Honouring The Female Form

There are jewellers who make jewellery for women and there are jewellers who celebrate femininity in both form and spirit. Zhuan Lee delves into the enchanting world of Van Cleef & Arpels, where the feminine form is embraced like no other.

- Zhuan Lee

The universe of Van Cleef & Arpels is built upon the three main elements of fantasy, wonder and poetry. Through spectacular creations that evoke a sense of magic and mystique, the revered French jeweller has also long celebrated the beauty of the feminine form through its unforgettable fairies and ballerinas.

During and after the war in the 1940s, the Maison began incorporating fairies into its artistic universe. Possessing magical powers, this imaginary race was believed to evoke hope and healing, which were both much needed in those turbulent times. As Van Cleef & Arpels creations have long revolved around the theme of fantasy and poetry since its beginnings, fairies were a natural extension of its jewellery repertoire.

The dainty, sprightly, delicate and mystical characteristics of fairies were never easy to express through the art of high jewellery. However, together with its team of Mains d’Or (the term by which Van Cleefs & Arpels’ master craftsmen are lovingly known as), the house successfully dreamt up lifelike, expressive and soon-to-be iconic fairy clips reimagined in the feminine form.

Meticulously sculpted by master artisans, Van Cleef & Arpels’ fairies and ballerinas emulate the curvaceous female form in the most naturalistic way. It is said that Maison's artisans spend significant amounts of time observing ballerinas in action to observe how their bodies are angled with every graceful movement.