Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Zodiac Collection
Van Cleef & Arpels expands its Lady Arpels range by introducing the new Zodiac Collection.
Perpetuating the tradition of the lucky jewellery created by the Maison in its early years, Van Cleef & Arpels devoted a collection to the signs of the Zodiac in the 1950s. Worn as precious talismans, these medallions of yellow gold were extremely popular right through to the 1980s. The theme was revisited more recently in the Palais de la chance collection, with twelve unique pieces of High Jewellery.
In 2014, Van Cleef & Arpels is renewing the tradition with an exceptional set of twelve limited edition watches that depict the signs of the Western Zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.
In the Lady Arpels Zodiac watches, various craft skills combine to evoke the different signs and instill the dials with life and sparkle. A specific engraving corresponds to each element – Earth, Water, Air and Fire – and adorns the background.
The latter is then covered with a layer of translucent colored enamel – green, dark blue, light blue or red – to produce subtle plays of light. The appliques, which create different levels of depth within each dial, also require painstaking work.
Motifs in sculpted gold, engraved and set with stones – notably a rose-cut diamond for the faces of the figurines and an opal for the scorpion – are joined by elements in sculpted mother-of-pearl that evoke leaves, waves, clouds or flames.
These already dazzling compositions are further enhanced by a wealth of additional details: touches of opaque enamel, hard stone marquetry or stars set with yellow or white diamonds. The depicted constellation is also engraved on the back of the case, as a poetic reminder against the skin.
Technical details
Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Zodiac Collection
(1) Lady Arpels Zodiac Virgo Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: white gold, diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-ofpearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark green alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(2) Lady Arpels Zodiac Taurus Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White gold, diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of pearl, lapis lazuli
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark green alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(3) Lady Arpels Zodiac Capricorn Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White and yellow gold, white and yellow diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark green alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(4) Lady Arpels Zodiac Pisces Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White and yellow gold, white and yellow diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark blue alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(5) Lady Arpels Zodiac Scorpio Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White gold, diamonds, opale, translucent enamel, mother of-pearl, turquoise
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark blue alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(6) Lady Arpels Zodiac Cancer Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White and pink gold, diamonds, pink sapphires, translucent enamel, mother-ofpearl, onyx
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark blue alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(7) Lady Arpels Zodiac Aquarius Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White gold, diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-ofpearl, lapis lazuli
Manual-winding mechanical movement
White alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(8) Lady Arpels Zodiac Gemini Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White gold, diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
White alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(9) Lady Arpels Zodiac Libra Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: White and yellow gold, white and yellow diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-ofpearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
White alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(10) Lady Arpels Zodiac Aries Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: Yellow and white gold, yellow and white diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of-pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark red alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(11) Lady Arpels Zodiac Leo Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: yellow and white gold, yellow and white diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of-pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark red alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
(12) Lady Arpels Zodiac Sagittarius Watch, Extraordinary Dial
White gold case, 38mm diameter, bezel set with round diamonds, crown set with a round diamond
Dial: Yellow and white gold, yellow and white diamonds, translucent enamel, mother-of-pearl
Manual-winding mechanical movement
Dark red alligator bracelet, pin buckle set with round diamonds
Limited edition of 22 pieces
