An Exploration into High Jewellery Savoir Faire with Van Cleef & Arpels’ Le Grand Tour

Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest High Jewellery collection retraces the legendary itinerary of Le Grand Tour, an epic ramble through the cultural centres of Europe popularised during the 18th and 19th centuries. In order to breathe life into the sights and souvenirs encountered along this historic voyage, the Maison has deployed its full spectrum of expertise, from the creativity of its design studio to the trained eye of its gemologists and skilled craftsmanship of its high jewellery workshops.

Each of the 70 masterpiece creation is conceived like a tableau, brimming with meticulous details. Some adhere to the true meaning of the word, like the quartet of bandeaux bracelets depicting the architectural panoramas of Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples. Others are still life of relics and natural beauty: a horn of plenty, the treasures of Antiquity, the majestic trees of Baden-Baden. Then there are abstract and poetic expressions like the Chant des gondoliers necklace and earrings, which evoke the emblematic waters of Venice with a cascade of oval-cut turquoise cabochons. 

These wondrous objects are fashioned by virtuoso hands. Precious clips are worked three-dimensionally in the round to create sculptural volumes that blur the line between jewellery and objet d’art. Gold is shaped to take on different aspects: carved to resemble famous Italian landmarks, woven into delicate filigree or generous gadroons, or polished with alternating techniques to play with the light. Metal mounts flow fluidly and articulate smoothly, with gems set in such a way as to entirely hide the structures that hold them in place. The Maison’s tradition of transformable jewellery is present throughout, from detachable pendants to rings that can be worn multiple ways to suit any occasion.