Firstly, Last in his kind tells the story of an exceptional accessory and the archive piece that it has inspired.
In the 1660s, decorative broches and ribbons started to appear on the bodies of women’s clothing in Europe. A century later, Marie Antoinette frowned people wore the Pompadour, the most important mistress of King Louis XV, bonded lick -like collars around her neck. When Van Cleef & Arpels opened Vendôme in 1906 in 1906, was one of the first orders for a jewel -shaped brooch. In 1918 the house produced a black onyx and diamond Brooch Neudor knotted pin; This was followed in 1926 by a round, art deco-inspired clip with a fluttering band from diamonds who approached a side wall. During the Second World War, the company, unable to obtain so many precious stones, can be improvised with hanging arches with complicated gold lacework that looked like flowers and tulerands.
This spring, the high jewelry collection of Van Cleef & Arpels will introduce the new Ruban Mystérieux watch, an angular, bracelet-like cuff with tires of snow set diamonds in brilliant sapphires and emeralds, suggesting what the French call one rubanOr ribbon. A 3.72-carat oval sliced diamond covers the dial, and green and cobalt precious stones are kept invisible in place by the characteristic mystery environment of the brand, which was patented in 1933. With almost 1,300 hours to produce, the timepiece is an achievement of craftsmanship and almost diaphinical stupid That lies all the precision and expertise that was needed to make it.