Walk On The Wild Side: Van Cleef & Arpels' Lucky Animals Collection
Adopting a pet is not something to be taken lightly, but a serious responsibility and a long term commitment. After all, if you are just barely managing to look after yourself, how can you take care of another living being? Should you not be ready to jump in feet first (no judgment), here is another way to enjoy some cute critters – the Lucky Animals collection from Van Cleef & Arpels. First unveiled in 2017, the line of animal-themed clips captures the benevolence of nature, always a source of inspiration for the house, in gold and precious stones. And this year, the Maison adds five new members to the family with the Turtle, Horse, Panda, Duck, and Pig.
The ideal complement for virtually any outfit, each design is suffused with a distinct vivacity, thanks to the careful curation of materials and mien. An eternal symbol of friendship, the mother-of-pearl and onyx Panda radiates tenderness with its soulful gaze, while the spirited carnelian and onyx Horse stands primed for a headlong gallop. A lively combination of malachite, lapis lazuli, mother-of-pearl, and onyx brings the curious Duck to life, such that you can almost hear its insistent squawks as it waddles along. The cherubic yet curious Pig exudes an air of benignity with its grey mother-of-pearl hide, while the Turtle swims serenely through the air, its halcyon character underscored by nuanced curves in malachite and mother-of-pearl. All five creatures are adorned with expressive onyx eyes, and outlined with delicate grains of yellow, rose, or white gold, in the same vein as the house’s signature Alhambra motif.
On top of being delightfully adorable, these charming creations also pay tribute to the rich heritage of the jewellery house. The series looks back to La Boutique chapter of the Maison’s history, when in 1954 it debuted a range of more accessible jewellery marked by a sense of humour, which included a number of playful animal clips inspired by early American cartoons, and cherished by celebrated tastemakers like Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Grace Kelly. This passion for the world of fauna lives on today in the whimsical Lucky Animals.
Finely honed over more than a century of achievement, the superb craftsmanship of Van Cleef & Arpels is clearly manifest in the collection. Prudently selected by the house’s expert gemologists, only the highest quality hard stones are used for the designs, such as fiery orange-red carnelian, brilliant onyx, and cloudless mother-of-pearl. Every piece is then meticulously polished by hand, set in marquetry, and framed with a halo of tiny golden beads. Whether you’re an animal person or not, this is one collection you won’t be able to resist.
