Tender kisses exchanged by two lovers on a Parisian bridge, the charming silhouette of a fairy pointing to the passage of time with the tip of her magic wand, a stunning stellar ballet performed against a starry sky, flowers swaying to the rhythm of a gentle breeze... Evoking emotion and wonder, Van Cleef & Arpels’ watch collections are infused with a poetic spirit. A creative breath, imbued with a joyful and romantic vision of life, unfolds through moving stories inspired by love, Poetic Astronomy, Enchanting Nature, ballerinas and fairies.
A Graceful Watchmaking Side Step
Van Cleef & Arpels naturally coined the term "Poetry of Time" to describe this narrative approach to the passage of time. “For me, the Poetry of Time is telling time by telling a story, and not only through the traditional means of watchmaking,” says Rainer Bernard, Head of Watchmaking Research and Development at Van Cleef & Arpels. This sensitive vision, akin to a graceful side step, has been flourishing since 2006 through the Poetic Complications creations. In this collection, few models feature traditional hour and minute hands. Instead, these are replaced by flowers that open and close on the dial of the Lady Arpels Heures Florales model. They become a magic wand gracefully wielded by a fairy on the Lady Féerie watch. They appear as two butterflies fluttering over a blossoming garden on the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été watch, or as a shooting star overseeing the planetary orbits on the Lady Arpels Planétarium. “At first glance, a magnificent scene unfolds,” says Rainer Bernard. “Then, a second look reveals the beauty of passing time.”
Heritage as the Wellspring of Creativity
To explore Van Cleef & Arpels’ sources of inspiration, one must turn back time and revisit the last century. Love, first and foremost, lies at the heart of the Maison’s story. The High Jewelry and Watchmaking House, founded in 1906, was born from the union of Alfred Van Cleef and Esther (known as Estelle) Arpels, who were married in 1895. The very first piece listed in the Maison’s 1906 sales records was a heart set with diamonds. This enduring symbol continues to inspire Van Cleef & Arpels in its Poetic Complications collection, particularly with the Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux and Lady Arpels Bal des Amoureux Automate watches.
Poetic Astronomy also draws on the Maison’s heritage, notably through the Zodiaque medals and the Météore wristwatch created in the 1950s. This stellar inspiration has brought to life the celestial dance of the solar system on the Midnight Planétarium watch since 2014, and its feminine counterpart, the Lady Arpels Planétarium, revealed in 2018. Enchanting Nature unveils a captivating bestiary and herbarium: delicate flowers and foliage, marvelous birds, graceful butterflies and playful ladybugs illustrate the vitality of nature in both the Maison’s historic jewelry and its Poetic Complications watches. Not to mention the fairies and ballerinas, whose first appearances date back to the early 1940s. Alongside other beloved Van Cleef & Arpels motifs, these graceful figures continue to inspire the Poetic Complications collection, inviting us into enchanting tales, each chapter told with refined charm.
