Van Cleef & Arpels has just unveiled its new high jewelry collection for the season—"Treasure Island," inspired by Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel Treasure Island. The new collection merges the maison’s signature craftsmanship with an array of vibrant colored gemstones, bringing to life captivating imagery such as sailboats, islands, treasure maps, and pirates, embarking on an exciting and adventurous journey.
Treasure Island, first published in 1883, tells the story of Jim, a 10-year-old boy from England, who, after obtaining a treasure map, embarks on an adventurous voyage with his companions to the mysterious island of Treasure Island in search of treasure. Inspired by the fantasy world in the novel, the "Treasure Island" high jewelry collection presents over 90 unique and exquisite pieces, unfolding in a trilogy that intertwines grand travel, dreamlike nature, and distant civilizations on an adventurous quest.
Chapter 1: "Maritime Adventures" opens the voyage of discovery—one piece, the Hispaniola brooch, pays tribute to the eponymous ship in Treasure Island that carries the protagonists through treacherous waters. Platinum pavé diamonds form a huge sail filled with sea breeze, contrasting with the rose gold sculpted hull. Another piece, the Poissons Mystérieux brooch, inspired by the color of the sea, incorporates the Vitrail Mystery Set technique, which subtly integrates gemstones with an exquisite stained-glass-like effect, creating a shimmering sapphire sea with diamond fish swimming through it in a poetic and dreamlike fashion.
In this chapter, a series of pirate-themed brooches vividly capture the likenesses of the treasure-hunting pirates John, David, and Jim from Stevenson’s story—Jim is seen holding a telescope atop a mast, surrounded by a gold scroll studded with diamonds; his companion, Dr. David, stands confidently on golden bricks, with pink sapphire-set lantern sleeves accentuating his exaggerated posture; the villainous John is depicted with a relaxed and carefree demeanor, holding a hat with platinum feather details that contrast subtly with his rose gold prosthetic limb.
Chapter 2: "Island Wonders" depicts the vibrant world of the dream island upon arrival—one piece, the Palmeraie merveilleuse necklace, alternates between polished gold and pavé diamonds to shape undulating palm fronds, with a 47.93ct faceted emerald suspended in the center, evoking the lush green of tropical foliage; another piece, the Coquillage Mystérieux brooch, presents a mysterious gemstone shell with a platinum-carved fairy on its back, standing atop a white pearl and cradling a striking emerald, guarding it like an underwater treasure.
Chapter 3: "The Treasure Hunt" culminates in the ultimate treasure-hunting moment, with the Carte au trésor brooch depicting the essential treasure map—this gold treasure map, bound with a rose gold cord, seems unopened, yet hidden in the folds is a map engraved with a ruby at its center, marking the treasure’s location—this piece features an array of precious colored gemstones, including a 14.32ct sapphire, a 13.87ct yellow sapphire, and a 12.69ct purple sapphire, alongside treasures spanning different times and civilizations, such as the Indian Mughal-inspired Splendeur indienne ring, the Libertad earrings inspired by Chimu goldsmithing, and a set of gemstone brooches based on Mayan mythology.
Van Cleef & Arpels also introduced a special piece, the Palmier Mystérieux brooch, consisting of detachable thematic elements, completing the trilogy of the treasure hunt journey. The main design portrays a broad-leaved palm tree by the beach, with the leaves set in the Mystery Set technique using emeralds, creating a lively, natural effect. Below, diamond waves gently lap against the sand. The most special feature of this piece is the interchangeable thematic elements above the waves, which depict three scenes—an adventurous diamond sailboat, a golden sun illuminating the island, and a gemstone chest filled with treasure.
Post time: Jan-17-2025