Cover Get resort-ready with the French maison's new line of jewellery (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
Get resort-ready with the French maison's new line of jewellery (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
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These whimsical yet elegant designs will liven up any jewellery collection
The hot season of summer evokes cheerful vibes and vibrant colours, all of which are seen in Van Cleef & Arpels’ Lucky Summer collection of jewellery. This new line features six distinctive designs that each presents a playful, youthful side of the jeweller less often seen amongst the many breathtaking jewellery creations it has produced over the years.
It’s not difficult for one to tell the inspiration behind these creations—they are perhaps more-literal but still-poetic interpretations of motifs from nature and things that recall the sea and beach. Together, they paint a picture of a magical seaside vacation, making up a collection of beautiful pieces that stand out with their whimsical forms and vivid hues.
Not many will know that seaside landscapes became a favourite source of inspiration for the maison since its beginnings. Shortly after Van Cleef & Arpels was founded, seaside resorts exploded in popularity, and the jeweller opened boutiques in Dinard, Deauville, Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo—this likely led to its creation of designs that featured beachside motifs and scenes.
Above Resplendent in blue: The Lucky Summer Wave necklace, bracelet and earrings (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
Resplendent in blue: The Lucky Summer Wave necklace, bracelet and earrings (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
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For part of this new collection, Van Cleef & Arpels took direct inspiration from the sea. The undulating shape of waves seems to create movement in this three-piece set composed of the Lucky Summer Wave necklace, bracelet and earrings. The colours of turquoise, lapis lazuli, chalcedony and mother-of-pearl form a striking palette of white and different shades of blue, accentuated with the sparkle of diamonds and gold settings that feature beaded details.
The necklace is an extremely supple piece that drapes elegantly over the neck, hugging the skin for a close fit. This is made possible via the use of joints that connect each wave motif to the next beside it. This eye-catching piece is finished with a box clasp, typically used in the maison’s high jewellery creations to ensure the continuity of motifs when the necklace is worn.
Above A playful take on seaside motifs, these clips can be worn in more than one way (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
A playful take on seaside motifs, these clips can be worn in more than one way (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)
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The other three pieces—a series of precious clips in the shapes of a sailboat, seashell and starfish—from the collection are bound to delight the girl at heart. Their whimsical shapes may belie the level of work that has gone into their creation. For example, the marquetry on the Seashell clip required meticulous craftwork because of the curved shape and thinness of the mother-of-pearl fragments used on it.
The gold beaded motif that outlines these clips is also produced via an intricate process—after being formed using the traditional technique of lost-wax casting, the golden beads are reworked by hand before being put through a final polish.
Even if you may not actually be going on a resort vacation, these marine-themed jewellery pieces are sure to add a fun and classy accent to any outfit.
