INSTANT CONNECTION

LIKE THE ZIP NECKLACE, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS’ CADENAS—OR CHAINS—WATCH WAS DESIGNED FOR THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, SYMBOLISING SENTIMENTAL ATTACHMENTS. CREATED IN 1935, THE FIRST TIMEPIECE WAS IN GOLD, WITH THE STRAIGHT LINES OF THE CASE COMPLEMENTED BY THE ROUNDED FORM OF THE PADLOCKLIKE CLASP ATTACHED TO A DOUBLE SNAKE CHAIN ACTING AS THE BRACELET. A TIMEPIECE INTENDED TO BE GLANCED AT DISCREETLY, THE MODEL WAS BEJEWELLED AND CAME WITH AN INCLINED DIAL. THIS YEAR, THE MAISON BRINGS THE CADENAS TO THE PRESENT DAY WITH NINE VERSIONS, ALL SPORTING A BIGGER CASE, ENLARGED DIAL AND STRONGER, MORE DURABLE CLASP. THE CADENAS SERTIE AND CADENAS PAVÉE MODELS SPARKLE WITH DIAMONDS IN SERTINEIGE, OR SNOW SETTINGS. A PERSONAL MESSAGE CAN BE ENGRAVED IN THE HIDDEN, POLISHED SIDE OF THE CLASP.