The New Spectacular Lady Féerie Watch from Van Cleef And Arpels
Renowned Parisian house Van Cleef & Arpels, known for the uniqueness of its jewelry and watch creations, has launched a new version of its Lady Féerie watch.
Inspired by the fantastic world of fairies, the watch is entirely in new shades of pink.
Lady Féerie Watch
Enriching the Féerie collection, this Poetic Complications piece brings together watchmaking savoir-faire and traditional craftsmanship in a 33mm case of delicate proportions.
"Whether painting a landscape, sculpting beloved characters, or bringing a charming scene to life: Van Cleef & Arpels craftsmen combine their expertise to inspire dreams and wonders," said representatives of the House after the launch.
They explained that the new shades in which the Lady Féerie watch has been redesigned were made possible by the different shades of enamel and miniature painting, and three Extraordinary Objects reflect the House's taste for mechanical arts, according to aeworld.com.
"To complement the work of the watchmakers, Van Cleef & Arpels surrounds them with talent, forged through transmission, passion, and time dedicated to their craft.
These masters put the nobility of their expertise at the service of the house's Poetry of Time, turning challenges into innovations. These exquisite compositions are a testament to Van Cleef & Arpels' infinite creativity and collective excellence," they added.
Since the 1940s, Van Cleef & Arpels has been celebrating the beauty of fairies with delightful creations.
History
Alfred Van Cleef, a Dutch diamond cutter, and Salomon Arpels, his father-in-law, established the French luxury jewelry business Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris in 1896.
Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Farah Pahlavi, Duchess of Wales Windsor, and Queen Nazli of Egypt have all donned their designs, which frequently include fairies, flowers, and animals.
Following the passing of his father-in-law Arpels in 1906, Alfred and his two in-law brothers, Charles and Julien, purchased a location for Van Cleef & Arpels at 22 Place Vendôme, where the company's first boutique store was established. Louis Arpels, the third Arpels sibling, started working there in 1913.
Renée (née Rachel) Puissant, the daughter of Alfred and Esther, took over the company's artistic direction in 1926. For the following 20 years, they collaborated closely with designer René Sim Lacaze.
It is important to note that Van Cleef & Arpels were the first French jewelers to establish stores in China and Japan.
The crown of Queen Nazli was a significant commission made to the jewelry business Van Cleef & Arpels in the 1930s.
Van Cleef & Arpels was requested to create Empress Farah Pahlavi's crown 36 years later for her approaching coronation in 1967.
Therefore, a crew was dispatched to Iran to choose the important stones for the crown. The 11-month labor of love paid off handsomely when the empress was presented with an emerald velvet crown encrusted with 1,469 diamonds, 105 pearls, 36 rubies, and 36 emeralds.
Van Cleef & Arpels was purchased by Compagnie Financière Richemont S.A. in 1999.
The Mystery Set: A Virtuoso Signature
The Mystery Set™ is one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic forms of savoir-faire and reflects the creative boldness and technical innovation that have driven the Maison since the beginning.
According to its web page, Van Cleef & Arpels patented this in 1933 this technique was a new way of setting precious stones that were designed to preserve their beauty.
“Its secret lies in its gold rails, into which stones – expressly and meticulously cut – are individually inserted, for the most part, rubies, but also sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds”, explain the House.
Once set, these jewels cover the surface of the jewelry, giving it a velvety texture.
Only a select few artisans can master the complex techniques needed to create a Mystery Set item.
The cutting of each stone might require up to eight hours of labor due to the complexity of the method. For instance, the jeweler and Mystery Set lapidary need an average of 300 hours to complete a clip.
Boutiques
Van Cleef & Arpels has 155 stores in cities such as Geneva, Zurich, Munich, London, Milan, Shanghai, and Paris which is also its flagship store in Place Vendôme.
The company operates stand-alone boutiques in Boston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Manhasset, Naples, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Bal Harbour, Chicago, Houston, McClean, King of Prussia, Short Hills, Aspen, Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa, and Miami alongside their flagship store in New York.
The brand also expanded in the United States, Australia, Oceania, the Middle East, South America, and Asia.
