Lady Arpels Jour Nuit Oiseaux de Paradis

Poetic Complications

In 2006, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrated its centenary with an innovative watch, on which time flows by poetically, in harmony with the seasons. Each watch expresses a subtle creativity that provokes a sense of wonder. The technical mastery of its 24-hour movement is eclipsed by the spectacle of an eternal nature bursting with treasures.

Van Cleef & Arpels has enriched its collection with two new pieces that fully express the watchmaker’s art and perpetuate the constant renewal of nature. Depicting ladybirds and a bird of paradise, these creations accompany the emotions and moments of happiness bequeathed by the passage of time.

Savoir-faire

In white gold with a bezel set with round diamonds, this 38mm timepiece is fitted with a 24-hour movement that offers an illustration of the Maison’s watchmaking savoir-faire. A technical feat, this automatic movement revolves almost imperceptible in each 24-hour period. The two new models, their dials richly adorned by traditional craftsmen, depict ladybirds and a bird of paradise for each cycle of the sun and moon. In this animated world, time slips by peacefully.

The craftsmen’s virtuosity leads into enchanting lands, where champlevé and cloisonné enamel traces the contours of the landscapes. As the hours go by, a disk of cloisonné enamel reveals a diurnal, then nocturnal scene.

Lady Arpels Jour Nuit Oiseaux de Paradis

A bird of paradise sets its sparkling train of feathers down upon a bird of paradise flower. At nightfall, the flower disappears to make way for a diamond moon. The rhythms of the sun and moon punctuate the bird’s existence, in a world rich in poetry where stars shine. The disk of cloisonné enamel mirrors the 24-hour cycle, accompanying the passage of day and night.

Poetic Complications™

With the launch of its Poetic Complications collection in 2006, Van Cleef & Arpels introduced a rare quality to time: that of dreams. They are watches which combine technical prowess with artistic creation and a sense of wonder. The complications – those intricate mechanisms which enhance the watch movement – are not simply masterpieces of precision. They conform to stylistic codes that reflect the Maison’s sources of inspiration. The marvels of watchmaking technique – created in Swiss workshops – thus become precious moments of emotion. Whether offered as gifts or worn, each of these watches tells a unique story: the memory of an instant of happiness, inscribed in the Poetry of Time™.

Champlevé enamel

Before enameling, cavities are engraved in a thick gold base in the shape of the final motif. Moist powdered enamel is then placed inside these indentations to reproduce the colors of the design. The operation is repeated in a series of successive firings. After the last of them, polishing with fine sandpaper eliminates any excess enamel to produce a smooth, regular surface. These various stages give a brilliant shine to the finished design, which is enclosed within thin metal contours.

Cabochonné enamel

This variation of champlevé enameling consists in applying several layers of enamel to create a rounded surface. To achieve this effect, the enameler leaves the enamel layer untouched instead of polishing it. The outline of the motif alone is carefully cleaned. This decorative technique enables the dial to be embellished with raised details, creating a three-dimensional effect.