Van Cleef & Arpels tells a story about Noah's Ark

Van Cleef & Arpels’ fabled universe takes us to Noah’s Ark and all its inhabitants.

Together with three mythological creatures, Pegasus, the phoenix and the unicorn, they express the enchantment and richness of the Natural world in a splendid variety of precious, fine and hard stones.

Arche de Noé Pegase — Arche de Noé Pégase Clip. White gold, pink gold, red gold, round, baguette-cut and rose-cut diamonds, buff-topped marquise-cut violet sapphires, baguette-cut rubies, coral, Traditional Mystery Set rubies

Arche de Noé Phénix Clip. White gold, pink gold, round, rose-cut and obus-cut diamonds, buff-topped black spinels, golden mother-of-pearl, Traditional Mystery Set rubies

Arche de Noé Licorne Clip. White gold, red gold, diamonds, marquise-cut emeralds, baguette-cut sapphires, turquoise, Traditional Mystery Set sapphires

Arche de Noé, Perroquet brooch. White gold, round and baguette-cut diamonds, emerald beads, lapis lazuli, turquoise, onyx

The Arche de Noé is a collection faithful to some of the Maison’s most dear realms: Nature, the brooch and the animal theme.

Nature is represented by sixty couples of animals coming from every continent. The perfect moment to refresh Van Cleef & Arpels’ animal range through the expression of love and affection, and of superlative High Jewellery savoir-faire .

Arche de Noé Pingouins clip — Arche de Noé, Pingouins clip. White gold, pink gold, diamonds, coral, onyx

Arche de Noé Paons Clip. White gold, yellow gold, round, baguette-cut and pear-shaped blue sapphires, violet sapphires, round and pear-shaped emeralds, mint garnets, Paraíba-like tourmalines, black spinels, cabochon-cut turquoise

Arche de Noé Biche et Cerf Clip. Yellow gold, white gold, round and marquise-cut diamonds, round and oval yellow sapphires, round and oval spessartite garnets, onyx, letterwood

The animal theme is at the heart of Van Cleef & Arpels, whose clips and brooches inspired by this same theme can be traced back to 1910. Since then, the menagérie has kept growing, in an ode to lightness and movement.

Van Cleef & Arpels' Archives — Van Cleef & Arpels’ Archives

Van Cleef & Arpels. From 'La Boutique' animal clips, the 'Le Lion Ebouriffé' clip, 1962 — Van Cleef & Arpels. From ‘La Boutique’ animal clips, the ‘Le Lion Ebouriffé’ clip, 1962

Whether alone or in couples, these creations renew a tradition that has been with the Maison since its foundation.

Arche de Noé Ecureuils Clip. Yellow gold, diamonds, yellow sapphires and spessartite garnets, buff-topped black spinels, white mother-of-pearl, 46.22-carat cabochon-cut white opal

Arche de Noé Morpho Clip. White gold, round, baguette-cut, trapeze-cut and pear-shaped diamonds, cabochon-cut sapphire and emeralds, lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite

To present this new High Jewellery collection, the Maison entrusted Robert Wilson, American set designer famed for his radiant, subtle, and thrilling conceptions, with the scenography.

In his vision of the Ark, Robert Wilson imagined a sensory mise-en-scène plunged in the engulfing darkness.

The constant screening of a video is reminiscent of the sea; the soft and enfolding piece of music evokes mystery; the skies darken as lightning streaks herald a storm, the Ark departs, and the ensuing respite hums like a promise of peace.

Arche de Noe Robert Wilson mise en scène — Arche de Noe Robert Wilson mise-en-scène

Robert Wilson creates a dreamlike travel through a positive and timeless interpretation of the of Noah’s Ark, evoking first of all a preserved paradise. CC

Material courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels