Van Cleef & Arpels’ couture culture
The secret of a successful marriage between high jewellery and high fashion according to Van Cleef & Arpels.
Like a pair of dancers in a graceful pas de deux, fashion and jewellery have been moving in lockstep since time immemorial. The kings and queens of France in the Renaissance era, for instance, were often swathed in layers of textile-inspired regalia.
The symbiotic relationship between the two has transcended time and has been well documented at Van Cleef & Arpels.
After cementing its status as the new force in jewellery with a boutique at Place Vendôme in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels swiftly dived into the world of couture that Paris was, and still is, known for. Masterpieces like the 1945 Noeud chain and the 1949 Lace bow clip were all infused with the elements of high fashion, reinterpreting the bows, lace and patterns of fabrics to stunning effects.
But perhaps nothing comes close to capturing the physicality of the design inspiration like the Ludo bracelet. Evoking a chunky belt—a coveted fashion accessory of the 1930s—the hybrid creation is defined by a jewel-encrusted centrepiece in place of the buckle as well as the briquette-shaped and articulated hexagonal meshes.
To express the fluidity of fabric and create the impression of a delicate weave, the briquette or hexagon motifs are carefully assembled and individually adjusted. This step is followed by the setting of radiant stones such as sapphires, rubies and diamonds, and several stages of hand-polishing that prompt the gold to reveal itself in all its brilliance.
