Celebrity Life

Van Cleef & Arpels is and always has been unapologetically romantic – an approach that seeps even into the oft-bravado world of high watchmaking. We rediscover the house’s enduring dance with complications and poetry through its new Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales timepieces

The drapes part and ballerinas enter to fluid arabesques, grand jetés and elegant pirouettes, dancing to the music of Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stranvinsky and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, then the drapes close. Such is the enchanting 20-second sequence you can play whenever and wherever you fancy, and it sits right on your wrist. Just like many of Van Cleef & Arpels’ timepieces, the Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales is not meant merely to be worn but, rather, experienced and inevitably connect with.

[caption id="attachment_212784" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Rubis[/caption]

The Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales is Van Cleef & Arpels’ newest addition to its suite of Poetic Complications, which is inspired by one of the Arpels’ other loves: ballet. Louis Arpels was known to often walk to the Opéra Garner, a short distance from his Place Vendôme boutique, to see a ballet with his nephew Claude. Such was their love for the artform that in the early 1940s, by which time the family had moved to New York, Van Cleef & Arpels created its first ballerina clips, which today is one of the house’s most distinguishable designs.

Inspiration

This affinity with ballet only profoundly deepened as Claude met choreographer and co-founder of the New York City Ballet, George Balanchine, with whom he shared a passion not only for ballet but also for gems. This led to Balanchine producing a ballet called “Jewels”, which made its debut in 1967 in New York, with each of its three acts linked to a particular gemstone and composer – Emeralds set to the music of Fauré, Rubies to Stravinsky, and Diamonds for Tchaikovsky.

[caption id="attachment_212785" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Diamant[/caption]

More than 50 years later, Van Cleef & Arpels revisits this ballet with magnificent timepieces that connoisseurs will find well worth perusing and, among those with a predilection for the finer things in life, owning. Each piece alludes to the three movements of Jewels: Lady Arpels Ballerine Musicale Émeraude with its green tones, Rubis in red, and finally Diamant comes in a combination of white, blue and golden hues. And on the upper crown of each creation, the stone it’s referenced to.

Just as in all its other creations, Van Cleef & Arpels always starts with the idea of a story it hopes to tell, from which the team endeavours to find the means to bring this tale to life. For this, it was a collaborative effort between expert watchmakers, musicians, enamellers, engravers and jewellers, whose fresh perspectives brought the idea to fruition.

Sight to behold

Aesthetically, the pieces are striking. At once you’re drawn to its baroque stylings. Upon closer inspection, you admire it for its beautiful intricacies, and from arm’s length, its imposing heft. These timepieces have been conceived as three-dimensional tableaux of an actual theatre stage, hence the multitude of details infused into them. For instance, the upper-dial, fully paved with diamonds, represents a grandiose chandelier and curtains, while the rotating disc features sculpted, engraved and hand-painted draperies revealing five ballerinas in miniature paintings, dancing to the music. And then there’s the combination of various crafts whose impeccable execution results in quite an enchanting scene. The beauty of it all is that the animation is on-demand.

[caption id="attachment_212786" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] An artisan handprints the ballerinas unto the dial[/caption]

To give birth to these timepieces, Van Cleef & Arpels worked with several watchmakers and craftsmen from different disciplines, including lapidaries, stone-setters, miniature painters and engravers. For the sound, they collaborated with concert musician, Michel Tirabosco, who brilliantly adapted and simplified the three composers’ music to just two instruments: the carillon and the music box, chosen to produce good quality sound – a real musicality, if you will, and a perfect pitch for the melodies.

Achieving musicality

Having these two instruments work together posed a tremendous challenge as they had to be carefully tuned, according to one of the experts involved in the project. An important consideration was that these musical pieces had to be complementary, producing a unique sound – and, indeed, the carillon provides sustained and rather low tones, while the music box plays the short and high tones.

[caption id="attachment_212787" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] The case demonstrates the house' high-jewellery setting techniques but was also designed so that the sound comes out beautifully[/caption]

It was also important that they were able to create a specific watch architecture that integrated high-jewellery setting techniques in such a way that the sound comes out beautifully, while also protecting the mechanism. The case of the watch was constructed such that the melody offered by the carillon and music box is amplified, transmitting it through a diamond-paved surface. To heighten the listening experience, each watch comes with a birchwood and walnut marquetry case that was developed alongside luthiers and acoustics experts and enriched with an electronic amplifier.

No stone left unturned

The technical complexity of these watches cannot be overstated: the project required seven years of research and development to resolve the issues surrounding a manual-winding mechanical movement and the on demand animation alone. And yes, the piece does tell the time, a function which – though fundamental to any watch – almost feels like a secondary requirement for this fascinating piece. In fact, it tells the time magnificently, through a retrograde function at the top of the dial, indicated by a star – in homage to the Paris Opera’s danseuses étoiles – demonstrating the passage of time on a graduated 12-hour scale.

