POP 411 Tuesday 28 September 2010

Today’s POP is Lilli, in Paris and surrounded by fine jewellery. What else could a girl ask for?

French jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels invited me to discover their world and of course I accepted with alacrity. After being welcomed by the loveliest UK PR representative, me and four other bloggers made our way to Paris to get a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Van Cleef & Arpel’s workshop and also to visit their presentation on the XXVth Biennale des Antiquaires.

While I have never really thought about this kind of jewellery – not only are these pieces out of my league but usually I prefer a rather minimal look and have never been crazy about jewellery – I must say this day changed my mind.

The tour through the holy halls of Van Cleef’s workshop was more than impressive and after seeing all the craftsmen, who have been working with this for decades, patiently putting hours of work into one single piece, you understand the worth of it. And that’s before including the most precious jewels of the world!

We got to see every step of the process, from the drawing to the making of a mock-up, from their special Mystery Setting technique to the polishing that is done before the pieces are ready to embellish the neck of a woman. I couldn’t even decide if I’d rather have one of these beautiful treasures or if I would be happier to actually make one myself with the help and support of the amiable craftsmen.

As if that wasn’t enough, we were chauffeured to the Biennale where we had the opportunity to view the director and set designer Alfredo Arias’ work, a surrounding that perfectly accompanies Van Cleef & Arpel’s latest collection, which is inspired by the novels of Jules Verne. Taking a cue from Jules Verne’s “A Journey to the Centre of the Earth”, “From the Earth to the Moon”, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and “Five Weeks in a Balloon”, Arias created an imaginative and elaborated interior that immediately turns you into a female version of Captain Nicholl who loves fine jewellery.

Finally we got the chance to meet the charming Stanislas de Quercize, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, who passionately narrated the story behind the long-established jewellery institution.

A brilliant day with brilliant people and a new love for jewellery. Now I am just waiting for the right person who is willing and able to present me with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds… Anyone interested?