Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté

Van Cleef & Arpels brings to life a graceful fairy as she gathers flowers in the early morning sun. Light passes through generous leaves in white gold, plique-à-jour enamel and diamonds, amidst a field of flowers aglow with dazzling colour. Set with yellow sapphires, their petals are rendered in three dimensions using façonné enamel. This entirely new technique was developed by Van Cleef & Arpels to create the illusion of an endless bed of flowers. Meticulously hand-sculpted in white gold, the fairy spreads her wings in shimmering pearly-white plique-à-jour enamel, their transparency revealed as though caught in the first rays of light. In the background, against a sky in three nuances of turquoise, the sun glows with the radiance of spessartite garnets, coloured sapphires and diamonds. Its rays are secured by a lifted setting: another innovative technique that gives the impression of stones suspended like dewdrops, with no visible attachment. The story continues on the back of the case, through an engraved decor that shows the fairy taking flight. Two years of development and 180 hours of work were required to create this dial, which is testimony to Van Cleef & Arpels’ ingenuity. A limited edition of seven pieces.