Style, Jewellery & Watch, Magazine, Issue 129

Poetry of Time Under the Parisian Sky

Two extraordinary masterpieces bring watchmaking into an otherworldly realm.

Text by Magnifissance Magazine
Photos Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels unveils a new chapter in its horological journey with a theme that captures the romance and wonder of its Parisian roots: Poetry of Time Under the Parisian Sky. This lyrical concept sets the tone for the Maison’s latest creations—artful expressions of time inspired by the magic of the City of Light.

Van-Cleef-Arpels-6 — The Naissance de l’Amour automaton features Cupid in a composition that embodies the tenderness of emotions. Crafted in white, rose, and yellow gold with diamonds, it emerges from a feathered basket adorned with a delicate gradient achieved with lacquer.

The collection unfolds in three chapters, including the Extraordinary Objects—which showcase two exceptional creations: Naissance de l’Amour and the Planétarium. These extraordinary pieces choreograph a celestial ballet of the planets, expanding the Maison’s Poetic Astronomy universe while seamlessly blending the artistry of horology with the boundless wonders of the cosmos.

The first of the two, Naissance de l’Amour, is a heartfelt automaton that celebrates the love and mythology at the heart of Paris’s romantic essence. Created in collaboration with François Junod’s studio, this intricate masterpiece features a delicate Cupid figurine, crafted from white, rose, and yellow gold, emerging from a feathered basket adorned with lacquered gradients. As a melodic carillon plays, the cherub flutters its wings—meticulously crafted using the plique-à-jour enamel technique—before gently returning to its sanctuary. A rose gold Greek column supports the display, with pink sapphires, diamonds, and sculpted clouds conjuring a dreamlike landscape, all set upon a richly textured base of carved iron eye stone and petrified palmwood.

Van-Cleef-Arpels-5 — Figurative reproductions of the heavens are a long-standing tradition. The term “planetarium” came into being in ancient times, referring to models representing the Sun, the Moon, and the planets closest to Earth.

The second of the Extraordinary Objects is the Planétarium automaton. Standing nearly 20 inches tall, this extraordinary tabletop piece offers a breathtaking representation of the solar system, with the Sun, Moon, and planets visible from Earth—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—each crafted from vibrant, colourful jewels. A complex mechanical movement orchestrates the orbits of each celestial body around the sun in real time, creating a precisely choreographed planetary ballet. The animation begins with a rose gold and ruby shooting star that marks the passage of time across a 24-hour dial, while the delicate chime of 15 bells fills the air with crystalline sound. In this mesmerizing union of time, space, and art, the wonders of the universe unfold, waiting to be discovered.