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Van Cleef & Arpels’ making of a fairy tale

Biggest surprise of last week’s SIHH was without a doubt Van Cleef & Arpels’ first Extraordinary Object: the breath taking Automate Fée Ondine. The robotised fairy tale is the fruit of long years’ work and an intense collaboration with automaton maker François Junod and the savoir-faire of the numerous craftsmen who have taken part in its creation.

Bringing together the jewellery and watchmaking traditions, this unique piece marks a new chapter for Van Cleef & Arpels, in keeping with precious objects such as carriage and table clocks. The highly complex mechanism – which animates various elements and on top of that also tells the time – gives pride of place to an ephemeral poetry: movement and lightness, the beauty of nature, the grace of a fairy waking from sleep and the nuances of precious stones and enamel.

 

Tags : Van Cleef & Arpels
Simone Simon

The author Simone Simon

Simone Simon is a writer, passionate art lover and more than anything else drawn to inspiring people and objects of genuine beauty. In that respect she sees her creative work as a celebration of all things visual. No wonder she started a career as a writer, editor and magazine specialist in the publishing industry. She travelled the world for many high end magazines. In October 2016 she joined our team as a senior editor. Her main focus is b-to-b magazine Edelmetaal but she also contributes to other client publications and 0024 Magazine.