Poetry IN MOTION
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS TIMEPIECES ARE ART FORMS AS WELL AS TECHNICALLY EXCITING
When one thinks of Van Cleef & Arpels, the iconic range of four-leaf clover jewels known as the Alhambra Collection typically comes to mind. However, the French high-jewellery brand does much more than that. For more than a century since its founding, the maison has also been creating timepieces, called Poetic Complications, packed full with impressive complications and stunning jewellery-making techniques only found within the brand. This year, they have introduced a number of new creations, exhibited at “The Poetry Of Time” in Singapore’s ION Orchard last month for watch aficionados to admire not merely their technical feats, but their art as well.
“We want to share the unique approach of watchmaking at Van Cleef & Arpels,” said Elise Gonnet-Pon, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels for Southeast Asia. “I think this approach comes from our high jewellery background.”
What makes Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces so special is that each dial is considered to be a territory of expression for creativity. With the maison’s emphasis on telling stories and drawing inspiration from dance, nature, astronomy, love and couture, we get to see timepieces like the Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureaux, a timepiece in their permanent collection where the hour and minutes are indicated by a young couple rendezvousing on Paris’ Pont des Arts. At noon and midnight, they encounter for a kiss in the centre of the dial and part ways again. The 38mm timepiece is made in white gold and set with round diamonds, featuring Grisaille enamel beautiful backdrop.
“For all these poetic complications, we use the most advanced watch movement in terms of technicality — not to showcase the movement, but to serve the story,” said Elise. “We then combine very technical and advanced movements to the finest crafts that we call Métiers d’Art in French, such as enamelling, sculpting, stone setting.”
These technical movements can be seen clearly in their latest whimsical creation, the Lady Arpels Papillon Automate. Like having a petit garden on your wrist, the dial features a translucent butterfly sitting on a white mother-of-pearl flower among vegetation under a Full Moon (where the time is told). The butterfly, made of gold and plique-à-jour enamel, flutters at random one to four times depending on the power reserve. And no matter how many times one sees the butterfly flutter, there’s always a sense of awe and delight rushing over you.
“That’s the surprise, which is quite fantastic,” said Gonnet-Pon as the butterfly, as if on cue, began fluttering. “When the watch is worn, it will flutter more often. You can look at the oscillating weight at the back which is decorated as well.”
So far, there’s only one Papillon Automate that exists in the world, so watch collectors, be patient.
Another butterfly themed watch showing off Van Cleef & Arpel’s genius is the The Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons launched last year. The timepiece, also known as the Danse Du Papillons, meaning Butterfly Ballet, features three lovely butterflies rotating underneath clouds and indicating the minute hand, while a sparrow and her wings indicates the hours.
“It’s quite technical because it means that each butterfly must rotate at different speeds than the others,” said Gonnet-Pon. “I believe among our pieces, this is one of the most technical movements. There’s so many things I want customers to know about Van Cleef & Arpels.
“Firstly, the Van Cleef & Arpels approach to watchmaking is very unique and different and conveys emotion to pieces — which is very rare. And that our stories are meant to be an escape — a dream — a fairytale.”
Visit the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique at the ground floor of The Emporium Shopping Complex. Call 02-664-8080. See the timepieces in motion on Instagram @vancleefarpels.