Each of the 150 pieces in the collection is not only an ode to astronomy and astrology, but a testament to the maison’s creativity and expertise in elevating jewellery to a true art form
Wondrous comets, majestic planets, dazzling stars and expansive galaxies – these celestial figures serve as the latest inspiration for Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest high jewellery collection, Sous les étoiles or “Beneath the Stars,” which allows the wearer to abandon their earthly trepidations, at least momentarily, and get lost in more cosmic aspirations.
The new collection is a culmination of collaborative work between Van Cleef & Arpels’ designers, jewellers, gemmologists, and craftsmen, all working towards realising a cosmic vision that has enthralled astronomers for centuries. “The maison has always been interested in the instant, where observing nature encounters poetry and the imagination,” says Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of the brand.
He added “For this new collection, we wanted to prolong the adventure that began with Jules Verne, by exploring the literary and scientific tradition of which his work forms a part.” This led his artisans to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring work of the seminal L’Astronomie Populaire by Camille Flammarion, and phenomenal photographs captured by NASA. It also continues on Van Cleef & Arpels’ endless fascination with the night sky, revisiting their Pylônes and Météore collections more than 70 years back.
Nothing epitomises this dance with the cosmos more than the Halley necklace. Inspired by the eponymous comet, which is visible from Earth only every 75 years, this necklace is resplendent with an interplay of white and yellow diamonds that evoke the comet’s tail. It culminates with an 11.29-carat Fancy vivid yellow diamond that symbolises the head of the comet and further lends an aura of dynamism. In keeping with the maison’s tradition of transformable pieces, the central diamond can be removed and placed on a complementary ring.
Not to be missed as well is the Helios necklace, which features links adorned with diamonds and cultured pearls, and headlined by an over 50-carat oval-cut yellow sapphire from Sri Lanka to represent the sun. Suspended from this gleaming orb is a tassel of white cultured pearls, while a 1-carat, pear-shaped DIF diamond is positioned at the nape.
An ode to interplanetary travel is the Saturne clip, depicting the second largest planet in our solar system and its distinctive rings. What you’ll see is a half-sphere of hammered yellow gold with sparkling strands of diamonds surrounding it, just like the famed ringed planet. The edge of the rings is further accentuated by fine threads of yellow gold, giving it a greater sense of intricacy and first-class craftsmanship.
And to cap this interstellar journey, Van Cleef & Arpels’ artisans pays homage to the Milky Way with the stunning Ciel de Minuit necklace. It depicts our astronomical place in the universe through plaques of hand-sculpted lapis lazuli that’s been hollowed, polished, and set with diamonds, punctuated by sapphires and more diamonds that ripple around it like stardust.
We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience, and to analyze traffic on our website. For more information, see our Cookie Policy. ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.