Property from a distinguished lady
900Σ
Van Cleef & Arpels
Ref. 3480170
Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux
A lady’s fine, attractive and rare white gold and diamond-set bi-retrograde wristwatch with “grisaille” enamel dial and presentation box
- Estimate
- HK$350,000 - 700,000€37,700 - 75,500$44,900 - 89,700
HK$693,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Van Cleef & Arpels
- Year
- Circa 2010
- Reference No
- 3480170
- Case No
- HH33908, No. 41
- Model Name
- Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux
- Material
- 18K white gold and diamond
- Calibre
- Manual, cal. 846, 18 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Crocodile
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K white gold and diamond-set pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 38mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Van Cleef & Arpels outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Van Cleef & Arpels Le Pont des Amoureux wristwatch is perhaps one of the most poetic, romantic and enigmatic timepieces made by the acclaimed Parisian jeweler. The beauty of the timepiece featuring two whimsical lovers lies a magical story that unfolds with every passing minute.
Composed with a combination of enameling, miniaturized mechanics and traditional craftsmanship, the bi-retrograde wristwatch indicates time through depictions of love with two lovebirds set on the scenes of France’s famous kissing bridge in Annecy. Depicting the hours on the left is a lady holding an umbrella while her lover on the opposite side indicating the minutes as they get closer until they finally meet in the middle to kiss at noon and midnight. With a beautiful backdrop of the quiet town of Annecy at night with a nocturnal night sky representing the Great Bear constellation, the dial is composed of “grisaille” enamel, an extremely hard to execute enameling technique that only the best enamellers are able to execute. Requiring a meticulous process, the technique dates back to the 16th century where master enamellers applied numerous layers of enamel generating layers of varying colors to depict the motif. The final process requires the enamel to be baked inside a kiln with temperatures between 740 and 840 degree Celsius.
Encased in a beautiful 38mm diameter round-shaped case with a diamond-set bezel framing the beautiful scene it encases, the Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux wristwatch was among one of the most demanded lady’s timepiece in the market when it was launched. Powered by a robust Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 846 manual-wound movement, the present model was discontinued in 2019 making way for the new iteration featuring an automatic movement.
The present example is offered in attractive overall condition and a perfect timepiece for the elegant lady to commemorate her own love story.
Composed with a combination of enameling, miniaturized mechanics and traditional craftsmanship, the bi-retrograde wristwatch indicates time through depictions of love with two lovebirds set on the scenes of France’s famous kissing bridge in Annecy. Depicting the hours on the left is a lady holding an umbrella while her lover on the opposite side indicating the minutes as they get closer until they finally meet in the middle to kiss at noon and midnight. With a beautiful backdrop of the quiet town of Annecy at night with a nocturnal night sky representing the Great Bear constellation, the dial is composed of “grisaille” enamel, an extremely hard to execute enameling technique that only the best enamellers are able to execute. Requiring a meticulous process, the technique dates back to the 16th century where master enamellers applied numerous layers of enamel generating layers of varying colors to depict the motif. The final process requires the enamel to be baked inside a kiln with temperatures between 740 and 840 degree Celsius.
Encased in a beautiful 38mm diameter round-shaped case with a diamond-set bezel framing the beautiful scene it encases, the Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux wristwatch was among one of the most demanded lady’s timepiece in the market when it was launched. Powered by a robust Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 846 manual-wound movement, the present model was discontinued in 2019 making way for the new iteration featuring an automatic movement.
The present example is offered in attractive overall condition and a perfect timepiece for the elegant lady to commemorate her own love story.
Van Cleef & Arpels
FrenchWhen Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels fell in love, their marriage paved the way for iconic jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels to become a symbol of unification. With their background in precious stone dealing, the Arpels found their perfect match in the Van Cleefs, a family of expert stonecutters. In 1906, Estelle's brother Charles established the company name with Alfred's help and opened shop in the Place Vendôme in Paris. To this day, this Parisian neighborhood is associated with turn-of-the-century luxury.The Van Cleef & Arpels aesthetic has always had its finger on the pulse of worldwide trends: For example, the house took inspiration from Tutankhamen upon the Egyptian king's discovery in the 1920s, which spurred a global phenomenon marrying Egyptian Revival and Art Deco motifs. Over the decades, Van Cleef & Arpels has produced intricate watches, earrings and necklaces with a signature elegance that mirrors contemporary tastes.
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