VAN CLEEF & ARPELS WATCHES
Van Cleef & Arpels is a Paris based jewellery house co-founded by Dutch diamond-cutter Alfred Van Cleef and Salomon Arpels in 1906. This partnership was after the marriage between Alfred and Salomon’s sister Estelle Arpels. World renowned for its exquisite jewellery creations and luxury watches, the brand has several stand-alone boutiques in the world’s major cities. In 1999, Richemont group acquired Van Cleef & Arpels.
History of Van Cleef & Arpels Watches
Van Cleef & Arpels’ watchmaking history dates back to 1916 when the Maison introduced Touch Wood collection of jewellery and timepieces. In 1918, the iconic Châtelaine watches were launched.
In 1923, Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled their first secret watch. In 1935, the Cadenas® watch collection was launched. In 1953, Pierre Arpels introduced a men’s watch with a round case.
In 1998, the Maison created the Galilée mysterious clock. In 2006, the Complications Poétiques® collection was launched. The debut model was the Lady Arpels Centenaire. In 2008, the Charms watch collection was released.
In 2010, the Pont des Amoureux watch from the Complications Poétiques collection won the Ladies’ Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. In 2013, the Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée won the Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
In 2014 Van Cleef & Arpels launched the Midnight Planétarium watch made in partnership with Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Timepieces.
In 2017, the GPHG Ladies’ High-Mech Watch Prize was awarded to the Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Papillon Automate model.
In 2018, the brand won the GPHG Ladies’ Complication Watch Prize for its Lady Arpels Planétarium, and the GPHG Jewellery Watch Prize for the Secret de Coccinelle timepiece.
In 2020, the GPHG Artistic Crafts watch prize was awarded to the Lady Arpels Soleil Féerique model.
In 2021, the Lady Féerie timepiece won the GPHG ladies complication watch prize.
In 2024, the Maison won three prizes at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: the Lady Jour Nuit (Ladies’ Watch), the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été (Ladies’ Complication), and the Lady Arpels Jour Enchanté (Artistic Crafts).
