METAMORPHOSES OF THE plant world — a story of a plant’s life told through the different stages in its biological process — are usually only obvious through time-lapse videos, which allow us to observe the unfurling of leaves, the budding of slender stems and the magnificent opening of flower petals. At Van Cleef & Arpels, these delicate botanical nuances come together to provide inspiration for the most charming of floral collections. Within this universe, Van Cleef & Arpels transforms the faintest traces of life in the plant world into a new language of expression through jewellery. And how one wears them becomes part of the story.
The founders of Van Cleef & Arpels have long recognised the symbiosis between gems and the natural world since the beginning, and its floral, animal and fairy creations have always caught the attention of members of royalty, like the Duchess of Windsor and Princess Grace of Monaco, as well as icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Eva Perón. Today, the nature and art world references continue to endure at the now 124-year-old maison with its constantly evolving collections and innovative craftsmanship.
“Even though the flowers are interpreted with a modern vision [today], the maison remains faithful to its DNA and creative line.
Flowers remain feminine, tender and imbued with poetry — [one that] evokes the movements of nature,” says Nicolas Bos, the chief executive officer of Van Cleef & Arpels in an interview with T Singapore.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine.
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This story is from the December 2020 edition of T Singapore: The New York Times Style Magazine.
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