Van Cleef & Arpels' New Perlée Watch Collection Embraces More Delicate Timepieces
Photography by Suzanne Saroff
Since the aughts, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Perlée collection has riffed on the Maison's long history of using golden beads in its designs. Beginning in the 1920s, gold beads were used as borders around stones, before gradually increasing in size and becoming a motif in their own right, with playful pieces such as charming animal-shaped clips and bold cocktail rings. With their newest Perlée timepieces, Van Cleef & Arpels breathes a new life into one of their most iconic collections, adding bright colors and distinctive compositions to a timeless design.
The feminine timepieces feature dials of hand-polished onyx, yellow gold, or sustainably produced mother-of-pearl delicately layered under convex glass to create an eye-catching reflection. Interchangeable, flexible bracelets and grosgrain fabrics inspire greater creativity, but if it’s consistency you’re craving, a bracelet made up entirely of the Maison's signature gold beads is the star of the show.
Secret jewelry is an alluring part of this collection, with certain models featuring bright stones that pivot 360 degrees to reveal a Perlée Toi & Moi timepiece. Diamonds encapsulate the white mother-of-pearl dial, which can be easily hidden with either warm translucent carnelian or rare beaming turquoise. For the first time, these gold watch bracelets have been crafted with a flexible design that hugs the wrist. The Toi & Moi (“You and Me”) features a larger, pivoting stone, harmoniously paired with a smaller dome of black pietersite, coral, or diamonds.
The entire Perlée collection incorporates vibrant natural, untreated stones with deep dimensions. From hypnotizing black onyx and natural malachite to rarer lapis lazuli, turquoise, and vivid coral, each stone is perfectly matched with gold varieties to create standout watches for any occasion.
