Van Cleef & Arpels Watches & Wonders 2013

MTF · 2013-09-29T21:24:48Z

Explore Van Cleef & Arpels at Watches & Wonders 2013. Discover the Zipper necklace, Four Petal motif, and unique poetic watchmaking.

MTF

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

8 replies2624 views19 photos

MTF provides a 'Quick Post' from Watches & Wonders 2013 in Hong Kong, focusing on the exquisite creations of Van Cleef & Arpels. The post highlights the brand's unique blend of high jewelry and poetic watchmaking, featuring iconic pieces like the Zipper necklace and the Four Petal motif, alongside insights from L'ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels.

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Dear friends,

This past week, I have been making live 'Hot Posts' from Watches & Wonders 2013 show in Hong Kong.

Piaget Hot Post #2

piaget.watchprosite.com

Cartier Hot Post #1

cartier.watchprosite.com

As this is an iPad photo post after the event, it has to be called a Quick Post rather than 'hot'. The wonders from Van Cleef & Arpels are not diminished by the name change!

The famous VCA Zipper necklace

Iconic VCA Four Petal motif

Zipper necklace actually works like a zipper

Partly disassembled Zipper

Transformers.......

Bracelet appears

Back to the Zipper necklace reassembly

VCA kindly hosted readers of The Watch magazine and PuristSPro to a private tour and training session with a jewellery professor.

'Professor' Inezita Gay from L'ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris.

For VIP clients, the school has 14 or more modules about Art Appreciation, Design and Jewellery Craft. Assuming a couple of modules per trip, VIP students can expect 7 vacations of fun in Paris.

Ms Gay is one of a number of professors specialised in art history, jewellery, design, etc.

Filing grooves in wax

Top is the master's wax block.

Left is a reader's wax effort.

The eventual objective is to carve wax into the required jewelery design to make the moulds (lost wax method) used for casting the gold jewelery.

Components of the fairy, hands and dial for a VCA biretrograde display watch.

The ever endearing Lovers Kiss on the Bridge and Night Under the Stars

Tourbillon, mother of pearl, stone lapidary and diamonds

Many thanks for the special tour for readers of The Watch magazine and PuristSPro.

Key Points from the Discussion

Van Cleef & Arpels timepieces, while not always featuring highly complex movements, are admired for their innovative case and dial designs, and poetic concepts like the 'lucky hour indicator' and 'writing time in poetry.'
Contrary to some assumptions, Van Cleef & Arpels utilizes proprietary mechanical movements for its more complicated and poetic watches, such as the 'Lovers' Kiss on the Bridge' and Ballerina models, distinguishing them from simpler pieces that might use modified stock movements.
The brand's jewelry, like the famous Zipper necklace, demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship and transformative design, functioning as both a necklace and a bracelet, showcasing VCA's innovative approach to high jewelry.
L'ECOLE Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris offers educational sessions with jewelry professors, providing VIP clients and enthusiasts a deeper understanding of the brand's artistry and heritage.
Van Cleef & Arpels is positioned alongside other prominent luxury brands like Cartier, Chopard, and Piaget in terms of its standing in the high jewelry and watchmaking categories.

The Discussion

ling5hk

Sep 30, 2013

Melvyn, VC&A is a strong contender among the jewellery watch brands.

They could rank the same category with Cartier, Chopard and Piaget. Thanks for the post. Regards Ling

MTF

Sep 30, 2013

Nice to see you at Watches & Wonders 2013

Ling, It was a pleasant surprise to see you in Hong Kong. Regards, MTF

foversta

Sep 30, 2013

I know very well the professor!

I was one of her students! ;) Thanks for the report! Fx

MTF

Oct 9, 2013

I've been asked to enrol on some courses

FrX, Thanks for the report of your classroom and professors. Now, I am scared to visit Paris in case I have to go to school......I heard it can be expensive! :-) MTF

jrwong23 (aka watchthebin)

Sep 30, 2013

Thanks MTF for the report!

I didn't think I would appreciate VCA that much but my guest from HK who attended W&W with me has a girlfriend who works for VCA and she was at the VCA booth. I thought it would be a great chance to visit and learn more about the brand. In the end.... I actually like VCA's timepieces! Nothing too special on movement of course but the case, the dial design, the clever innovations that touch the heart (like the lucky hour indicator, writing time in poetry concepts, etc) all impressed me! I wil

MTF

Sep 30, 2013

Actually; Van Cleef & Arpels watch movements are complicated

jrwong23, Actually, the VCA mechanical movements are special. The movements used for the 'Lovers' Kiss on the Bridge' (their most poetic watch) and the Ballerina are proprietary. Even the simple Van Cleef & Arpels watches have Piaget movements inside. Regards, MTF

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