Inspired by Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, this new high jewellery line melds together the language of love with precious gems.


Van Cleef &amp; Arpels debuted their latest &#39;Romeo &amp; Juliet&#39; High Jewellery collection most recently&nbsp;at Paris Haute Couture Week. Inspired by the Shakespearean tragedy of the same title, this romantic collection includes over 100 unique pieces-&nbsp;all&nbsp;telling the tale of the young couple, the context and setting for their love story, from the balcony scene to the architecture of Verona.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Red and blue gem hues make up the main colour scheme of the collection, representing the coat of arms of the Capulet and Montague families respectively. Mauve, a blend of the two shades represent the passionate love of the couple, intertwined for eternity, along with the hope that the green gems represent.&nbsp;

Romeo & Juliet - ©Van Cleef & Arpels - Photography Sonia Sieff Art Direction Gaspard Yurkievich _RVB 4.jpg

&ldquo;For us, the choice of Romeo and Juliet was a natural one for several reasons. Literature is one of the Maison&rsquo;s major sources of inspiration, and in 2003 we had already paid tribute to the world of Shakespeare with the A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream collection.&rdquo; - Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef &amp; Arpels.

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Probably one of the most iconic pieces of the collection, the Romeo and Juliet clip comes to life thanks to stellar 3D-craftsmanship. Both characters are decked out in Italian renaissance costumes, with Romeo in a tunic set with sapphires and lapis lazuli,&nbsp;stockings in white gold and black lacquer and a cape in mirror-polished gold; and Juliet in a dress embellished with gadroons, polished gold set with orange sapphires, garnets, rubies and diamonds. Romeo is seen offering his love a bouquet of mauve sapphire flowers, a symbol of their coming marriage and the union of their two families.&nbsp;

Romeo & Juliet - ©Van Cleef & Arpels - Photography Sonia Sieff Art Direction Gaspard Yurkievich _RVB 1.jpg

The Reticella necklace combines two of the Maison&rsquo;s beloved themes: of couture and white jewellery tradition. Echoing the Renaissance, it combines flexibility and support to hug the contours of the neck. At the centre of the piece, a jewellery motif of diamonds recalls the brooches pinned to the bodices of Renaissance women of the court.

Romeo & Juliet - ©Van Cleef & Arpels - Photography Sonia Sieff Art Direction Gaspard Yurkievich _RVB 5.jpg

&ldquo;O speak again, bright angel, for thou art As glorious to this night, being o&rsquo;er my head,&nbsp;As is a winged messenger of heaven&rdquo; - Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Act II, scene 2.&nbsp;

An ode to the fountains of Verona, where the tale of&nbsp;Romeo and Juliet is set against, this torque bracelet bears two large pear-shaped aquamarines,&nbsp; accentuated by a luminous mosaic of shades incorporating sapphires, diamonds, emeralds and black spinels, reminiscent of&nbsp;shimmering waters. Finally,&nbsp;two diamond-set palmettes lay visible beneath the aquamarines, symbolizing the lovers&rsquo; secret vows.

Romeo & Juliet - ©Van Cleef & Arpels - Photography Sonia Sieff Art Direction Gaspard Yurkievich _RVB 2.jpg

The Belfiore long necklace presents a variety of oval and cushion-cut blue, violet and pink coloured sapphires, expressing the union of the Capulet and Montague families in a harmony of stones. This style&ndash; a signature of Van Cleef &amp; Arpels &ndash; is also representative of Renaissance jewellery, in which cabochons of hard stones stand alongside faceted precious stones in a subtle contrast of materials. This piece can also be transformed into a short necklace and a bracelet.&nbsp;

Check out more pieces of the Romeo and Juliet collection in the gallery below:&nbsp;

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Van Cleef & Arpels Rewrites Destiny With The Romeo & Juliet Collection

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