IN Conversation

Can poetry and romance thrive in our fast-paced digital age with three-second attention spans? Charmaine Ho finds out through her chat with Van Cleef & Arpels president and CEO Nicolas Bos that they can-and they have.

- CHARMAINE HO

In the world of glittering creations, Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) stands on a pedestal of its own. Imbued with visual and literal poetry, its creations guide you through tales of magical romance that span the universe and its celestial bodies right down to the humble ladybird flitting merrily through the garden.

Ballerinas dance their way into your heart as necklaces transform into bracelets through an ingenious zip design that turns function into fabulousness. It seems nothing is too big or too small a subject matter for the 128-year-old Maison to use as inspiration, resulting in handcrafted jewels that inspire and awe in equal measures. It's precisely this sense of imagination and wonder, brought to life through a trove of precious materials, that draws people to its doors. But is there still a place for this Old World romance in a digital world of short attention spans and twitchy thumbs? According to Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) president and CEO Nicolas Bos, there is-and it is thriving. We caught up with Bos while he was in Singapore to get a sneak peek into the exceptional VCA handbook.

You have been with the brand for 24 years; this year marks your 11th anniversary at the helm of Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA). What still gets you excited about what you do?

I think that we are very blessed at VCA. We have a very rich identity that enables us to maintain it without repeating ourselves. Our artisans never get bored. There are always new translations, new interpretations, and new projects. That keeps me quite excited. Actually, a year and a half ago, I was here [in Singapore] with the team, and we were trying to see what we could do here [with the boutique at Raffles Hotel]. Then, it was a kind of storage space, and we said: "This is such a spectacular, historical address. Why don't we try something different?" A year later, it's here.