For decades, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn endless inspiration from the world of dance. The Maison's connection to the dance world deepened in the 1950s, when Claude Arpels, a member of the founding family, struck up a friendship with George Balanchine, the renowned choreographer and co-founder of the New York City Ballet. Their shared passion for gemstones led to an artistic bond that blossomed into Balanchine's ballet, "Jewels." Premiering in New York in April 1967, the ballet is comprised of three acts, each associated with a different gemstone and a different composer. Act I, "Emeralds," features pieces by Gabriel Fauré; Act II, "Rubies," by Igor Stravinsky; and Act III, "Diamonds," by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Now, in homage to this ballet, the Maison has unveiled the new Lady Arpels Ballerine Musical Watch, truly combining music and movement for the first time in watchmaking.

Lady Arpels Ballerine Musical Emerald Watch
The Magic of the Stage
To fully capture the enchantment of ballet, Van Cleef & Arpels has recreated an actual stage scene in three dimensions. Diamonds are set at the top of the dial, representing the sparkling chandelier and opulent curtains. The carved, engraved and hand-painted curtain then opens to reveal a ethereal ballerina on a stage set in a miniature painting. Each timepiece features a combination of jewels and motifs that nod to each of the acts that inspired George Balanchine's ballet, "Jewels."

Lady Arpels Ballerine Musical Ruby Watch
Poetry Woven Through Movement and Music
Each piece, aligned with the three chapters of "Jewels," tells the poetry of costume and music through animation that captivates the sights and sounds. The dials come to life, melodies play, and the eyes and ears are transported to the enchanting world of ballet. In response to a gesture, the curtain opens to reveal five ballerinas in beautiful tutus as the music begins to play. The melodies corresponding to the three acts of "Jewels" are played by the clear tones of the carillon and music box. The innovative combination of the two instruments creates a beautiful harmony, pleasing to the ears with the main melodies of pieces by Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The watch case amplifies the melodies played by the carillon and music box, transmitting the sound to the outside through its intricately paved surface with diamonds.

Lady Arpels Ballerine Musical Diamond Watch
Conceived 10 years ago, the project required seven years of development for its hand-wound mechanical movement and on-demand animation. In keeping with the Maison's cherished tradition, the watch features a retrograde time display.

The extraordinary sound of two instruments working together
The music box's diaphragm is made up of 10 tines. The sound is produced when pins attached to the bottom of the rotating disc, which creates a visual animation effect, strike these teeth. When the four bells of the carillon are struck by the same number of hammers, another tone is added. To ensure that the two instruments play the 20- to 25-second melodies in perfect pitch, they had to be meticulously tuned like a piano. To respect the rhythm of each arrangement, a centrifugal regulator maintains a constant speed regardless of the tension in the animation barrel. This makes it possible to play the complete, beautiful melody three times in succession.

A Fusion of Savoir-Faire
In addition to the technical feat of playing two different instruments within a single watch case, Van Cleef & Arpels also attempted to recreate the complex melodies of three classical pieces. The three pieces featured are Gabriel Fauré's "Pelléas et Mélisande" (1898), Igor Stravinsky's "Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra" (1929), and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 3" (1975). The Maison worked closely with Michel Tirabosco to simplify and adapt these pieces to suit two instruments. The Roman-born Swiss musician and renowned pan flute virtuoso was deeply involved throughout the development process. At the heart of each timepiece, the rich tones of the carillon and music box create melodies and harmonies that play with precision and grace.

A stage is expressed on a disc using the technique of miniature painting


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