Cover Coquillage Mystérieux clip from Van Cleef & Arpels’s Treasure Island high jewellery collection
Coquillage Mystérieux clip from Van Cleef & Arpels’s Treasure Island high jewellery collection
1 / 1
From transformable creations to exquisite Mystery Set gems, here are five standout pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels’s Treasure Island high jewellery collection
As true experts of high jewellery, Van Cleef & Arpels has time again moved us with its exquisite creations across its various collections that span inspirations from nature to couture and more. The French maison’s latest high jewellery collection is no exception. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure, Treasure Island, Van Cleef & Arpels has embarked on a creative voyage where precious stones, masterful craftsmanship, and storytelling converge to ignite the childlike wonder in us all.
From traversing the perils of the ocean to encountering legendary pirates and sunken treasures, each piece in the collection tells an exciting tale of adventure. Here are our top five picks from the Treasure Island high jewellery collection.
In case you missed it: Van Cleef & Arpels’ Treasure Island: A high jewellery voyage awaits
1. Onde Mystérieuse box with interchangeable clips
An interchangeable clip set with diamonds, blue tourmalines and sapphires hides a secret on the Onde Mystérieuse box
1 / 2
A true collector’s piece, the Onde Mystérieuse box is as much a jewel in itself as the treasures it was created to hold. This work of art is an example of Van Cleef & Arpels’s technical prowess; employing the skills of the maison’s jewellers, watchmakers, enamel craftsmen and lapidaries. Its blue quartz base has mesmerising inclusions that evoke the depth of the ocean—the perfect canvas for the shoal of sculpted white and rose gold fish swimming across the sea of paillonné enamel on the lid. Hammered white gold surfaces also allow for light to bounce off gently like it dapples on the water.
Two interchangeable clips, one featuring Mystery Set sapphires and diamonds, and the other set with diamonds, blue tourmalines and sapphires, are shaped with shell- or coral-like curves, and can be attached to the lid of the box, adding an element of transformability. The pièce de résistance? A hidden diamond-paved watch dial beneath the clips—an elegant secret waiting to be discovered.
2. Coquillage Mystérieux clip
Coquillage Mystérieux clip in white, rose, and yellow gold set with rubies, emerald, white cultured pearl, pink and white diamonds
1 / 2
The beloved playfulness and whimsical nature of Van Cleef & Arpels shine through in this Coquillage Mystérieux clip, which takes the form of an exquisite seashell. On its dazzling front side, rich Mystery Set buff-topped rubies are interspersed with diamonds and yellow gold accents that mimic the organic lines of a seashell. Turn the jewel over and a secret is revealed—a sculpted white gold fairy is hiding in the heart of the shell, perched on a white cultured pearl nestled in a hammered yellow gold coral reef, and gently cradling an emerald. Exquisite from every angle, this piece is undoubtedly one of the most memorable from the Treasure Island collection, captivating with its ability to surprise and delight.
3. En Haute Mer transformable necklace and ring
En Haute Mer transformable necklace in yellow and white gold set with a 55.34-carat emerald cut sapphire that can be detached, and diamonds
1 / 2
At the heart of this showstopping En Haute Mer transformable necklace lies a spectacular 55.34-carat emerald-cut sapphire—deep blue and full of oceanic mystery. The necklace, crafted in yellow and white gold, features a braided motif reminiscent of maritime ropes, a nod to the Treasure Island voyage as well as Van Cleef & Arpels’s creative and technical history, as the maison was well known for its braided yellow gold craftsmanship from the 1940s onwards. The sapphire can be detached and worn as a matching solitaire ring, ensuring that this treasure of the high seas can accompany its wearer in multiple ways.
4. Pirate John clip
Pirate John clip in white, yellow, and rose gold set with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds
1 / 2
One of the main characters in the Treasure Island book, Pirate John, comes to life at the hands of Van Cleef & Arpels in a dynamic jewel. Along with Pirate David and Pirate Jim, the two other mischievous buccaneers in the collection, this dynamic clip captures the adventurous spirit of Stevenson’s tale in white and yellow gold, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. Pirate John’s sleeves appear to be softly billowing in the wind as he takes a valiant step forward, with every fold and flourish executed in extraordinary detail. Whether pinned to a lapel or displayed as an objet d’art, this clip is a charming tribute to adventure.
5. Poissons Mystérieux clip
Poissons Mystérieux clip in white gold, Vitrail Mystery Set with coloured sapphires, and set with sapphires, diamonds
1 / 2
Depicting an underwater ballet of gemstone-encrusted fish, the Poissons Mystérieux clip is a mesmerising showcase of Van Cleef & Arpels’s legendary Vitrail Mystery Set technique. The openwork craftsmanship of this technique allows lots of light to pass through the stones, creating an effect of fluidity and movement—a testament to the maison’s mastery of illusion and light. Blue and violet sapphires shimmer like shifting ocean currents in the sunlight, while diamond-set white gold fish glide through this aquatic tableau.
Credits
Images: Van Cleef & Arpels
Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
