Introducing the new Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux, a masterpiece of craftsmanship

　Van Cleef & Arpels has announced six new models for its Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux, which uses a retrograde mechanism to depict a romantic love story on its dial. These models feature colorful dials crafted with traditional enamel painting, gorgeous jewel-set cases and bracelets, and on-demand movements that enhance the storytelling. Let's take a look at the appeal of each model.

Van Cleef & Arpels
"Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux"

Dial painted using the traditional grisaille enamel technique

　Spring, summer, autumn, winter, night and day. The various scenes of Paris seen on the dial are depicted using the grisaille enamel technique. Grisaille enamel is a traditional technique developed in France around the 16th century, in which white enamel powder, known as Limoges white, is applied to a dark background. Van Cleef & Arpels first used this technique on the dial of a 2010 original model, working with the late enamel artist Dominique Baron.
　This latest work, depicting Paris in the four seasons and daytime, marks the first time the Maison has used "Color Grisaille Enamel," an advanced version of the enamel technique. Taking advantage of its ability to create delicate shading like watercolors, the dial is decorated with soft, rich colors that evoke natural light. The skilled craftsmen of the workshop apply the paint layer by layer with fine brushes while viewing the work through a microscope, and the dial requires approximately 10 firings, which can take approximately 45 hours to create.

A gorgeous jewelry bracelet created by a prestigious jeweler

　The theme of the dial continues with the jeweled bracelet, lavishly adorned with diamonds and colored stones. The bracelet, which is made up of approximately 900 components on each side, is seamlessly inlaid with jewels using the snow setting. The intricate design creates a beautiful curve when worn, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship of a prestigious jeweler.

Includes an on-demand animation module that lets you recreate poetic moments at any time

　The original Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux model features a retrograde movement, designed so that the hours and minutes representing a man and woman on a bridge align for one minute twice a day, at noon and midnight. This new model adds an on-demand function, allowing the lovers to meet at any time and allowing them to gaze at each other before kissing. When the teardrop-shaped push button at 8 o'clock is pressed, the couple align at 12 o'clock and 60 minutes, then after a three-second pause, they move on to kissing. Jean-Marc Vitalès of Agenaux developed the mechanism that adds depth to the love story. This model uses the Valfleurier Q020 movement as its base movement and incorporates a module that skillfully combines the retrograde and on-demand cam movements.

　In addition to the original model depicting Paris at night, the Lady Arpels Pont des Amours Jours watch, depicting a daytime view, has also been added to the permanent collection. The alligator straps of these two models are interchangeable, allowing them to be paired with a bracelet made of the same material as the case, paved with diamonds.