There are creations in the world of high jewellery horology that do more than measure time — they suspend it. At Dubai Watch Week, Van Cleef & Arpels presented one such marvel: the Brassée de Lavande Automaton, a new chapter in the Maison’s Extraordinary Objects collection, where technical mastery transforms into art and motion becomes poetry.
A Secret Garden Brought to Life
At first glance, the automaton appears as a delicate dome of lacquered rose-gold lavender sprigs — sculptural, serene, almost meditative. Yet, as with all of Van Cleef & Arpels’ most enchanting creations, the true magic lies within.
With a gentle activation, the vegetal dome stirs.
Petals unfurl slowly, as though touched by a soft breeze, revealing a butterfly that rises into a graceful, swirling motion. Two polished white-gold snails rest on nearby branches, quietly observing the passing hours. A harmonious melody begins to play, turning the scene into a dreamlike tableau.
A Tribute to Mastery — and the Hands That Preserve It
The Extraordinary Objects collection has always been a realm where the Maison blurs boundaries between jewelry, sculpture, and mechanical wonder. The Brassée de Lavande Automaton continues this tradition with remarkable delicacy.
It is a celebration of métiers d’art rarely seen today — lacquer work, miniature mechanics, gold sculpting — and the virtuoso artisans who keep these crafts alive.
Each opening petal, each engraved curve, each musical note reflects thousands of hours of inherited expertise, adaptation, and innovation.
Van Cleef & Arpels once again demonstrates that to craft emotion into matter is a skill as rare as the objects themselves.
A Legacy Rooted in Poetry
Since its founding in 1906 at Place Vendôme, Van Cleef & Arpels has built a universe fueled by imagination: the Mystery Set, the Minaudière, the transformable Zip necklace, the timeless Alhambra motif — each creation shaped at the intersection of ingenuity and grace.
The Brassée de Lavande Automaton stands proudly within this lineage.
It is delicate yet complex, sculptural yet fluid — an ode to flora, fauna, and the fleeting beauty of a moment.
Through L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, the Maison continues to pass on this culture of artistry, ensuring that the craftsmanship behind such wonders remains accessible to future generations.