[caption id="attachment_212788" align="aligncenter" width="1707"] Engraved bas-relief illustration at the back of the watch[/caption]

Turn the timepieces over and the storytelling continues with an engraved bas-relief illustration that portrays a ballerina dancing in front of the Van Cleef & Arpels’ Fifth Avenue boutique where Claude hosted Balanchine in 1966 for a private viewing of the maison’s creations. And there, Van Cleef & Arpels manages to demonstrate its prowess in jewellery and watchmaking, all while narrating a special love story between its founders and the world of ballet.

And as I immerse myself deeper into the world of this profoundly beautiful brand, I’m increasingly made aware that it exists in a field separate from those of other legacy houses. Van Cleef & Arpels embraces innovation without stripping its pieces of the romance and wonderment that only traditional savoir-faire and good old storytelling can bring. The maison manages to meld hopelessly romantic and sentimental tales into their pieces – unapologetically – but that never come across as contrived. And with its creations, there’s always a sense of novelty – and unpredictability – that can bring even the most cynical consumers to their knees. Now isn’t that truly precious?

The post The Poetry Behind the New Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales Timepieces appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Christmas is really upon us now and if you're still out and about searching for the perfect gift for your significant other, why not consider a watch? The premium destination for pre-owned watches that you can trust, Watchfinder & Co. is where you'll be able to find highly desirable pieces that aren't readily available at retail or discontinued on the current market.

The platform is vast, with hundreds of timepieces to choose from, but not to worry! Antoine Berardi, the head of Watchfinder & Co. for Hong Kong and Macau, comes to the rescue with five timepieces you can consider for your last minute Christmas splurges.

For more Christmas gift ideas, head over to our Christmas Edit, where we've put together a special series of stories and gift guides to help with all your holiday planning.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300

The newest and highly sought after reference of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, the earliest iteration of which dates back to 1931. This model, part of the recently released 2020 collection, nods to Rolex’s playful dial colours from the 1970’s. The red dial colour sets itself apart from the rest of the Rolex offering, cased in steel and with the in house luminous blue hour markers, its sure to make you stand out from the crowd.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

Breguet Tradition Tourbillon 7047BR/G9/9ZU

The open worked nature of this Breguet is something to be marvelled at, with the dial reduced in size to show the full extent of the calibre. It also, as the name suggests, honours the tradition of watchmaking by including a Tourbillon, which was patented by the eponymous watchmaker in 1801. This addition counteracts the effect of gravity on the movement and aids the accuracy of time keeping, and is incredibly difficult to manufacture. This contemporary styled iteration shouts to the hills that the wearer is not here to play.

Breguet Tradition 7047BR/G9/9ZU Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

Rolex Pearlmaster 80319

Often an underrated and lesser-known series by the seemingly eternal company that is Rolex. This, now discontinued, Pearlmaster fields the midpoint between luxury and pragmatism. The present model is cased in white gold and has a bracelet unique to its series, a diamond bezel and dial, and carries the same movement present across the Rolex Submariner collection of the same period. This piece dates to the early 2000’s and comes with a two year warranty and a certificate of authenticity from Watchfinder.

Rolex Pearlmaster 80319 Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

IWC Portuguese Chronograph IW371417

One of the pieces at the core of IWC, the Portuguese chronograph is one of the most understated and versatile pieces available to the modern go-getter, even with a stopwatch function it slips easily under the cuff. The silver dial with thermally blued hands and Arabic numerals make the dial extremely legible at a glance, whilst keeping its elegant demeanour intact.

IWC Portuguese Chrono IW371417 Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM00508

Initially developed as a waterproof watch for timing dives for the Italian Navy, the Florentine company Panerai has gone on to be one of the most materially explorative and inventive watch brands around. This limited edition in particular, is cased in a black ceramic and has cream luminous hands and hour markers, along with luminous plots along the rotating bezel.

Panerai Luminor Submersible PAM00508 Watch | Watchfinder & Co.

Every single one of Watchfinder’s watches are meticulously inspected, authenticated and prepared by a team of expert watchmakers in Europe’s largest independent service centre - accredited by 19 of the world’s leading watch manufacturers. Every watch also comes with a 24-month Watchfinder warranty.

