It has been almost a century following the debut of Van Cleef & Arpels' secret wristwatch in 1923.
The expertise in disguising dials is illustrated by the new Pompon long necklaces and Ludo Secret watches that pay tribute to the world of couture.
The Paris-based jewellery house first created long pearl necklaces, some adorned with twirling tassels, in the 1920s when fluid, slender dresses were all the rage.
A cabochon rotates to unveil the dial of the Ludo Secret watch.
Five decades later, the fashion for "cocktail" pieces worn at receptions included long necklaces embellished with brightly coloured precious and hard stones.
The fluid lines and colour combinations of the 1920s and 1970s jewellery inspire the Pompon long necklaces, equipped with ingenious mechanisms to conceal a watch.
Assembling the hexagonal links of the Ludo Secret watch in Mystery Set sapphires.
Standing out with a cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphire, the Pompon Margaret long necklace watch is made up of white cultured pearls, jewellery motifs and a fluid tassel. Hidden beneath the central motif, a secret dial is displayed by pressing one of the diamonds.
The tassel and secret watch can be removed to vary the length of the necklace, which can be further shortened by removing strands of pearls. The latter can be transformed into two bracelets, while the secret watch can be attached to a third bracelet.
Likewise, the Pompon Leila long necklaces are transformable, with the tassel housing the watch, among strands of pearls and coloured stones.
Pompon Margaret long necklace watch can be transformed into bracelets.
Pompon Margaret long necklace watch can be transformed into bracelets.
The Pompon Gaia long necklaces also feature a playful tassel. On the top, a motif slides to show the mother-of-pearl dial.
The new Ludo Secret watches also appeal with hidden dials. Three of them are reinterpretations of the 1930s Ludo bracelet, designed to evoke a belt, which was then a sought-after accessory.
Bearing the nickname of co-founder Louis Arpels, the Ludo bracelet originally designed with briquette motifs was launched in 1934. In the following year, Van Cleef & Arpels introduced a version made up of small articulated hexagons.
After the bracelets, the designs were adapted into rings, lapel clips and watches.
The new Ludo Secret watches are embellished with different precious and hard stones while its rose motif can be transformed into a clip or a pendant, worn with a long chain. In addition, the symmetrical motif can be replaced by a hexagonal mesh buckle set with precious stones.
Pompon Leila transformable long necklace watch with the dial concealed inside the tassel.
Pompon Gaia transformable long necklace with the top of the tassel housing the watch.
Depicted by gems of different sizes, the petals surround a hard stone cabochon, haloed with diamonds. The cabochon rotates to unveil the dial in white mother-of-pearl, also surrounded by diamonds.
The couture-inspired bracelet evokes the fluidity of fabric. Their hexagonal motifs were meticulously hand-assembled and adjusted for the best possible articulation, to create the impression of a delicate weave.
One of the maison's emblematic techniques, the Mystery Set was used in crafting the motifs of two other new models, inspired by the Ludo Hexagone Macarons secret watch from 1941.
Pompon Leila long necklace watch with the dial concealed in the tassel.
Pompon Gaia long necklace with the top of the tassel housing the watch.
Loops frame the slightly convex motif in Mystery Set rubies or sapphires, for the rose or white gold model.
The precious stones are inserted onto gold rails, with this demanding task executed by master jewellers, known as the Mains d'Or, who can perfectly cover the entire surface with the gemstones while imparting a velvety sheen.
Playing the hide and seek time-telling game is pretty easy as the watch is concealed beneath the motif of precious stones.
