gold set with diamonds,
- White gold bezel and crown - White gold bezel and crown, diamonds
- Dial: blue glitter enamel, sculpted white gold, enamel - Dial: glitter blue enamel, enamel tracing, translucent blue
tracing, translucent blue enamel beads enamel beads. yellow gold, yellow sapphires, blue sapphire,
- Bracelet in black alligator, folding buckle in white gold spessartite garnets, yellow enamel with golden foil.
- Self-winding mechanical movement with a light-on-demand - Glitter blue alligator strap with a white gold pin buckle set
module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, with diamonds
40-hour power reserve - Self-winding mechanical movement with a light on demand
- Numbered edition module developed exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels,
40-hour power reserve
- Numbered edition
26The dials brought to life by this technical feat are decorated at
Van Cleef & Arpels’ Meyrin workshops in Switzerland. Intricately and
individually sculpted in white gold, the Zodiac signs on the masculine
watches stand out against a background in blue pailleté enamel, evoking
the heavenly vault. On the feminine watches, these symbolic figures are
adorned with white or yellow gold, precious stones and enamel. The depths
of the cosmos are suggested by an intense glittery effect on the blue,
nuanced by an interplay of light and shade. The four elements are depicted
by different tones of stones and enamel: green for earth, orange for fire and
gradations of blue and violet for the air and water signs.
Within each constellation, several points are represented by delicate
enamel beads: shaped by hand and mounted on the dial, some of them light
up like genuine stars.
From left to right:
Positioning the cam generating the vibrations
Positioning the glitters on the blue enamel background with a brush
27E N C H A N T I N G N AT U R E
Hawaï ring with a secret watch, 1944
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Product-card of a Butterfly clip, 1937 Flying butterfly Between the Finger Ring
Van Cleef & Arpels Archives Van Cleef & Arpels Signature collections
A cherished inspiration for Van Cleef & Arpels ever since its foundation, nature
breathes poetry and vitality into its creations. Enthralled by the constant
metamorphoses of fauna and flora, the Maison transcribes spring in full
bloom, the luxuriance of gardens or the beating of a butterfly’s wings. Closely
linked to the passage of time, this theme is explored in Van Cleef & Arpels’
watchmaking collections through Enchanting Nature, a haven of beauty and
harmony.
28Charms Extraordinaires
Nature Féerique
Ever inspired by the beauty of nature, Van Cleef & Arpels pays tribute to
its enchantment through creations imbued with a delicate poetry. This
year, the Extraordinary Charms collection welcomes two new timepieces,
each telling a wonderful farytale.
A graceful fairy seems to flutter through the dials, meeting tender animals.
On the Charms Coccinelle Féerique watch, bathed in the colors of dusk
– thanks to miniature painting work on the dial’s mother-of-pearl – the
feminine figure encounters a ladybug, perched on a green leaf. On the
Charms Papillon Féerique watch, the fairy stands above a pond, greeting
a colorful butterfly.
As a final touch to each piece, a ladybug or butterfly charm echoes the dial,
its precious stones illuminating the passing hours.
Charms Coccinelle Féerique watch Charms Papillon Féerique watch
- 32mm rose gold case - 38mm white gold case
- Rose gold bezel and crown, round pink sapphires, round diamonds - White gold bezel and crown, round sapphires, round diamonds
- Rose gold rotating charm, round buff-topped rubies - Rose and white gold rotating charm, marquise-cut diamond,
- Dial: white and yellow gold, cabochonné enamel, miniature round sapphires
painting, pearly white mother-of-pearl, mother-of-pearl glitters, - Dial: white and rose gold, black aventurine, plique-à-jour enamel,
round yellow sapphires and round diamonds paillonné enamel, miniature painting, white mother-of-pearl,
- Interchangeable shiny lie de vin or shiny white alligator straps, mother-of-pearl glitters, round buff-topped sapphires, marquise-
interchangeable rose gold pin buckle, round diamonds cut, rose-cut and round diamonds
- Quartz movement - Interchangeable shiny lapis or shiny white alligator straps,
- Numbered edition interchangeable white gold pin buckle, round diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Nmbered edition
29On the dials, the art of enamel, miniature painting, stone setting and
gold engraving come together to give rise to highly complex miniature
tableaux, imbued with a striking relief.
Several emblematic techniques are here assembled, cabochonné enamel
gives the ladybug a life-like volume, while miniature painting and white-
mother-of-pearl glitters breathes movement to the leaves. The Sun sheds
its light on the scene thanks to its yellow sapphires.
The diaphanous wings of the butterfly come to life thanks to plique-à-jour
enamel, subtly adorned with miniature painting. Paillonné enamel recreates
the ripples of water under the fairy’s feet, while the flower lilies are colored
with miniature painting and set with blue sapphires.
The combination of crafts and mastery of Van Cleef & Arpels watchmaking
workshops endow the pieces with the wonders of nature, like an invitation
to dream.
