The spirit of nature – an Exhibition by Van Cleef & Arpels

  |   16-03-2016

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French high jewellery Maison Van Cleef & Arpels partners with Design Days Dubai for the fifth consecutive year. For this edition, the Maison pays homage to the theme of nature. Renowned for its exceptional savoir-faire, the Maison presents The spirit of nature: a high jewellery exhibition that brings together beautiful creations, combining refinement and elegance.

 

Reinforcing the art of nature, the Maison uses exceptional stones in this creative selection of ultra-feminine jewellery and timepieces – whilst gracing a natural world which is fluid, constantly evolving, and perpetually renewed. The concept of nature flourishes in precious creations from the Pierres de Caractère – variations collection and the seven seas collection.

 

To highlight the Maison’s artistic style and rich patrimony, extraordinary stories are told through an array of heritage jewels, and a rare selection of pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels’ collection, curated by patrimony director, Catherine Cariou.

 

The heritage collection

Founded in 1906 by Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels on the Place Vendôme in Paris, Van Cleef & Arpels has a long and storied history as one of the world’s most celebrated Maison. Ripe with creations inspired by nature, the exhibition presents jewellery, watches, and precious accessories, as well as archive drawings and documents of the Place Vendôme high jewellery Maison.

 

The heritage collection gathers together vintage high jewellery and jewellery pieces created by Van Cleef & Arpels between the 1920s and the 1980s. Each of them has been the object of archive research to retrace their history and guarantee their authenticity.

 

Delphes necklace & detachable clip, yellow gold, coral & chalcedony 1975-1976.

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Heritage emerald & sapphires necklace with detachable clip/pendant, 1959. Inspired by the beauty of oriental flowers and graced with breathtaking sapphires.

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Pierres de Caractère – variations collection

The Maison’s celebration of nature’s gems in all its colours, shapes and forms. With the Pierres de Caractère – variations collection, the Maison graces the beauty of stones, to their enchanting hues and the emotions they evoke. The pieces stand out as much for their rare gems as they do for their dazzling colour combinations. Adopted by Van Cleef & Arpels in the 1960s and 1970s, these associations of materials today inspire daring harmonies. They represent new refinement in jewellery and virtuoso elegance; a harmony of boldness and excellence. The collection is also a tribute to the travels undertaken by the Arpels brothers in Asia and India between the 1950s and the 1970s: during this time they acquired exceptional coloured gems.

 

Cascade Mystérieuse necklace and detachable clips set in white gold with 27 pear-shaped sapphires from Madagascar for 63.83 carats, traditional mystery set emeralds and sapphires, baguette-cut emeralds, round and baguette-cut sapphires and diamonds.

Screen Shot 2016-03-16 at 10.41.31Seven seas collection

The theme of the sea and its related legends offers the Maison an infinite source of inspiration. Like a travel memoir, the seven seas collection brings together treasures and impressions, transposed into jewellery by the language of gems. In a cascade of blues, the distinctive sparkles of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean stand alongside those of the Caspian and Arabian Seas. The far reaches of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean have inspired streams of light, while dazzling associations of materials evoke the Red and Black Seas.

 

Off the African coast, the bracing swell of the Atlantic meets the warm currents of the Indian Ocean in a swirl of spray. The Courant Marin bracelet evokes water rippling around a 33.80 carat white opal, depicting a movement created where the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean currents meet. It’s made of white gold, diamonds, lapis lazuli and opal.

Screen Shot 2016-03-16 at 10.50.53The Caspian Sea radiates tones of intense, velvety blue: the lagoon blue of tourmaline encounters the intensity of lapis lazuli. The Asteroidea ring takes the shape of a starfish, in particular the “Asteroidea” starfish. It features a three-dimensional spiral created through very precise re-cutting of the lapis lazuli. It is made of white gold, diamonds, tourmaline, emerald and lapis lazuli.

Screen Shot 2016-03-16 at 10.51.06During the exhibition, people welcome to experience a mock-up workshop from 14th to 16th March. The mock-up is the first translation of the future jewel into three dimensions. The mock-up maker, working in close partnership with the designer and the workshops, studies the painting in gouache and then translates it into an object made of pewter and paste stones.

 

The creations showcased at the exhibition are accompanied by a unique product, created by a talented emerging designer who was carefully selected from all of the GCC through a competition in collaboration with Tashkeel and Design Days Dubai. Van Cleef & Arpels unveils the winner of the Middle East Emergent Designer Prize, in showcasing the final product which was created in the theme of Nature.

 

Alessandro Maffi, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Managing Director Middle East and India said: “The spirit of nature exhibition represents an unsurpassed craftsmanship, offering jewels and timepieces that tell stories and bring enchantment to life. Through this unique exhibition, guests can discover the imaginary world of Van Cleef & Arpels, always striving for excellence.”

 

Visit the exhibition from March 14 – 16, 2016. To experience the mock-up maker workshop contact: events.me@vancleefarpels.com and for more information visit: designdaysdubai.vancleefarpels.com