Van Cleef & Arpels has once again set a new standard in haute joaillerie with its breathtaking L’Île au Trésor collection, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale of adventure and discovery.
This exquisite homage to Treasure Island is a masterful fusion of storytelling, artistry, and craftsmanship, taking haute joaillerie fans and collectors on a glittering journey across seas, shores, and faraway lands.
The collection is an imaginative trilogy that unfolds like chapters of Stevenson’s beloved novel. The first chapter, Adventure at Sea, is a tribute to the ocean and the art of navigation. The Maison’s signature attention to detail transforms nautical motifs and intricate jewellery designs.
A palette of blues and greens – spanning from turquoise to emerald – captures the ocean’s ever-changing beauty, while sparkling diamonds evoke moonlight reflecting on tranquil waters. Each piece feels like a relic of maritime legend, reinterpreted through Van Cleef & Arpels’ unparalleled craftsmanship.
From the sea to lush tropical landscapes, the second chapter in this haute joaillerie story, Exploring the Island, celebrates nature in its most vibrant forms. Here, tropical flowers, seashells, and flourishing trees come to life in an explosion of colour and texture. The Maison’s love for flora and fauna is evident in every detail, from delicately sculpted petals to the rainbow-hued gems that capture the vivid energy of island life. These creations are not merely jewellery but miniature works of art, each one telling a story of untamed natural beauty.
The third and final chapter, The Treasure Hunt, culminates in an exhilarating tribute to discovery. Drawing inspiration from faraway cultures and treasures, these bold, multicoloured designs evoke the thrill of uncovering hidden riches.
With influences ranging from pre-Columbian artefacts to Eastern motifs, the pieces are a celebration of the Maison’s fascination with distant horizons. The craftsmanship here reaches new heights, with vibrant stones arranged in intricate patterns and transformable elements inviting endless possibilities.
At the heart of this collection is Van Cleef & Arpels’ legendary Mystery Set technique. Patented in 1933, it allows gems to appear seamlessly set without visible metal. This innovation is showcased in the Palmier Mystérieux clip, one of the collection’s standout creations. A glittering palm tree adorned with a detachable diamond-studded boat, a sun, and a treasure chest, encapsulates the spirit of adventure while exemplifying the Maison’s technical brilliance. The emerald canopy of the palm tree, created with the Mystery Set, has a velvety texture that invites admiration, while the trunk’s rose-gold craftsmanship highlights Van Cleef & Arpels’ mastery of detail.
This extraordinary collection reflects the Maison’s century-long tradition of storytelling through jewellery. From its early days, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn inspiration from the sea, creating pieces that capture the romance of maritime life. Over the decades, its archives have grown to include everything from seagull-shaped clips to yachts in miniature, each piece a testament to the Maison’s love for nautical adventures.
With L’Île au Trésor, this legacy finds its most ambitious expression yet, blending heritage with a bold, contemporary vision. Beyond its stunning aesthetics, the collection also underlines the Maison’s commitment to sourcing exceptional gemstones. Van Cleef & Arpels selects each stone for its character and brilliance, embracing Claude Arpels’ belief that “every stone has a soul of its own.” This philosophy shines through in the dazzling array of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds that make up the collection, arranged in dazzling juxtapositions and harmonious gradations.
“Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is a book laden with universal resonance and a powerful collective imagination,” says Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels. “We have tried to bring it to life in a playful and entertaining way, with a High Jewellery collection which I believe awakens a feeling of joy.” Indeed, the collection’s playful yet refined designs evoke a sense of wonder, transforming jewellery into a journey that transcends time and place.
L’Île au Trésor is more than a collection – it is an odyssey of creativity, craftsmanship, and imagination. For luxury connoisseurs, it offers not just jewellery but a world of stories waiting to be discovered. From the first glimmer of an emerald wave to the bold hues of hidden treasure, every piece captures the spirit of exploration and the beauty of the unknown. This collection is a radiant reminder that true luxury lies not just in possession, but in the experiences and dreams it inspires.
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