“Life is too important to be taken seriously”, said Oscar Wilde once. This exact philosophy pervades the stories of Van Cleef & Arpels which truly enchant me.
Between 12 and 20 October Van Cleef & Arpels opened her book of verses in the Grand Atrium of Dubai Mall and invited the playful to join a magical fairy tale. The exhibition was entitled The Poetry of Time after the recent series of the mechanical and aesthetical masterpieces of VCA.
The four corners of the installation brought us to different chapters of the story. Starting with the Lady Arpels Féérie watch presented in 2007, the diamond fairy shows the time with her wand and wings while holding a baby girl in the cradle. Years passed, the baby grew up and discovered Paris, the City of Love on the Une Journée à Paris watch. We are witness to the young lady’s first rendezvous and kiss over the Saine as the two lovers come closer with every minute passing on the Pont des Amoureux watch.
The tale of lovers continued this year on the Lady Arpels Poetic Wish and the Midnight Poetic Wish timepieces. On the Lady Arpels Poetic Wish the girl stands on the Eiffel Tower looking out to the distance and making a wish. Responding to her lonely heart the boy sends his message with a star from the top of the Notre-Dame, nearing the Eiffel Tower minute by minute on the Midnight Poetic Wish watch. The two Poetic Wish creations come in a precious wood cabinet with a mother-of-pearl inlay – forever uniting the two lovers.
A very interesting piece from the show was the 2012 Pierre Arpels watch, which pays tribute to his legendary thin, elegantly simple masterpiece from 1949. Presented on SIHH 2012, the new interpretation of the Pierre Arpels watch adheres to the traditional lines, but draws them in a contemporary style.
The House also revealed pieces of its rich heritage as a few creations from the 1920s were shown from private collections. For those sharing my accelerating heart-beat at the sight of these almost 100 year-old wonders, why not hop by the L’Art de la Haute Joalliere exhibition in Paris? See you there!
Photo credits: Van Cleef & Arpels, Loupiosity.com.
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