Simply Abu Dhabi XIII

1 5 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I S pirit and elegance: equally fascinating, equally difficult to define. The spirit of Van Cleef & Arpels is a subtle combination of values and styles, enriched over the years by refinement and a daring kind of elegance. For more than one hundred years, Van Cleef & Arpels has been creating exceptional pieces with remarkable know-how, in the name of love. Today, as always, Van Cleef & Arpels’ creations adorn celebrities and others, proving that one only needs to listen to one’s time to be part of it, and that one can live a century and still be in tune with today. An exquisite example of this timelessness is The Zip necklace. The humble zipper seems far removed from the realm of sophistication. Yet despite its humble origins, it has inspired one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most iconic pieces. The Zip necklace blends humour and refinement by re-appropriating an everyday object into a radically different context. This astonishing feat in jewellery-making can be credited to the Duchess of Windsor, who suggested the idea to the Maison circa 1938. Crafted in round and baguette-cut diamonds mounted in platinum, the necklace was not produced until 1951. An outstanding technical achievement, it soon achieved iconic status. The Zip Necklace remains a distinctive element in Van Cleef & Arpels’ collections today. The closure actually slides up and down, enabling it to be left partially open or even closed entirely to form a bracelet. This transformability gives it a playful yet functional character, which perfectly matches the spirit of the Maison. And in the tradition of the Maison’s affinity for the arts comes the Caresse d’Eole Fairy clip, inspired by WilliamShakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", a powerful evocation of an enchanted world. Beneath the branches of a magical forest, four separate romantic plots intertwine and – eventually – resolve themselves into happy endings. A celebration of love and nature, the play has defined our vision of fairyland ever since its first performance. The Caresee D’Eole Fairly clip presents a stunning example of these small, enchanted beings, depicted in a graceful pose with wings of extreme delicacy, studded with exquisite diamonds. Her foots rests daintily on a rock of deepest ruby, in the famous Van Cleef and Arpels Mystery Setting – the very picture of femininity. Further honouring its high jewellery history, the Maison pays homage to the great dance balls of the 20th century with a stunning collection: Bals de Légende. Organised around extravagant themes, the balls brought prestigious guests to exclusive locations in the name of high culture and joyful celebration. Van Cleef & Arpels was a faithful witness to these occasions, where its creations sparkled on a host of magnificent costumes. Today, the L’invitation earrings and necklace continue the story, sparkling and swooping in colourful lines of white, yellow and pink diamonds, mother of pearl, sapphires and demantoid garnets. "To be lucky, you have to believe in luck”. Those were the words of Jacques Arpels a century ago. And today, the Maison has gathered together a myriad of lucky symbols, in the Palais De La Chance collection. The collection includes exceptional coloured gems, carved hard stones and daring associations of materials, as showcased so brilliantly in the Trèfles Mystérieux necklace, a floral interpretation of a lucky symbol, the four-leaf clover. The clovers motifs are adorned with Mystery Set emeralds and four marquise diamond-cut that highlight the magical appearance of this creation. Nature captured in all its vitality, the poetry of dance, the magic of fairies – all have inspired astonishing pieces of jewellery that sublimely demonstrate the Maison’s technical mastery, legendary craftsmanship, and taste for innovation and transformations. VanCleef andArpels The Spirit of Creation