Brief: Van Cleef & Arpels coats its latest timepieces in gems

On the dial of the Lady Nuit des Papillons, clear, rose-cut diamonds outline the wings of a butterfly, offering a glimpse of a rotating, gem-encrusted disk underneath. Photos courtesy Van Cleef & Arpels.

On the dial of the Lady Nuit des Papillons, clear, rose-cut diamonds outline the wings of a butterfly, offering a glimpse of a rotating, gem-encrusted disk underneath. Photos courtesy Van Cleef & Arpels.

 

The leafy theme of the Lady Jour des Fleurs is continued with multicolored leaves that flutter about on a jeweled bracelet.

The leafy theme of the Lady Jour des Fleurs is continued with multicolored leaves that flutter about on a jeweled bracelet.

BY KAREN AANONSEN

It’s hard to miss the latest watches from Van Cleef & Arpels — the Lady Jour des Fleurs and the Lady Nuit des Papillons are paved in dazzling diamonds. The covetable stones feature on the 33mm cases and dials of the timepieces, as well as on High Jewelry straps. Color comes courtesy of yellow and pink sapphires, tsavorite and spessartite garnets, and spinels on the Lady Jour des Fleurs, and blue sapphires on the Lady Nuit des Papillons. The majority of the vibrant gems occupy rotating disks which make two complete turns each day, filling nature-inspired cut-outs on the over-dials with ever-changing clusters of jewels. While the foliage of the Lady Jour des Fleurs shimmers from spring-like green to autumnal red, the butterflies that occupy the Lady Nuit des Papillons glitter with a graduated mix of rocks that evoke the night sky.

—March 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each watch is also available on an elegant alligator strap.

Each watch is also available on an elegant alligator strap.