Pierre Arpels' First Complicated Movement

Van Cleef & Arpels has a long history as a jeweler. Its approach to watchmaking sets it apart from other brands.

“Our watches are, first and foremost, about the story. They don't just tell time; they express a narrative that unfolds over time.”

Denis Giguet, Director of the Watchmaking Workshops, explained that this is the reason Van Cleef & Arpels creates watches with such unique character and atmosphere. He added, “To tell such stories, one must possess a high level of technical skill.”



From the new models presented at this year's Geneva Salon, Denis Giguet introduced two pieces he is particularly proud of. One is the “Pierre Arpels Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs.” This dual-time watch, named “Time here & Time elsewhere,” displays the time in two different locations. It is a unique timepiece, characteristic of Van Cleef & Arpels.



Therefore, a new movement was developed. As it is an automatic winding watch, a micro-rotor is embedded in the bridge, allowing it to be perfectly housed within a case measuring 42mm in diameter and 7.97mm in thickness. Looking at the movement through the case back, one can appreciate how effectively the space has been utilized.

“The story behind this model is about ‘Pierre Arpels, a man admired by all within the Maison's founding family, traveling the world.’ Therefore, ease of use and the ability to quickly understand the time in two different zones were paramount. That's why we opted for Arabic numerals for the time display. Both ‘time here’ and ‘time elsewhere’ are shown in small windows with Arabic numerals. It's very simple and easy to understand, isn't it? Displaying dual times with double numerals is also a first in watchmaking history.”

Capturing the Cosmos in a Case

This year's theme for Van Cleef & Arpels is 'Poetic Astronomy.' Astronomy is a field filled with dreams, and expressing it requires exceptional technical skill. It is a domain where Van Cleef & Arpels can truly showcase its unique identity.

Among these, the “Midnight Planetarium” stands out as this year's most unique model.

“We created this model with the ambition of enclosing the universe within a watch case. It actually displays the movements of the planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Such orreries, or planetariums, existed in the 18th century. We wanted to recreate that in a wristwatch.”



This model accurately synchronizes the positions of each planet, rendering them on the dial with precious stones and metals.

“The planets on the dial orbit the central sun according to their actual periods. Saturn, located on the outermost edge, takes over 29 years to complete one revolution.”

It presents a grand cosmic spectacle, a truly astronomical watch. Yet, Van Cleef & Arpels' focus, as always, was on user-friendliness.



“Although this model has a highly complex mechanism, the biggest challenge was making the date setting, and other adjustments, as simple as possible. After all, a function is meaningless if it cannot be used.”

Incidentally, the case diameter of the Midnight Planetarium is 44mm, and its thickness is 13.48mm. Despite housing so many elements, it remains remarkably slim.

“It absolutely must be elegant.”

This core principle of Van Cleef & Arpels is meticulously upheld here as well.

This Year's New Watch Collection Presented at SIHH

Finally, we would like to introduce the latest watch collection from Van Cleef & Arpels, showcased at the prestigious watchmaking event "S.I.H.H. (Salon International Haute Horlogerie)," commonly known as the Geneva Salon, held in Geneva this January. In addition to the aforementioned "Midnight Planetarium" and "Pierre Arpels Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs," the brand unveiled pieces brimming with its signature charm, employing traditional decorative techniques.