The post Last Minute Christmas Splurge at Watchfinder & Co. appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means trying to shop for the loved ones in your life. As a watch enthusiast, there are countless options for unique and exquisite luxury timepieces. We are making the job of shopping for a watch collector easier with the Best Watches for the Holidays special. A […]

The post Top Timepieces To Gift For The Holiday Season appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

The Bugatti brand exemplifies the idea of pushing the limits of luxury, performance, and design, which is the same mantra that Jacob & Co. follows when creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted timepieces. The well-grown partnership resulted in various collaboration pieces with inspiration deriving from the same hypercars that roll off the Bugatti production line, like the iconic […]

The post Jacob & Co. Unveils Four New Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon Watches appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

As watch collectors and enthusiasts, we are often told stories behind the inspiration of our favorite timepieces, but until now we have never been shown the schematics. Zenith lets the process of constructing the limited-edition Pilot Type 20 Blueprint speaks for itself, as the dial is designed directly from traditional aviation blueprints for the watch […]

The post The Blueprint Inspired Limited-Edition Zenith Pilot Type 20 Watch appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

The luxury timepiece industry is known for collaboration projects that launch models into a class of future collector examples. Some partnerships come together to help a great cause as well. H. Moser & Cie. is proud to join the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by creating two limited-edition watches. The Pioneer Centre Seconds and […]

The post H. Moser & Cie. Supports The Fight Against ALS With Two Limited Edition Pioneer Watches appeared first on duPont REGISTRY Daily.

Big-name fashion houses making their foray into watchmaking is nothing new. Countless brands have done it. Many merely create affordable fashion watches with third-party run-of-the-mill parts and designs. Others, keen on building their own legacy in design and complications, will go the extra mile and acquire their own facilities and manufactures. There's a third way in which fashion brands can still remain authentic and that is through finding the right watchmaker to partner with.

That's the route Armani Group is taking today as it announced its latest collaboration with Parmigiani Fleurier for the creation of the Giorgio Armani Fine Watches collection. This marks the first collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Parmigiani Fleurier, who are both masters in their own crafts. The collection will be on sale from November 2021 and promises to be sophisticated timepieces, crafted entirely by hand as per Parmigiani Fleurier's exacting standards, and offered in numbered editions.

Parmigiani Fleurier was founded in 1996 by Michel Parmigiani, who is a master watchmaker and restorer and well-respected in the industry. His watches are of the utmost quality; the movements are all crafted in-house, and the watches finished to the highest standards.

“The collaboration with Parmigiani Fleurier happened naturally. We share a passion for perfection and the pursuit of beauty as an expression of timeless values. This series of watches is the synthesis of my vision, made up of precise lines and exquisite materials, applied to unique products. I think that an object that expresses aesthetic excellence, quality and craftsmanship is meant to last forever. In Parmigiani Fleurier, I’ve found the perfect partner to experiment with a new language”, remarks Giorgio Armani.

“We are honoured and delighted to collaborate with the Armani Group. Michel Parmigiani's future-oriented vision for preserving the excellence of watchmaking is enhanced by this venture with one of the most brilliant companies in the world. Giorgio Armani's idea of style is unique and iconic. We’re honoured that our artisans will be able to express this vision through a product with the quality and finishes that we are known for,” commented Davide Traxler, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier.

The post Parmigiani Fleurier to Make Giorgio Armani Fine Watches appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Big-name fashion houses making their foray into watchmaking is nothing new. Countless brands have done it. Many merely create affordable fashion watches with third-party run-of-the-mill parts and designs. Others, keen on building their own legacy in design and complications, will go the extra mile and acquire their own facilities and manufactures. There's a third way in which fashion brands can still remain authentic and that is through finding the right watchmaker to partner with.

That's the route Armani Group is taking today as it announced its latest collaboration with Parmigiani Fleurier for the creation of the Giorgio Armani Fine Watches collection. This marks the first collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Parmigiani Fleurier, who are both masters in their own crafts. The collection will be on sale from November 2021 and promises to be sophisticated timepieces, crafted entirely by hand as per Parmigiani Fleurier's exacting standards, and offered in numbered editions.

Parmigiani Fleurier was founded in 1996 by Michel Parmigiani, who is a master watchmaker and restorer and well-respected in the industry. His watches are of the utmost quality; the movements are all crafted in-house, and the watches finished to the highest standards.

“The collaboration with Parmigiani Fleurier happened naturally. We share a passion for perfection and the pursuit of beauty as an expression of timeless values. This series of watches is the synthesis of my vision, made up of precise lines and exquisite materials, applied to unique products. I think that an object that expresses aesthetic excellence, quality and craftsmanship is meant to last forever. In Parmigiani Fleurier, I’ve found the perfect partner to experiment with a new language”, remarks Giorgio Armani.

“We are honoured and delighted to collaborate with the Armani Group. Michel Parmigiani's future-oriented vision for preserving the excellence of watchmaking is enhanced by this venture with one of the most brilliant companies in the world. Giorgio Armani's idea of style is unique and iconic. We’re honoured that our artisans will be able to express this vision through a product with the quality and finishes that we are known for,” commented Davide Traxler, CEO of Parmigiani Fleurier.

The post Parmigiani Fleurier to Make Giorgio Armani Fine Watches appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.