Revisiting its archives, Van Cleef & Arpels can always draw inspiration for elegant contemporary jewellery such as Bouton d'Or, launched in 2016.
Luminous pink and white gold redesigns as well as a pastille timepiece have been released this year, to continue the range boasting a subdued design echoing the Paillette motif that first appeared in 1939.
After the end of World War II, yellow gold became popular again as a precious metal used in jewellery-making. It was finely crafted into glittering pastilles that looked like sequins when draping Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets or double necklaces. In addition, the sunny pastilles adorned tutus on the brand's emblematic ballerina clips.
Today, the French maison's craftsmanship ensures the hand-shaping and -polishing of the gold pieces to obtain the rounded pastilles, meticulously assembled into the Bouton d'Or jewellery.
The new collection has been fashioned in an overtone of pink and white gold, whose luminous effect is enhanced by sparkling diamonds at the centre of the pastilles. Their alternating colours and closed settings create a delicate succession of shades, shimmering in the light and setting off an interplay of subtle reflections.
Concave or convex, the Paillette motif provides fluidity and relief to the new jewellery, which includes necklace, ring, bracelet, earrings and pendant.
Incorporating the motif's rounded aesthetics into a 21st-century watch, Van Cleef & Arpels combines gleaming yellow gold with the brilliance of diamonds in the bracelet, made up of three rows of concave or convex elements with a round precious stone nestling at the centre, resulting in a mesmerising interplay of volume and reflections.
Fully set with diamonds, the Bouton d'Or watch's concave dial accentuates this effect of sparkling surfaces.
Several dozen elements are assembled together and superimposed at the centre to give the bracelet its suppleness and flexibility in hugging the contours of the wrist.
Yellow gold 20mm Bouton d'Or watch with diamond-set dial and bracelet.
New pink and white gold Bouton d'Or necklace, bracelet and earrings feature the Paillette motif's fluid and rounded lines.
New pink and white gold Bouton d'Or necklace, bracelet and earrings feature the Paillette motif's fluid and rounded lines.
