Time by Van Cleef & Arpels - Geneva - Until 27-6-2025

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Van Cleef & Arpels
31 rue du Rhône
1204, Geneva
Switzerland


Time by Van Cleef & Arpels

Until 27th June 2025

The Maison presents “Time by Van Cleef & Arpels”, highlighting creations and archives from its Patrimonial collection, displayed in store at Geneva. These pieces illustrate Van Cleef & Arpels’ affinity for timepieces, whether they are worn on the wrist, dangling on a chain or hidden within a Minaudière™.

From Ludo™ or shutter watches, emblematic models launched in the 1930s, to the pieces made of gold threads in the 1950s, the Maison draws inspiration from the theme of couture to pay tribute to Paris, its home city. Through the Art Deco geometry of the Cadenas® watch or the revival of organic materials in the 1970s, these timepieces spark a dialogue between jewelry-making creativity and watchmaking expertise.

An emblematic Van Cleef & Arpels creation since 1933, the Minaudière™ is recognizable by its set of compartments. This 1934 piece, crafted entirely in polished and engraved yellow gold, is adorned with a radiantly decorated lid whose central motif is realized in Serti Mystérieux™ ruby.

Inspired by the universe of couture like the Zip necklace in the mid-20th century, the bracelet watch created around 1950 is made of mirror-polished yellow gold, platinum and diamonds.

Since 1910s, the Maison has been creating pendant watches, with cases that could be removed from the pendant. The 1970s saw a revival of this type of timepiece, and the Bark pocket watch is a perfect illustration of this decade's taste for brushed yellow gold long necklaces.

Imagined in 1934 and named after Louis Arpels' nickname, the Ludo bracelet celebrates the union between the world of couture and High Jewelry. The mesh of the Ludo watch is delicately woven in hexagon and « briquettes » motifs to heighten the effect of a supple ribbon. The metal is then studded with precious and hard stones, as on the Ludo Tourniquet wristwatch from 1937, displayed at the top of the page.

Faithful to the Maison's long tradition of secret watches, this 1946 creation conceals a dial that is revealed when the flaps are opened. This Ludo watch is at the origin of the contemporary Van Cleef & Arpels collection.

The Cadenas watch holds an important place among Van Cleef & Arpels creations. First introduced in 1935, its geometric shape illustrates the Maison's taste for the Modernist movement. Crafted in yellow gold at the beginning, the Cadenas watch saw numerous chromatic variations, from sapphires or rubies to wood. A symbol of luck, this material has become particularly popular over the decades, adorning precious accessories, jewelry and timepieces. The craze for wood gained momentum in the 1970s, and some of the Maison's emblematic creations were reinterpreted with this organic material. The Cadenas watch bracelet from 1972 reflects the aesthetic of this decade.

Visitors are invited to delve into the poetic universe of Van Cleef & Arpels, which over the decades has created timepieces faithful to its major sources of inspiration.

Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 6:30pm - Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm

Admission: Free

https://www.vancleefarpels.com/en/the-m ... eneva.html