GILDED AGE

Van Cleef & Arpels lends a golden touch to the Bouton d’or collection

With the Bouton d’or collection, Van Cleef & Arpels breathed new life into the paillette motif. Whether it is a necklace, ring or pendant, the maison’s clever use of the gold pastilles-like pattern gives the jewellery pieces a modern, fashionable look. That Van Cleef & Arpels incorporated hardstones into the design last year further strengthened its appeal. This year, the Bouton d’or releases go back to basics—the paillettes are crafted out of pink and white gold and set with diamonds in the centres. Each button is made either concave or convex to play with light and reflection. Because each paillette is so small, assembling the pieces such that they remain mobile requires top-notch craftsmanship— something that the French marque has bags of.