From left to right and top to bottom:
Application of enamel miniature painting on the ladybug
Assembling the white gold fairy set with round and rose-cut diamonds on the dial
Application of plique-à-jour enamel on the butterfly wing
Assembling the white gold butterfly wing with plique-à-jour enamel on the dial
30Perles de Glace Rose watch
When the white season awakens the imagination of Van Cleef & Arpels,
jewels are dressed in soft colored harmonies evoking snow-covered
landscapes. Precious snowflakes dialogue with openwork ribbons and icy
corollas to compose a hymn to the splendor of winter.
Adorned with the pink hues of a sunrise over a sleeping nature, the Perles
de Glace Rose watch combines two sources of inspiration dear to the
Maison: nature and couture. The bracelet’s rows of pearls culminate on
the wrist with snowflake motifs in re-cut rubies, along with marquise-cut
and round pink sapphires of different tones. Together, they bring majesty
to a dial entirely paved with diamonds.
When opened, the bracelet reveals all the flexibility of its structure; when
closed, the watch clasp forms a precious ruby and diamond snowflake
motif reminiscent of those framing the dial.
Perles de Glace Rose watch
- Rose gold
- Rubies, pink sapphires, white cultured pearls, diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Unique piece
31The work of jewelers is combined with the know-how of gem-setters and
the expertise of lapidaries to give life to the Perles de Glace Rose watch.
Subtle details constellate the piece, testifying to the particular care taken
by Van Cleef & Arpels in its creations. The fully articulated structure of
the bracelet is finely enhanced with gradient pink sapphires. Light passes
between the stones to accentuate the effect of lightness of the ensemble. A
row of diamonds set on the side of the case completes the creation.
Carefully selected according to the Maison’s high standards, the stones
are distinguished by their bright colors and the quality of their materials.
The rubies have been meticulously cut to perfectly match the motifs of
the watch, while the pearls give the creation great softness, their orient
evoking the mildness of sunny winter mornings.
From top to bottom and left to right:
Jewelry work, assembling the watch bracelet
Jewelry work, assembling the pearls on the watch bracelet
32Dahlia secrète watch
In Van Cleef & Arpels’ garden, the Dahlia Secret High Jewelry watch
unfolds its corolla of yellow gold and diamonds upon a mount adorned
with precious leaves. Thanks to a system of subtle articulations, the petals
quiver when touched, mimicking the sway of nature in the breeze. Each
one is sculpted in volume, hand-worked and mirror polished to bring
out intense reflections. The petals each envelop a closed-set diamond,
illuminated by the 1.59-carat central diamond. Next to the sparkling
gem, three round yellow sapphires indicate the position of the secret
mechanism: slight pressure on this discreet fastener reveals the dial,
adorned with spessartite garnets. The result of highly complex jewelry
savoir-faire, as well as the expertise of the Ateliers Horlogers de Genève to
assemble the watch movement, this jewel that tells the time required more
than 1,100 hours of work.
Dahlia secrète watch
- Yellow gold, rose gold, white gold
- One round EVVS2 diamond of 1.59 carats, yellow sapphires, tsavortie garnets, diamonds
- Quartz movement
- Unique piece
33VA N C L E E F & A R P E L S S I N C E 1906
1926 Renée Puissant, daughter and niece of the
Maison’s founders, becomes Creative Director of
Van Cleef & Arpels.
1927 Creation of the Chinese Magician pocket
watch and its double retrograde movement.
1933 Inspired by Florence Jay Gould, Charles
Arpels creates the Minaudière, a sophisticated
Watch, 1921 vanity case intended for elegant ladies.
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection - Van Cleef & Arpels patents its Mystery Set
technique.
1934
1895
Creation of the Ludo jewels.
Marriage of Estelle Arpels and Alfred
Van Cleef in Paris.
1935 Creation of a watch on a double snake
chain, entirely in yellow gold, which will be called
1906 Alfred Van Cleef and his brother-in- the Cadenas watch in 1938.
law Charles Arpels open a boutique at 22 Place
Vendôme. Charles’s brothers Julien and Louis
join them in 1908 and 1912 respectively.
1937 Van Cleef & Arpels takes part in the
International Exhibition of Art and Technology
- First watches and first animal jewelry and lucky
in Modern Life, in Paris.
charms to be sold by the Maison.
1918 Lapel watches are in fashion, worn on
1938 Creation of the transformable Passe-
Partout jewel.
jacket lapels or at the belt.
1920 Beginning of the fashion for jewelry
and vanity cases inspired by India, Egypt, China,
Japan and Persia.
- During the 1920s and 1930s, orders are
produced for the Maharajas of Hyderabad,
Indore, Kapurthala, Nawanagar and Nepal.
1925 Van Cleef & Arpels takes part in the
International Exhibition of Modern Decorative
and Industrial Arts in Paris, and is awarded the
Grand Prix notably for its Interwined Flowers,
White and Red Roses bracelet, set with rubies,
emeralds and diamonds. Table clock, 1934
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
341954 Inauguration of “la boutique” at 22 Place
Vendôme: the Bestiaire humoristique will be one
of its emblematic collections.
