The Maison is pleased to announce the sponsorship of the classic ballet Balanchine’s Jewels, by the Korean National Ballet.

The long-standing partnership between Van Cleef & Arpels and Korean National Ballet began four years ago with Anna Karenina in 2017, followed by Mata Hari in 2018, and Swan Lake in 2019. This year Van Cleef & Arpels reinforces its artistic ties with the Korean National Ballet and “Jewels”, celebrating the Maison's affection for the world of dance, art, and dream.  

The ballet will be premiered at Seoul Art Center this autumn for five performances from October 20^th to 24^th, 2021.

Jewels was created through the acquaintance of Claude Arpels and famed choreographer George Balanchine, co-founder of the New York City Ballet. Their shared passion for gems and dance blossomed into an artistic bond that produced Jewels, a ballet celebrating the beauty of precious stones. This masterpiece consists of three acts dedicated each to a gem and a composer: Gabriel Fauré for Emeralds; Igor Stravinsky for Rubies; and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky for Diamonds. Since its premiere in New York in 1967, Jewels has become a significant work of the twentieth century.

The longstanding bond between Van Cleef & Arpels and the world of dance dates back to the 1920s, when Louis Arpels, a fervent ballet lover, often took his nephew Claude to the Opéra Garnier, just a short walk from the Place Vendôme boutique.

The Maison’s first ballerina clips were created in the early 1940s, at the prompting of Louis Arpels, Claude Arpels’ uncle. These creations’ elegant compositions and the beauty of their attire have since become one of the Maison’s stylistic signatures. The ballerinas capture the rhythm of dance and depict the artistry of lines and movement. Featuring a pair-shaped diamond face complemented by a ruby and emerald head ornament, dancers holding fans are clothed in the pleated dress of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

Inspired by the art of ballet, the Corps de ballet necklace from the thematic High Jewelry collection Ballet Précieux plays homage to emblematic works such as “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker,” by recreating a world of dance through the sapphire engraved with a ballerina. Both the Maison’s creations and the art of ballet take time to complete, putting passion, creativity, and craftsmanship at the forefront before presenting these exquisite artworks center stage.

BALANCHINE is a trademark of The George Balanchine Trust, which is not affiliated with Van Cleef & Arpels or its products.