There are watches that tell time, and then there are watches that tell a story. With the unveiling of the Perlée Extraordinaire Fruits Enchantés Myrtille and Framboise timepieces, Van Cleef & Arpels once again reminds the world that haute horlogerie is not only about precision, but also poetry.
A Legacy of Perlée Elegance
First introduced in the 1920s as delicate golden beaded details, the Perlée motif has long been a hallmark of Van Cleef & Arpels’ craftsmanship. From framing the iconic Alhambra collection in the 1960s to becoming a standalone line in 2008, these joyful golden beads have carried a century-long story of elegance and innovation.
From Beads to Berries
This year, the maison’s artisans take the collection into a new realm of creativity with the Fruits Enchantés Myrtille and Framboise watches. Housed in cases of rose or white gold, the dials feature lush woodland dreamscapes: miniature-painted leaves, sculpted fairies, and the centerpiece — a glossy blueberry or raspberry, created using a patented façonné enamel technique. This method, developed in 2023, involves multiple firings, engraving, and polishing to achieve a lifelike brilliance that feels almost edible.
Whimsical Fairies & Hidden Secrets
As symbols of Van Cleef & Arpels’ enchanting world, fairies hover gracefully above the berries, their wings sparkling with diamonds. The maison’s attention to detail extends even to the casebacks, which carry secret engravings: a butterfly for the Myrtille and a ladybird for the Framboise — hidden treasures for the wearer alone.
Artistry Beyond Timekeeping
Each watch represents the pinnacle of the brand’s Extraordinary Dials collection, where métiers d’art like enamelling, engraving, gem-setting, and miniature painting come together. With up to 300 hours of craftsmanship required for a single timepiece, these creations are not just watches — they are wearable works of art that embody nature, magic, and timeless elegance.
Van Cleef & Arpels has once again blurred the line between jewelry and horology, proving that its mastery lies not only in technical excellence, but in capturing life’s most poetic moments.