William Shakespeare’s legendary masterpiece Romeo and Juliet has inspired Van Cleef & Arpels’ new themed collection, in which the language of love encounters that of gems. The young lovers’ destiny plays out in a Verona of precious stones, in which emerald gardens and flamboyant ramparts shelter their secrets. Imbued with the style of the Italian Renaissance, virtuoso creations translate this eternal passion into High Jewelry.

“For us, the choice of Romeo and Juliet was a natural one for several reasons. Literature is one of the Maison’s major sources of inspiration, and in 2003 we had already paid tribute to the world of Shakespeare with the A Midsummer Night’s Dream collection,” explains Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels. “When Benjamin Millepied – whose work we have supported for the past several years – told us that he was working on a contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, it struck me as a remarkable creative opportunity. Shakespeare’s masterpiece acts as the starting point for a new thematic collection, but also for a dialogue between disciplines involving High Jewelry, dance, music and the visual arts.”

Throughout its history, Van Cleef & Arpels has always been attached to the values of creativity, transmission and exchange. This constant commitment takes the form of cultural partnerships that encourage creative dialogue and links between disciplines, notably in the fields of dance and the visual arts. The Romeo & Juliet collection has brought about a dialogue with the work of artist: Lorenzo Mattotti. At Van Cleef & Arpels’ request, the illustrator has produced a series of drawings depicting an iconographical journey to the heart of the intrigue. They illustrate tension, momentum and suspended motion like a restrained passion. The strong, bright tones of red and blue – highly present in the creations – dominate this symphony of colors. They are accompanied by yellow, which shines out like a light to warm these nocturnal scenes.

After completing his studies of architecture, Lorenzo Mattotti decided to devote himself to comic strips and co-founded the artists collective “Valvoline” in the early 1980s. From Incidents to Guirlanda, his work has displayed a strong sense of coherence, alongside the eclecticism of an author who is constantly exploring new horizons. His books have been translated into many languages, while his drawings have notably appeared in Le Monde, The New Yorker, L’Obs, Das Magazin and La Repubblica. His work in the field of cinema has ranged from posters for the 2000 Cannes Film Festival to various full-length features: Eros by Wong Kar-wai, Soderbergh and Antonioni (2004), the animated films Pinocchio by Enzo D’Alò (2012) and La Fameuse Invasion de la Sicile par les Ours, adapted from Dino Buzzati’s novel and directed by Lorenzo Mattotti, which will be released in October 2019.

In over 100 unique pieces ranging from the figurative to the abstract, the new High Jewelry collection offers a brand new vision of Romeo and Juliet, based closely on Shakespeare’s 1597 tragedy. The story is told both through the main characters and the context and setting for their love. The balcony scene, the approaching dawn, the birdsong, gardens and architecture of Verona, along with the finery and costumes of the Renaissance: all seem to come to life in these creations.

To create effects of volume, perspective and relief, the pieces combine different stone cuts, setting techniques and shades, in a constant interplay of geometry and curves. From subtle gradations to Pierres de Caractère that instill a unique emotion, the gems speak the language of the sentiments: it includes the warmth of Mystery Set rubies, the crystalline clarity of diamonds and the deep hue of Colombian emeralds. The red and blue tones that dominate the color palette are inspired by the coats of arms of the two families: the Capulets for Juliet and the Montagues for Romeo. A blend of the two shades, mauve evokes the passion of the young lovers – united for all eternity – while green echoes the hope that fills their hearts.

Amid all its rich and varied links with the world of Van Cleef & Arpels, the Romeo & Juliet collection gives pride of place to love – one of the Maison’s founding themes. Born out of the marriage of Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef, it has always celebrated the tender feelings that bring two hearts together. Like a sign of destiny, the first creation to be entered in the sales book in 1906 was a diamond heart. Over the coming years, numerous pieces would accompany the world’s best-known romances, from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. Today, the collections continue to evoke love, with wedding and engagement rings, the Pont des Amoureux watch and High Amid all its rich and varied links with the world of Van Cleef & Arpels, the Romeo & Juliet collection gives pride of place to love – one of the Maison’s founding themes. Born out of the marriage of Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef, it has always celebrated the tender feelings that bring two hearts together. Like a sign of destiny, the first creation to be entered in the sales book in 1906 was a diamond heart. Over the coming years, numerous pieces would accompany the world’s best-known romances, from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. Today, the collections continue to evoke love, with wedding and engagement rings, the Pont des Amoureux watch and High Jewelry pieces that reveal tender secrets.

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