Since its founding, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn boundless inspiration from the world of dance, its artistry lending a graceful flair and an enchanting aura of poetry to the Maison’s jewelry creations and delicate feminine figures. From December 5th, 2025 to March 10th, 2026, visitors are invited to discover a curated selection of the Maison’s dance-inspired pieces from the patrimonial Collection at the "Ballerinas" exhibition at Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels, a dedicated space within The Raffles Hotel Singapore.

The longstanding bond between Van Cleef & Arpels and dance dates back to the 1920s. At the time, Louis Arpels, a fervent ballet enthusiast, would often take his nephew Claude to the Paris Opera. Under their leadership, the Maison’s first Dancer clips were created in the early 1940s, soon becoming one of Van Cleef & Arpels' signature pieces.

Some of the Dancer clips from the 1940s are adorned with rose-cut diamonds, which were used both for their faces and for their tutus, and complemented with emeralds or rubies. Other pieces offer a glimpse into the goldsmithing techniques of this decade. Crafted in yellow gold and adorned with a variety of precious and ornamental stones, the dancers’ tutus are designed to enhance the sense of movement. 

The Sequin Dancer clip features a tutu made of sequin motifs, first introduced by the Maison in 1936 on necklaces and clips. Evoking the sequins fashionable in the 1930s, the design is composed of yellow gold round motif highlighted by a closed-set precious stone at its center.

Conveying the fluidity and delicacy of lace, the Dancer clip of 1943 pays homage to couture. Since its founding, the Maison has nurtured a deep affinity with this universe, paying close attention to its subtle movements and ornamentation, as evidenced by the archives and the Bow clip from 1945.

From the 1940s and 50s, other jewelry pieces created by Van Cleef & Arpels capture the spirit of dance and also reveal the intricate gold work adorning tutus. For example, the Lace clip from 1943 is fashioned in gold—a malleable metal, transformed into a fluid fabric thanks to its openwork structure. This style of craftsmanship has been perfected by the Maison since the 1930s, pays tribute to the French lace savoir-faire.

Inspired by the Whirl clips of the 1940s, the Camellia clip emulates the twirling tutus of ballerinas. The diamond flower is surrounded by smooth gold panels made of gold thread, radiating outward in a flowing asymmetrical pattern. As they gradually gain in volume, the impression of motion is further emphasized.

In the 1940s, many powder cases featured engraved scenes depicting ballets with a dancer in front of an enchanted decor. Their rectangular shape provided the perfect frame for the stage, as seen in this Swan Lake powder case from 1946. The Swan Lake ballet, composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky in 1875, is considered one of the most celebrated ballet of all time and is immortalised on this case through the graceful motion of the dancer’s arms rising delicately in harmony with the position of the legs.

Inspired by Suzanne Farrell who danced the "Diamonds" part of Jewels imagined by George Balanchine, this Dancer clip presents delicate, elongated arms and legs that testify to the Maison’s careful study of poses during ballet rehearsals at the end of the 1960s. 

The athleticism of the ballerina is emphasised by the tangible tension of her body, rendered through the curvature of her slipper and the resulting folds. Dotted with diamonds, her tutu flows with lightness and is highlighted by engraved lines echoing the texture of the fabric.

The exhibition welcomes guests to explore the precious creations inspired by the dance world, a universe beloved by Van Cleef & Arpels. The Maison continues to cultivate this bond, notably with the establishment of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels in 2020, a patronage initiative supporting and encouraging choreographic arts around the world.