For over a century, Van Cleef & Arpels has drawn inspiration from the mysteries of the cosmos, transforming the poetry of the heavens into exquisite timepieces. Fascinated by the dance of the stars and the ever-changing face of the Moon, the Maison has long translated celestial wonder into horological artistry – from its early moon-phase pocket watches to secret timepieces inspired by meteor trails. Today, this fascination continues through new creations that blend technical mastery with artistic expression, where Poetic Complications, enamel artistry and extraordinary dials come together to capture the magic of the night sky and the timeless romance of the universe. 

Photo by Clément Rousset

The Midnight Jour Nuit Phase de Lune watch expands the Maison’s poetic vision of time, celebrating the Moon – one of its most enduring sources of inspiration. Housed in a 42-mm white gold case, the timepiece features a mesmerizing dial crafted from black Murano aventurine glass, evoking a shimmering night sky. Two complications work in harmony: the iconic Jour/Nuit display, where a golden sun gradually gives way to a mother-of-pearl moon over a 24-hour cycle, and an astronomical moon-phase indication that faithfully mirrors the lunar cycle. Through a sophisticated system of rotating discs and an on-demand animation activated by a push button, the watch reveals the Moon’s current phase in a celestial spectacle lasting ten seconds. Completing the cosmic narrative, the caseback presents a miniature universe with enamel depictions of Earth and delicately painted planets, offering a poetic perspective of the cosmos as seen from the Moon.

The Midnight Heure d’ici & Heure d’ailleurs timepiece offers a poetic vision of time across two horizons, inviting the wearer on a refined journey between distant corners of the world. Encased in a 38-mm rose gold Midnight case, the watch pairs elegant craftsmanship with a dual-time complication that displays local and distant hours simultaneously through jumping hours and retrograde minutes. Its embossed enamel dial – crafted in the Maison’s Geneva workshops – reveals a deep amber-brown hue whose tones shift subtly with the light, enhanced by guilloché patterns and a piqué motif inspired by the house’s hallmark. Completing this refined composition, the caseback features an engraved Moon illuminated by a guilloché Sun, echoing the celestial poetry that defines the Maison’s timeless approach to watchmaking.

The Ludo Secret watch celebrates the timeless charm of the iconic Ludo bracelet, first introduced in 1934 and inspired by the elegant silhouette of a belt. Reimagining a 1949 model, this new creation wraps the wrist in a supple bracelet of mirror-polished yellow gold “briquette” links, meticulously assembled by hand to create a fluid, woven effect. Vivid blue sapphires form luminous crescent motifs, contrasting beautifully with the warm glow of gold. True to the Maison’s love for trompe-l’œil design, a gentle press on the jeweled buckle reveals a hidden guilloché mother-of-pearl dial, where a single baguette-cut sapphire marks twelve o’clock – an elegant secret concealed within a jewel.

The Perlée watch transforms the Maison’s iconic golden beads into a luminous timepiece where jewelry artistry meets watchmaking savoir-faire. Framed by a double row of meticulously polished beads in white gold, the round case reveals a mesmerizing aventurine glass dial whose deep midnight-blue tones evoke the vastness of the cosmos. Enhanced by a subtle radiating guilloché effect, the dial shimmers with every movement of light, while diamonds delicately set along the case edge add a refined brilliance. Discreetly adjustable via a hidden button on the caseback and paired with interchangeable alligator straps, the watch offers a contemporary and elegant interpretation of jewels that tell time.

Lady Retrouvailles Célestes watch – Photo by Clément Rousset

The Lady Rencontre Céleste and Lady Retrouvailles Célestes watches bring the poetry of love to life through two extraordinary timepieces inspired by the legendary tale of Vega and Altair – known in Chinese lore as Niulang and Zhinu. Through exceptional artistic crafts, the dials depict moments of longing and reunion beneath a celestial sky, where clouds of plique-à-jour enamel, diamond-set moons, and luminous sapphires form enchanting dreamlike scenes. Rich layers of champlevé and grisaille enamel bring depth and emotion to the compositions, while the casebacks reveal the Summer Triangle asterism, symbolizing the eternal bond between the lovers. Together, these poetic creations transform time into a tender story written among the stars.