Together, this platinum and diamond bracelet and the two double clips from 1938 illustrate the importance of white jewellery in the late 1930s. This emblematic aesthetic reflects the influence of couture on the Maison’s creations, expressing its relentless quest to recreate the suppleness and lightness of fabric through precious materials. The ingenuity of this jewel is also revealed by its technical specificity: the elegant motifs can be detached and worn as clips, thus offering a multitude of possibilities.

Since its beginnings, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn inspiration from a vast repertoire of floral imagery. This heritage has become a precious source that continually guides the Maison’s contemporary designers and craftsmen, as illustrated by this piece from 2005. The name of this necklace, Hawaii, recalls the eponymous creations of the late 1930s. Meanwhile, the pink sapphire and amethyst flowers echo the blue and yellow sapphires set on the Passe-Partout jewelry, introduced in 1938. The choker is composed of a double Tubogas chain adorned with three corollas. The radiance of the oval amethysts and round pink sapphires is enhanced by the polished yellow gold of the leaves. As with the Passe-Partout jewelry, an innovative system makes this piece transformable: the three flowers can be detached to form a clip and a pair of earrings.

The Zip necklace is one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most emblematic creations. This innovative piece is inspired by the zipper fastener, originally used in the manufacturing of aviator jackets and uniforms. Reinterpreted in the 1920s in the world of couture, it gained prominence over the following decade thanks to designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973). Influenced by this creative universe, the Maison adapted the concept into a jewelry creation. Patented in 1938 and produced in 1950, the Zip can be worn open as a necklace or closed as a bracelet, thanks to the fringed tassel that glides along its slider. This 1955 model is bordered with a double row of heart motifs crafted in gold thread and punctuated with emeralds and diamonds.

The style of this yellow gold wristwatch, created in the wake of the Retro aesthetic of the 1940s, illustrates Van Cleef & Arpels’ enduring commitment to depicting nature in its jewelry and watchmaking creations. The bracelet is adorned with two yellow gold corollas with sapphire centers surrounded by curved petals that add relief and movement. One sapphire pistil conceals the watch dial, allowing the wearer to read the time discreetly. The singularity of this secret watch also lies in its multifunctional feature: the two sapphire flowers can be detached and worn as a clip.

Like a journey to the heart of innovation and elegance, the "Precious Metamorphoses by Van Cleef & Arpels" exhibition reveals how, since its origins, the Maison has crafted exceptional jewels.