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Devoted to Fine Watches

ISSUE 58

In recent Issues, QP has devoted plenty of space to the resurgence of ambition on British watchmaking and QP58 is no exception as we recount the debut of M [...]

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QP Magazine Current Issue #58

News

Van Cleef & Arpels’ Ballerine Enchantée

Thursday 24 January 2013

Van Cleef & Arpels' 2013 collection, unveiled at SIHH this week, is an enchanting kaleidoscope of butterflies, swallows and ballerinas, culminating in the Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée watch from the Poetic Complications™ collection. Inspired by a quote from legendary Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova - "I've been dreaming that I was a ballerina, and that I was spending my whole life dancing as lightly as a butterfly…" - a miniature dancer takes centre stage on the guilloché and grand feu enamel dial of the watch. Sculpted in gold with champlevé enamel clothes and a rose-cut oval diamond face, it is the openwork wings of the ballerina's tutu that reveal the timepiece's secret.

 

Depressing a pusher at 8 o'clock initiates a double retrograde movement designed by high watchmaking workshop La Fabrique du Temps. First the left-hand veil of the ballerina's skirt rises to indicate the hour, followed by the right-hand veil rising to show the minutes. Both wings remain raised for 4 minutes before returning to their starting positions. 

 

Inspired by the mechanism of its Magicien chinois pocket watch from 1927, the Ballerine Enchantée feaaturea a 40.5mm white-gold case with diamond-set bezel. All the pieces will be numbered and the design will become a part of the Maison's permanent collection.

 

Further information: www.vancleefarpels.com