Cover Eurema rubis clip. Rose gold, yellow gold, one oval-cut ruby of 2.14 carats (Mozambique), diamonds; Trésor de la plage corail earrings. Yellow gold, coral, diamonds; Trésor graphique ring. Yellow gold, blue and mauve sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds. (Photo: Van Cleef & Arpels)

The maison’s new high jewellery collection draws inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel ‘Treasure Island’, the true origin story of pirates and treasure hunters

Treasure Island is where it all began. The first spark that ignited the public’s fascination with pirates and adventure, with the quest for troves of buried treasure in far-off, exotic lands. Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel is responsible for the proliferation of pirates in popular culture, and what a debt we owe for that. From manga to blockbuster franchises and now, Van Cleef & Arpels’ exquisite new high jewellery collection—nothing quite captures the imagination like the romance and adventure of treasure. 

Now read: Editor’s Picks: 5 jewellery masterpieces from Van Cleef & Arpels’ Treasure Island

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Photo 1 of 10 Palmettes Mystérieuses earrings with detachable pendants. Rose gold, Traditional Mystery Set emeralds, emeralds, diamonds; Palmier Mystérieux transformable clip. Rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, Traditional Mystery Set emeralds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds; Bouline d'émeraude ring. White gold, yellow gold, one round emerald of 6.12 carats (Colombia), diamonds; Rosée d'émeraude Between The Finger ring. White gold, one pear-shaped EVVS1 diamond of 3.26 carats, one pear-shaped emerald of 3.18 carats (Colombia), emerald, diamonds.
Photo 2 of 10 Noeuds marins necklace with interchangeable pendants.White gold, one emerald-cut emerald of 31.99 carats (Colombia), emeralds, turquoise, diamonds; Hispaniola clip. White gold, rose gold, diamonds; Itague de tourmaline ring. White gold, one cushion-cut blue tourmaline of 6.77 carats, sapphires, diamonds.
Photo 3 of 10 Tortue de Cocos or clip. Yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, diamonds; Voguer en mer transformable long necklace.Yellow gold, white gold, turquoise, white cultured pearls, diamonds; Ame du navire ring. Yellow gold, white gold, one oval-cut indicolite of 12.34 carats, diamonds.
Photo 4 of 10 Coquilles merveilleuses earrings. Rose gold, four round rubellites for 21.03 carats, diamonds; Ancre de Santiago transformable long necklace. White gold, yellow gold, one cushion-cut rubellite of 11.96 carats, chrysoprase, amethysts, diamonds; Eclat de Catherine ring. White gold, rose gold, one cushion-cut pink tourmaline of 36.28 carats, diamonds; Mousqueton de grenats earrings. Yellow gold, two cushion-cut spessartite garnets of 15.11 and 13.46 carats, diamonds; Carte au trésor clip. Yellow gold, rose gold, ruby, diamonds; Dorestad ring. Yellow gold, white gold, one emerald-cut yellow sapphire of 13.87 carats (Sri Lanka), pink sapphires, spessartite garnets, diamonds; Trésor graphique ring. Yellow gold, white gold, diamonds
Photo 5 of 10 Récif corallien necklace. White gold, rose gold, one oval-cut ruby of 5.33 carats (Thailand), rubies, diamonds; Coquillage Mystérieux clip. White gold, rose gold, yellow gold, buff-topped Traditional Mystery Set rubies, rubies, emerald, white cultured pearl, pink and white diamonds; Coquilles Mystérieuses bracelet. White gold, rose gold, buff-topped Traditional Mystery Set rubies, rubies, diamonds; Charme de Rajasthan ring. Yellow gold, white gold, one emerald-cut EVVS1 Type 2A diamond of 11.31 carats, rubies
Photo 6 of 10 Pirate Jim clip. White gold, yellow gold, rose gold, rubies, black lacquer, diamonds; Harmonies persanes transformable long necklace. Yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, turquoise, white cultured pearls, diamonds; Joyau de Lagos ring. Yellow gold, white gold, sapphires, diamonds.
Photo 7 of 10 Gouvernails earrings whit detachable pendants. White gold, yellow gold, two oval-cut sapphires of 5.33 and 5.52 carats (Sri Lanka), two fancy-cut emeralds of 2.55 and 2.09 carats (Zambia), emeralds, sapphires, diamonds; Ecume Mystérieuse necklace. White gold, rose gold, Traditional Mystery Set sapphires, sapphires, diamonds; Traversée Mystérieuse bracelet. Rose gold, Traditional Mystery Set sapphires, sapphires, diamonds; Regard vers le ciel ring. Yellow gold, one round sapphire of 7.04 carats (Sri Lanka), diamonds
Photo 8 of 10 Lumières d'Udaipur earrings with detachable pendants. White gold, yellow gold, two emerald-cut Fancy Vivid Orangy Yellow diamond of 4.52 and 4.52 carats, diamonds; Cap Comorin transformable long necklace. Yellow gold, 57 emerald beads for 356.94 carats, rubies, white cultured pearls, diamonds; Joyau de Lagos ring. Yellow gold, white gold, rubies, diamonds.
Photo 9 of 10 En haute mer transformable necklace and ring. Yellow gold, white gold, one emerald-cut sapphire of 55.34 carats (Sri Lanka), diamonds; Couronne précieuse ring. White gold, yellow gold, one cushion-cut sapphire of 16.99 carats (Madagascar), emeralds, rubies, diamonds; Coffre précieux ring. Yellow gold, white gold, one cushion-cut sapphire of 14.32 carats (Burma), emeralds, rubies, diamonds; Ondulations marines earrings. Yellow gold, one pear-shaped mauve sapphire of 5.00 carats (Madagascar), one pear-shaped pink sapphire of 4.55 carats (Madagascar), mauve and pink sapphires, diamonds; Poissons Mystérieux clip. White gold, Vitrail Mystery Set blue and mauve sapphires, blue sapphires, diamonds; Balancine de diamant ring. White gold, yellow gold, one round EVVS2 diamond of 5.06 carats, diamonds; Trésor floral ring. Yellow gold, white gold, mauve sapphires, sapphires.
Photo 10 of 10 Smollett clip.Yellow gold, rose gold, three cushion-cut pink spinels for 4.46 carats, pink spinels, diamonds