1956 H.S.H. Prince Rainier III offers a
Van Cleef & Arpels pearl and diamond set to
his wife Grace Kelly as a wedding present. The
following year, Van Cleef & Arpels becomes
“Official Supplier to the Principality of Monaco”.
Place Vendôme charm, 1959
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
1967 The New York premiere of Jewels, a
ballet by George Balanchine created after his
encounter with Claude Arpels, to music by Fauré,
Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky.
- For the coronation of Farah Pahlavi, the
1939 Van Cleef & Arpels settles in New York’s Empress of Iran, the Maison produces the crown,
Rockefeller Center, before opening a boutique at necklace and earrings, along with jewelry sets for
744 Fifth Avenue in 1942. members of the imperial family.
- On the occasion of the marriage of Princess
1968
Fawzia of Egypt to Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the
future Shah of Iran, Van Cleef & Arpels creates Creation of the first Alhambra long
jewelry sets for the bride and her mother, Queen necklace.
Nazli of Egypt.
1971 Jacques Arpels acquires the Thibaw,
1941 Creation of the first ballerina clips and a Burmese ruby weighing 26.13 carats, and the
the Little Winged Fairy clip, later called Spirit of Walska Briolette, a yellow diamond weighing
beauty. 96.62 carats, later mounted on a transformable
Bird clip.
1949
1972
Pierre Arpels designs an exceptionally
thin watch with central attachments referred to The “Boutique des Heures,” dedicated
as “rollers”. Produced from 1950 onwards, it is to watches, opens on Place Vendôme.
known as the PA.49 watch.
1950 Creation of the Zip necklace
transformable into a bracelet, following an idea
probably suggested by the Duchess of Windsor
in the late 1930s.
Paris sparrow clip, 1965
Cadenas watch, 1972
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
352014 Launch of the Midnight Planétarium
watch.
2016 “Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and
Science of Gems” exhibition at the ArtScience
Museum in Singapore.
- Creation of the Extraordinary Object the
Automate Fée Ondine.
Pétales de vœux bracelet
Le Secret collections, 2017 - Opening in Paris of the exhibition “L’Arche
de Noé racontée par Van Cleef & Arpels”,
staged by Robert Wilson, before its presentation
throughout the world.
1992 In Paris, the Palais Galliera, Musée
de la Mode et du Costume, organizes a 2018 “Van Cleef & Arpels: When Elegance
Van Cleef & Arpels retrospective. Meets Art” exhibition at the Today Art Museum
in Beijing.
2006 Launch of the Poetic Complications
watchmaking collection, with the Lady Arpels 2020 “Gems” exhibition at the Muséum
Centenaire watch. National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
2009 “The Spirit of Beauty” exhibition at the 2021 “Florae, Mika Ninagawa” exhibition at
Mori Arts Center in Tokyo. the Hôtel d’Évreux in Paris.
2010 Launch of the Pont des Amoureux
Poetic Complication watch.
2011 “Set in Style” exhibition at the Cooper-
Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.
- After Paris and New York, Van Cleef & Arpels
inaugurates its third emblematic boutique in
Hong Kong, Landmark Prince’s.
- The Maison creates the Océan diadem,
transformable into a necklace, offered to H.S.H.
Princess Charlene by H.S.H. Prince Albert of
Monaco on the occasion of their wedding.
2012 “Timeless Beauty” exhibition at the
MOCA, Museum of Contemporary Art in
Shanghai.
- “Van Cleef & Arpels, l’Art de la Haute Joaillerie”
exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in
Paris.
- Van Cleef & Arpels begins its partnership with
the French dancer and choreographer Benjamin
Millepied, founder of the L.A. Dance Project
company. This encounter results in the trilogy
Gems, made up of Reflections (2013), Hearts & Alleanza necklace
Romeo & Juliet collection, 2019
Arrows (2014) and On the Other Side (2016).
36Van Cleef & Arpels’ awards at
the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève
2005 Ladies’ Watch Prize for the Secret Pavée watch
2010 Ladies’ Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux watch
2011 Jewelry and Artistic Crafts Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Polar
Landscapes Seal Decor watch
2013 Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Ballerine
Enchantée watch
2017 Ladies’ High-Mech Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Papillon
Automate watch
2018 Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Planétarium
watch and Jewelry Watch Prize for the Secret de Coccinelle High Jewelry
watch
2020 Jewelry Watch Prize for the Frivole Secrète watch and Artistic
Crafts Watch Prize for the Lady Arpels Soleil Féerique watch
2021 Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize for the Lady Féerie watch
Lady Arpels Secret de Coccinelle
Papillon Automate watch High Jewelry watch
37PRESSLOUNGE
Discover the press kit and photos at the following adress:
https://presslounge.vancleefarpels.com/
encounterPontdesAmoureux/
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