From February 12 to 20, discover a treasure trove of 198 dazzling timepieces and scintillating high jewellery creations at A Journey Through the Poetry of Time, a watchmaking exhibition by Parisian high jewellery maison Van Cleef & Arpels. Held at Sands Expo, Marina Bay Sands, this will be the maison’s first public engagement in Singapore since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
In this immersive environment designed to mimic Paris, visitors will discover four of the maison’s most enduring inspirations – Fairies and Ballerinas, Poetic Astronomy, Enchanting Nature and Love Stories – as well as learn about its unique approach to watchmaking. Breathtaking examples include Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux, the ultimate tribute to love featuring lovers having a romantic rendezvous atop a bridge; Midnight Planétarium, a horological masterpiece that features ornamental stones circling the dial, each one representing a different planet; as well as the complete assortment of Midnight Zodiaque Lumineux and Lady Arpels Zodiaque Lumineux lines, enchanting watches that light up on demand through piezoelectricity.
Book a slot to discover these watches for yourself. Meanwhile, read what Hugues de Pins, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Managing Director of Southeast Asia and Australia, has to say about the maison’s watchmaking artistry, as well as what to expect from the exhibition.
How is Van Cleef & Arpels unique in the world of watchmaking?
Ever faithful to a poetic view of life, we instill dreams and emotions into the art of watchmaking. Combining a blend of traditional metiers d’art techniques, innovation and fantasy through four cherished universes – Love Stories, Ballerinas and Fairies, Poetic Astronomy and Enchanting Nature – our creations interpret the measurement of time as an invitation to imagine, wander and revel in happiness. This poetic interpretation of time, through the animation of the decor and elaborate decoration of the dial, remains the focus for our maison. Our watches are not mere timekeepers; they are storytellers.
What can we expect from A Journey Through The Poetry Of Time?
Our upcoming exhibition will celebrate some of our maison’s most emblematic sources of inspiration by showcasing timeless masterpieces from our patrimonial collection and the latest contemporary creations in an immersive, dreamlike environment revolving around the charm of Paris. Not forgetting demonstrations of the intricacies of the art of enamelling and other watchmaking processes. Alongside our jewellery and high jewellery collections, our watches will take centrestage in various themed galleries honouring four of our cherished universes – Love stories (notably with our Pont des Amoureux collection), Ballerinas and fairies, Poetic Astronomy and Enchanting Nature.
To engage young minds, there will also be a series of workshops catered to children, aged 4 to 10 years old, where they can create their very own 3D model of Paris.
Among the four universes that remain very dear to the Maison, which one do you gravitate towards the most?
Love stories. After all, Van Cleef & Arpels was born out of the marriage of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels and we have been celebrating love stories ever since. These express every nuance of feeling and the emotion of shared moments.
Which are your three favourite timepieces from the exhibition and why?
I really like the watches from the Pont des Amoureux collection because they celebrate love and the intensity of longed-for reunions. What is unique is the self-winding mechanical movement equipped with a retrograde and on-demand animation module that has been developed exclusively for our maison. This allows one to relive the poetry of the romantic scene – a young woman and young man move towards each other to exchange a kiss at midday and midnight on a Paris bridge – at any time.
My other favourites include our secret watches with concealed dials carpeted in a plethora of coloured gems and diamonds, which reference legendary lovers from literature, mythology and opera; as well as the three Lady Arpels Ballerines Musicales watches that offer a blend of music and movement in a genuine experience that is both acoustic and visual.
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE POETRY OF TIME
Feb 12 to 20, 2022
Sands Expo Hall B – Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Event is open to the public; reserve your slot here