Cover Hugues de Pins, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels, South East Asia and Oceania (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
Hugues de Pins, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels, South East Asia and Oceania (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
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Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels provides jewellery enthusiasts the opportunity to intimately experience exquisite pieces, including some from private collections
A project four years in the making, Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels is a uniquely immersive experience designed for jewellery enthusiasts, nestled within the luxurious confines of the Raffles Hotel Singapore. This serene sanctuary invites visitors to delve into some of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most iconic collections, including Alhambra and Perlée creations. Beyond its elegant boutique façade lies a mesmerising exhibition space concealed behind a hidden doorway. Stepping into “The Secret Garden,” visitors are treated to an exclusive peek into the maison’s haute joaillerie heritage collection, archival documents, and rare acquisitions from private collectors.
“We aimed to create a distinctive space where we could welcome not only our loyal clients but also the broader public from Singapore and around the world to the national monument that is Raffles Hotel Singapore, to explore our creations in a setting different from the traditional boutique experience,” explains Hugues de Pins, managing director of Van Cleef & Arpels, Southeast Asia and Oceania. “This is not really a boutique but a place for enlightenment and enchantment. This space is truly unique and will remain the only one of its kind in the world for Van Cleef & Arpels.”
Above Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels boutique
Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels boutique
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The inaugural exhibition, “Precious Nature by Van Cleef & Arpels,” showcases 15 extraordinary treasures that epitomise the maison’s deep reverence for nature as an everlasting wellspring of inspiration. “Since our inception in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels has been capturing the beauty of nature, from imaginary gardens to dazzling seascapes. There has always been a consistent effort to recreate this beauty in a poetic way—that is, not to reproduce with exact detail, but to offer stylishly elegant interpretations. This is the positive vision of life we like to express with our creations,” says de Pins.
Among the highlights of this exhibition, running until June 16, 2024, is the maison’s debut Mystery Set floral masterpiece, the Daisy Clip, crafted in 1964 with Mystery Set rubies. Also showcased is a series of precious objects adorned with daisy motifs, such as a powder case and matching lighter, alongside meticulously carved wood and gold accessories with a fine finish. “The precious wood featured in some of the displayed creations is letterwood, a material the maison has utilised since the 1930s,” de Pins mentions. Also known as snakewood, it stands as one of the densest and hardest wood species globally, requiring exceptional skill from craftsmen to manipulate the reddish-brown material.
Above Sylvestre set bracelet, 1997. Yellow gold, wood, Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Above Daisy powder case, 1948. Platinum, yellow gold, diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
Sylvestre set bracelet, 1997. Yellow gold, wood, Van Cleef & Arpels Collection
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“The choice of wood here is rooted in the tradition of touching wood for luck. We’ve dubbed this collection the ‘Touch Wood’ collection because wearing jewellery crafted from wood ensures constant physical contact, believed to bring good fortune to the wearer,” de Pins explains. He regards the fusion of wood and gold as timeless, regretfully noting that precious wood creations are no longer produced by the maison.
See also: How Van Cleef & Arpels’ Mystery Set technique has evolved since 1933
The “Precious Nature” exhibit also places significant emphasis on the craftsmanship behind the maison’s Mystery Set technique, where precious stones or diamonds are set on rails, allowing them to seamlessly interlock, creating a radiant surface devoid of visible prongs. “It’s exceptionally rare to encounter such an extensive display of Mystery Set pieces in one location,” de Pins affirms.
Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels serves as a gesture of appreciation from the high jewellery maison to the Singaporean community, renowned for their passion for luxury jewellery and watches. “I find it incredibly inspiring for anyone visiting this exhibition to witness how a local Singaporean collector can curate such a remarkable collection in less than a generation,” de Pins remarks, referring to exceptional loans from private collectors on display.
Above Louvre clip. Platinum, 18K rose gold, 18K white gold, Traditional Mystery Set rubies, diamonds
Louvre clip. Platinum, 18K rose gold, 18K white gold, Traditional Mystery Set rubies, diamonds
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“Some of these local high jewellery collectors have been clients of ours for generations. Providing these clients with a space to gather and discover pieces otherwise unseen elsewhere in the world was important to us. Collecting exquisite creations for personal enjoyment and investment is rewarding, but sharing your collection to inspire new generations of collectors is even more gratifying,” says de Pins.
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Asked about his plans for the region, de Pins is resolute about creating inclusive experiences for clients, acknowledging that many important moments deserve a jewellery celebration. “My vision extends beyond establishing new or expanded spaces; it encompasses refining how we cater to our clients, from product selection to the presentation of gifts.”
Credits
Images: Van Cleef & Arpels
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