In a realm where dreams meet craftsmanship, Van Cleef & Arpels’ (Instagram) artisans weave a spell of wonderment. With a stroke of artistic brilliance, the Lady Féerie or Rose Watch is re-imagined through a symphony of hues, delicate enamels and miniature paintings. Complementing this horological symphony, three Extraordinary Objects showcase the Maison’s ardour for mechanical artistry. As the watchmakers orchestrate time’s dance, Van Cleef & Arpels envelops them with a league of virtuosos, who, nurtured by time, passion, and tradition, lend their mastery to craft. These artisans channel their expertise into the Maison’s Poetry of Time, turning challenges into innovation.
Since the 1940s, Van Cleef & Arpels has woven tales of enchantment through its creations, casting the allure of fairies into its designs. Today, a new chapter unfolds, with the Lady Féerie watch enveloped in shades of pink. An enchanting addition to the Féerie collection, this Poetic Complications piece marries watchmaking artistry with age-old crafts, encased within a delicate 33mm frame. Amid a dreamy backdrop, a fairy weaves her magic through the passing hours, her wand aglow in the gentle twilight.
This ethereal muse graces an iridescent cloud of white mother-of-pearl, adorned in a gown adorned with diamonds, pink sapphires, and miniature paintings on gold. Delicately gradient wings, achieved through the interplay of translucent pink plique-à-jour enamel and opaque pink enamel, flutter at her back. These intricate techniques, woven with diamonds, create a mesmerizing interplay of light and luminescence. The fairy’s diamond-studded visage marks the minutes with a wave of her wand, while a mother-of-pearl halo, encircled by a soothing glow, heralds the passage of hours as the sun sets. The oscillating weight, a secret unveiled beneath the watch, unveils a night sky, embellished with a star-kissed full moon, framed by a sapphire glass adorned with cloud motifs, exuding a subtle shimmer. At the intersection of watchmaking, jewellery craft, and rare artistry, the Lady Féerie or Rose Watch takes centre stage. A symphony of self-winding mechanics, jumping hours, and retrograde minutes grace this 33mm timepiece. The meticulous design and assembly of this intricate movement demanded precision, ensuring a harmonious fusion with the delicate Lady case. A gracefully curved sapphire glass envelops the scene, allowing the three-dimensional fairy to breathe, while optimizing light entrance and enhancing the watch’s aesthetic.
The dial emerges as a canvas for the Van Cleef & Arpels Watchmaking Workshops in Geneva. Over an engraved mother-of-pearl backdrop, a kaleidoscope of four shades, ranging from pearly white to deep plum, dances, painting the evening sky with delicate hues and the Maison’s artisans undertook over ten iterations to perfect this seamless gradient. The plique-à-jour enamel, adorning the fairy’s wings, dons a unique pink hue, meticulously crafted by Van Cleef & Arpels’ enamel atelier to seamlessly harmonize with the dial’s palette.
The Lady Féerie or Rose watch embodies the fusion of imagination and mastery. Van Cleef & Arpels’ enchanting symphony draws the beholder into a realm where time is elevated to a work of art, a true testament to the infinite prowess and collective brilliance that define the Maison.
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