SIHH: Introducing Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Jour des Fleurs
Once again, Van Cleef & Arpels finds inspiration in weather with the new Lady Jour des Fleurs launched last month at SIHH. On it’s 100th anniversary in 2006, the French Maison created the wondrous Poetic Complications collection which included an innovative watch that allowed time to flow in harmony with the seasons. A decade later, the watchmaker’s technical prowess and creative research lead it to fabricate several pieces: The Lady Jour des Fleurs and Lady Nuit des Papillons watches, Midnight Nuit Lumineuse, Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons, and Lady Arpels Jour Nuit Fée Ondine timepieces.
With this new piece, The Lady Jour des Fleurs, a smaller case size of 33mm takes the place of the usual 38mm. Another first, the movement is equipped with an hour minute display, with a 12-hour rotating disk module, invented solely for Van Cleef & Arpels.
When one first lays eyes on the dial of this sparkling timepiece, it’s like being transported to a glittering world of nature, with diamonds, yellow and pink sapphires, tsavorite and spessartite garnets, and spinels all contributing to the dazzling portrait of a watch face.
Through the pierced over-dial, an ever-changing scene (evoking the cycle of the seasons) is created when the rotating disk beneath makes two full turns each day, depicting the scintillating foliage in bright hues of green, yellow, orange and purple. The bezel is also set with diamonds, while one pink sapphire adorns the crown.
The white gold caseback reveals engravings with motifs taken from the watch dial. Having a 40-hour power reserve, the Lady Jour des Fleurs is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement.
Available on a lustrous wine-red alligator bracelet, the Lady Jour des Fleurs can also be accompanied by a matching jeweled bracelet, showcasing the brand’s dedication to the art of High Jewellery making. On the bracelet, the theme of the dial continues in diamonds and colored stones, where multicolour leaves flutter in the breeze. With a uniquely designed system of articulation, the scene on the gold bracelet retains its shape and regularity even as it curves around the wrist. Part of Van Cleef & Arpels’ permanent collection, the watch comes in a numbered edition. Price upon request.
Photo Credit: Haute Time. For more information, please visit the official Van Cleef & Arpels website. Follow Haute Time on Instagram to catch all of the new releases as they happen.