Van Cleef & Arpels tells a fairy tale with its new model at SIHH 2017
The dial of the Lady Arpels Papillon Automate features a fluttering butterfly on a floral landscape
Designed with an exclusive automaton module, the piece captures the fluttering of a butterfly and brings it to life on the delicate dial. As an iconic house motif, the butterfly has been a recurring theme for Van Cleef & Arpel’s timepieces and high jewellery pieces alike. The automaton movement allows the butterfly to flutter its wings – two to five times in a row as the hours and minutes flow by. The movement is also available on demand via a push-button that triggers five beats of the butterfly’s wings.
The floral scene is portrayed by pavé diamonds, mother of pearl and enamel on the dial. A variety of decorative techniques is applied to achieve the beautiful effect. While the butterfly’s wings are adorned with two shades of plique-à-jour enamel, the Champleve enamel is applied to the flowers for a soft bluish hue. The result is a dial that boasts three-dimensional depth. The transparent sapphire crystal glass case back reveals the painstakingly decorated movement.
Created exclusively for Van Cleef & Arpels, the movement features four pending patent applications.
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