PETAL PROFUSION
Van Cleef & Arpels’ femininely floral Frivole collection is updated with eight new charming creations, writes Kiran Pillay.
Van Cleef & Arpels updates its Frivole collection with eight new creations
Celebrating nature’s wondrous beauty and its deep symbolism of rebirth and new beginnings, Van Cleef & Arpels’ new Frivole collection couldn’t have come at a better time. This evergreen range is now enriched with eight exquisite new pieces, including two secret watches, transformable treasures and the collection’s first heirlooms crafted from rose gold with pink sapphire accents.
FANCIFUL FLORALS
Imparting much-needed colour, warmth and vibrancy to our lives is the Frivole 7-Flower Bracelet. Shimmering in mirror-polished yellow gold, the bangle enlivens the wearer’s wrist with three-dimensional charm. The petals of these simple yet graphic corollas bloom as though to greet the warmth of the sun’s rays. The metal gleams in the light, magnifying the splendour of heart-shaped petals. Moreover, the flowers of varying sizes evoke the vitality of nature, while the heart of every artful blossom dazzles with one or three diamonds.
Echoing the appealing aesthetic of the bracelet is the new Frivole Secrète Watch. Golden yellow, sun-drenched flowers come together for the very first time in this stereoscopic masterpiece, concealing a dial bedecked with pavé diamonds beneath an ornate arrangement of blooms.
The second Frivole Secrète Watch makes for a cool contrast as its delicately pivoting corollas are crafted from luminous white gold. Just as it is now a time of metamorphosis, this breathtaking braceletwatch too exemplifies change and adaptability. With its diamond pavé dial discreetly hidden, the airy bouquet may be transformed into a pendant and styled as a necklace or mounted on a jewellery structure to be worn as a clip.
With its next piece, the Parisian maison adds a touch of cheeky flair with the Frivole Between the Finger Ring. This unique design – also available in yellow gold – sees three finely polished white gold blossoms conversing with a single diamond pavé flower. A reflection of Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic style, the asymmetry of the open band channels a dynamic spirit that brings to mind the vigour of nature in bloom.
Subsequently, the Frivole 5-Flower Bracelet, set in white gold with diamonds, is a piece that truly enhances the collection. It may be paired with the Frivole 9-Flower Necklace to form a matching set. The varying sizes of delicate floral motifs are an arresting sight to behold.
Another treasure embodying the spirit of transformation is the robustly sized Frivole Clip Pendant. This large-format pendant, set in white gold, may be worn on a white gold chain, styled as a brooch or clipped on as a hair adornment. Featuring pavé diamonds on every heart-shaped petal and three diamonds in the centre, the eye-catching stunner was made to turn heads.
Last but certainly not least, the maison presents a new Frivole Pendant and Matching Earring Set in rose gold and pink sapphires, a first for the collection. Petite and effortlessly feminine in its tender shades, the pink gemstones at the core of the dainty fleurs are illuminated by diamond-set petals. Celebrating the vibrant hues of nature, the fresh design elevates the maison’s floral universe to enchanting new heights.
ROOTED IN EXCELLENCE
To highlight the form of some of these creations, Van Cleef & Arpels employs the maison’s mirror-polishing technique. This method of handpolishing results in intense reflections as it accentuates the glimmer of gold. In addition, the maison employs the use of openwork goldsmithing to enhance the brilliance of pieces. With this method, the jeweller pierces the gold structure to allow light to filter through precious stones.
The maison also devotes careful attention to stone selection. Expert gemologists have chosen diamonds that meet the strictest standards: D to F for colour, and IF to VVS for clarity. For instance, the pink sapphires crowning the new Frivole creations are remarkably intense in colour, lending brightness and vitality to the pieces.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ connection to nature is as much a part of the maison’s identity as its masterful techniques and savoir faire. Since 1906, the maison has drawn inspiration from the beauty of the plant world through changing eras and artistic movements. The Frivole collection has remained faithful to that creative tradition, once again bringing light, hope and joy to fans and collectors.
“Van Cleef & Arpels’ connection to nature is as much a part of the maison’s identity as its masterful techniques and savoir faire.”