Forging cultural links across continents, French jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels and Saudi Ministry of Culture are celebrating a mutual love of wearable treasures with a first-of-its-kind exhibition in Riyadh. Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature, Love runs from January 19 to April 15, 2023 at The National Museum of Saudi Arabia, and will host 280 jewellery pieces, watches and precious objects from the French maison, as well as more than 90 archival documents, sketches and gouaché designs dating back to the brand’s inauguration year of 1906.
Curated into three chapters, Time is dedicated to the different ages each piece belongs to, both past and present, and the constant evolution of the Maison’s designs; Nature pays homage to history, plants, flowers and animals as time-honoured sources of inspiration, and calls to mind a stroll through a lush garden, enveloped by flowers in bloom and birds in flight; and Love pays tribute to the most powerful energy on earth, recollecting the raison d’être of the jewellery brand that was founded following the wedding of Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels in Paris, 1906. Each theme showcases the Maison’s dexterity, innovation, creativity and craftsmanship through the years, with installations, talks, workshops and immersive activities offering visitors unique insight into one of the world’s most storied and beloved jewellery houses.
1. This 1976 tiara tranforms into a bracelet, in platinum, white gold and diamonds
2. Ludo Secret watch with flaps, 1949, in yellow gold, platinum, mystery set sapphires and diamond
3. Unicorn clip, 1948, with yellow gold, sapphires, rubies, diamonds
4. Barquerolles Choker, 1971, in yellow gold, emeralds and diamonds
5. Juliet brooch, circa 1951, in yellow gold, emerald, sapphires and rubies
6. Leaf clip, 1960, in yellow gold, platinum, sapphires and rubies