Van Cleef & Arpels have long drawn inspiration from the rich world of literature, each collection a deep and immersive journey into stories and far-off lands. With the ‘Treasure Island’ collection of high jewellery, the maison’s designers and craftsmen have taken the source material and spun it into three incredible chapters that explore the characters, creations and landscapes depicted in the novel. 

Tatler Asia
Above Bouline d'émeraude ring. White gold, yellow gold, one round emerald of 6.12 carats (Colombia), diamonds
Tatler Asia
Above Traversée Mystérieuse bracelet. Rose gold, Traditional Mystery Set sapphires, sapphires, diamonds

Chapter One takes us across the seas. In these pieces, you’ll find the blues and greens of the ocean waters reflected in beautiful stones, and incredible, intricate work inspired by sailor’s knots and the texture of rope. Here too are charming, jaunty pirates, billowing ship’s sails cast in diamonds, and clusters of intricately wrought coral. 

Tatler Asia
Above Coquillage Mystérieux clip. White gold, rose gold, yellow gold, buff-topped Traditional Mystery Set rubies, rubies, emerald, white cultured pearl, pink and white diamonds
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Above Palmier Mystérieux transformable clip. Rose gold, yellow gold, white gold, Traditional Mystery Set emeralds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds

In Chapter Two, we land on the island and are immediately immersed in an exuberant display of nature’s largesse. Van Cleef & Arpels are known for their exquisite work in rendering flowers and creatures in precious metals and stones, and Treasure Island is no exception—seashells, trees and butterflies abound. 

Tatler Asia
Above Dorestad ring. Yellow gold, white gold, emerald-cut yellow sapphire, pink sapphires, spessartite garnets, diamonds
Tatler Asia
Above Carte au trésor clip. Yellow gold, rose gold, ruby, diamonds

Finally in Chapter Three, the hunt for the treasure begins. This is where the maison’s savoir faire really shines, in their exceptional recreations and interpretations of textures and techniques from all across the globe. And of course, there is the iconic treasure map itself, interpreted by the maison’s designers and craftsmen into an inscribed scroll of gold. 

Van Cleef & Arpels’ ‘Treasure Island’ high jewellery collection invites us to embark on a thrilling voyage, bringing to life Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved tale of adventure through the exquisite artistry of high jewellery. Even the most enduring tales can find new life and forms—here through the medium of exquisite stones and the masterful crafstmanship of high jewellery.

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Credits

Photography: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels
Emma Chong
Managing Editor, Tatler Malaysia
Tatler Asia

Emma Chong is the Managing Editor of Tatler Malaysia, overseeing the editorial direction and vision for the print, digital and social media arms of the title. She has over 15 years experience in fashion and lifestyle publishing, and has led print and digital editorial teams at ELLE Malaysia, Time Out Kuala Lumpur, The Luxe Nomad and more. 

Outside of work, Emma spends her time wrangling children (only her own) and boosting the Malaysian economy through her support of local fashion and homeware brands.