Dive into the Poetic Complications universe
A collection born in 2006
Poetic Complication Since 2006
Since 2006 with the creation of Lady Arpels™ Centenaire watch, the Poetic Complications® collection has embodied Van Cleef & Arpels’ Poetry of Time philosophy, which instills dreams and emotions into the art of watchmaking. Each project begins with a creative intention, bringing this distinctive vision to life. Over the years, the Maison’s stories have called for innovative complications, now developed and assembled in-house to set in motion the story inside each dial. They animate poetic scenes and animations drawing on the Maison’s sources of inspiration. Watchmakers, enamellers, engravers, lapidaries and stone-setters join their expertises to give rise to these timepieces.
Poetry Of Time
Van Cleef & Arpels instills an exclusive dimension in the Poetic Complications collection : an element of dreams and emotions. The Maison draws from its history and its iconic sources of inspiration—enchanted nature, poetic astronomy, love stories, fairies and ballerinas—to depict a golden moment on each dial.
Love Stories
A Maison born from an encounter
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The Maison was founded in 1906 following the marriage of Esther, known as Estelle, Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef. Love has ever since guided its footsteps, inspiring tender creations that capture the tenderness of an encounter. With lightness and fluidity, the two lovers move towards each other to share a kiss.
Poetic Astronomy™
Revealing the poetry of the cosmos
Enthralled by the spectacle of the cosmos, Van Cleef & Arpels pays homage to it with its Poetic Astronomy timepieces. Depicting the starry night sky, the constellations of the zodiac, the path of the Sun and Moon, and the ballet of the planets, these creations marry the poetry of the stars with the measurement of time to fill every minute with unique emotion.
Enchanted Nature
Time flows with the rhythm of nature
Inspired by the transformations of nature–blossoming flowers, lush green gardens, butterflies in flight–the Maison dreams up creations bursting with vitality. From High Jewelry to Watchmaking, flora and fauna are majestically highlighted by a colorful palette of precious materials and stones.
Fairies and Ballerinas
A dance in time
With their airy silhouette, fairies and ballerinas embody two of the Maison’s cherished themes: imagination and dance. Symbols of joy, they have graced the Poetic Complications collection with their benevolent presence. Dressed in a dazzling costume or unfurling a delicate pair of wings, they poetically mark the time on the dials.
Movement as a source of wonder
With the Poetic Complications collection, the watchmaking mastery developed by Van Cleef & Arpels combines precious materials and traditional savoir-faire to bring to life a tender story that enlivens every dial. Rotating discs or butterflies reveal the time of day amid a stroll through a flower-filled garden or a celestial reverie. Going beyond their technical features, these exceptional mechanisms offer precious moments of contemplation, rooted in the Maison's spirit.
To bring the dial to life, up to 166 elements are set in motion, thanks to a module entirely developed internally. Each of this garden’s petals is articulated and connected to the watch’s mechanism, calling for intricate assembly. With each passing hour, the open flowers close to make way for a new combination.
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Self-winding “on-demand” movements allow users to enliven the dial like an automaton with the push of a button, according to the wearer's desires. On the Lady Arpels Brise d’Été watch, butterflies take flight on demand with a gentle breeze that makes the flowers sway, then return to their initial position, indicating the time.
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The decor of the Midnight Jour Nuit Phase de Lune watch comes to life thanks to the joint operation of two rotating discs, each moving at its own pace. The combination of discs displays the Moon phase in precise detail. Thanks to an automaton, the heavenly body can also be revealed in its current phase during the day.
"This focus on co-creation lies at the heart of our Poetic Complications collection : métiers d'art tell a story on the dial, while the technical mechanism -always invisible- brings the watch to life, showing the time as if by magic."
Rainer Bernard, Head of Watchmaking Research and Development at Van Cleef & Arpels
The Métiers d'art
Sublimating the passage of time, the métiers d'art contribute to creating a wondrous universe right on the wrist. Going beyond time-honored methods, the Maison stands out for stimulating innovative enameling techniques.
Grisaille enamel
This technique creates chiaroscuro effects using two shades. On a metal surface covered in black or blue enamel, the artisan applies white enamel powder. This method gives the piece a sense of depth and mystery.
Valloné enamel
Valloné enamel consists of creating differences in relief within the gold supports. Once the dial is fired and polished, the different levels are revealed by subtle gradations of colors in the composition. This technique give the dial movement and liveliness.
Plique-à-jour enamel
This technique allows light to pass throught the enamel like a stained-glass window. The motif is outlined in gold openwork, which is then filled with thin layers of translucent enamel. Each layer is fired, revealing the intensity of the colors and ensuring their permanence.
Miniature painting
Miniature painting is an age-old technique dating back to Antiquity. Using a sable-hair brush, the artisan enameler delicately applies different colors, from the lightest to the darkest, firing each shade in a specific way. The design is painted freehand, requiring precision and dexterity.
