Van Cleef & Arpels presents “The Poetry of Time”
The legendary Van Cleef & Arpels Maison marks this December with the anticipated launch of The Poetry of Time, a visual anthology of the famed French jeweler’s history as a purveyor of haute timepieces and craftsmanship in fine watch-making.
This collector’s hardcover chronicles Van Cleef & Arpels’ storied evolution from the unique inspired watches of its earliest days creating jewels that tell time, to its emerging classics that now cover categories spanning from enameled tourbillons to poetic complications to high jewelry watches and beyond.
The theme of unions is ever-present in Van Cleef & Arpels collections, as the House itself was borne of love and the marriage of Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef in 1896. This proves to be especially true in the blending of storytelling and creativity so well-known in the Van Cleef & Arpesl jewelry designs with supreme precision and technicality of its watches. The Poetry of Time illustrates the company’s journey full circle to a legitimate creator of pieces that not only tell time, but stories as well.
Van Cleef & Arpels draws upon contributions from world renowned experts in the specific and highly technological field of horology in The Poetry of Time including president of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie Franco Cologni and philosopher Michael Serres. The focus is an incredible photo collection of watches – from the vintage classics to the innovatively fresh – and the inspiration and technical methodology behind the creation of each timeless piece.
Source: Van Cleef & Arpels
www.vancleef-arpels.com
Van Cleef & Arpels Gorgeous Purple w/ diamonds
With a heavenly sent wedding between Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef in 1896, Van Cleef & Arpels began as most fairy tales’ ends.
(Van Cleef & Arpels “Lady Arpels Féerie”, Pièce Unique. A very fine 18k white gold diamond-set (D-E-F) lady’s wristwatch with a purple guilloché dial. The delicate white gold and diamonds fairy indicates the time thanks to an hour and minute retrograde mechanical movement. Sold: 70,000 EUR)
Estelle was the daughter of a precious stone wholesaler and the sister of expert gemologists, while Alfred was the son of a diamond merchant from Amsterdam.
In 1906, Alfred Van Cleef and his brother-in-law, Charles, register the name «Van Cleef & Arpels», and the shop settles into 22 Place Vendôme Paris.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ contemporary watch creations are the finest expression of a successful union of exceptional watch making and high fashion jewellery. Audaciously innovative and stylish, Van Cleef & Arpels watches feature classic forms enhanced with rare and original new features. By reinterpreting its own great classics, applying the jeweller’s art to watch cases and dials, and creating complications that surprise and delight, Van Cleef & Arpels confirms its talent as a master jeweller in the world of fine watches.
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