From September 30th, 2026, to January 31st, 2027, Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels, located within the boutique at the Raffles Hotel Singapore, presents "Diamond Creations by Van Cleef & Arpels" exhibition. 29 pieces dating from the 1920s to the early 2000s from the Maison’s patrimonial Collection, as well as 23 archival documents, pay tribute to a century of diamond creations.

In 1906, the year of the Maison’s founding, a heart set with brilliants was sold. Since then, Van Cleef & Arpels has sought the world’s most exquisite diamonds to exalt their beauty and elegance.

A traditional High Jewelry archetype, White Jewellery creations combine precious white metal, platinum or white gold, and diamonds. Movement is conveyed through openwork mounting, infusing dynamic shapes like the flowing ribbons on this couture-inspired necklace. Alternating baguette-cut and paved diamonds further enhances this sense of motion and creates deep contrast.

From the 1910s, baguette and square-cut diamonds became more prominent. The Maison’s archives dating from the late 1920s to early 1930s reveal a taste for geometrical brooches, rooted in the Art Deco aesthetic of the period. On the brooch from 1925, the association of openwork mounting with diamonds conveys dynamism to the composition.

Following the evolution of the feminine wardrobe, bags became integrated to evening wear and these clips functioned as a decorative and practical ornament, ‘clipping’ on a handbag.

On this Reverso clip, a graceful undulation created by these slightly twisted rows form a gentle knot, a subtle and elegant nod to couture, one of the Maison’s dearest sources of inspiration.

Following this theme, the 1960 Pretzel necklace evokes the shape of a collar in diamonds and yellow gold. Its structure is designed with twisted gold lines and underlined at the front by a round diamond contour. This detailing echoes the sewing lines, emphasizing the influence of couture technique on the creation. 

In the 1950s, several clips, which take the form of delicate bouquets or botanical motifs, reflect the Maison’s fascination for nature. The return to more naturalistic interpretations accompanied the resurgence of white diamond jewelry, in platinum and diamonds. Born in 1938, the traditional Hawaii motif features, in a colourful composition, corollas of sapphires and rubies. It makes this Hawaii Bouquet clip from 1955 a rare monochrome model.

During the 1960s, Van Cleef & Arpels produced jewelry combining intricate yellow goldsmithing, often engraved, with paved diamonds. The textured designs are associated with unusual nature species like snow acanthus, or succulents, as illustrated by these pieces.