In the serene world of haute craftsmanship, where time is interpreted not by numbers but by emotion, Van Cleef & Arpels introduces one of its most poetic creations to date: the Brassée de Lavande automaton. The newest addition to the Maison’s revered Extraordinary Objects collection, this one-of-a-kind work unites mechanics, artistry, and storytelling in an enchanting ode to nature. Continuing the aesthetic language first expressed through Rêveries de Berylline in 2022, the automaton transforms the passing of hours into a choreography of movement, light and meticulously hand-crafted detail.
Curling into a dome of lacquered rose gold, the lavender sprigs form a sculptural bouquet that conceals a secret at its heart. Thirty-six stems arranged in two fluid layers intertwine like a living botanical sculpture, painted in harmony with soft green leaves and delicate blue blossoms. When activated, the automaton gently unfurls — as if stirred by a breeze over a Provençal field — revealing a butterfly poised for flight. The transformation is slow, deliberate, and deeply theatrical, echoing the Maison’s gift for turning mechanics into emotion.
The butterfly, sculpted from tiger’s eye and set with amethyst cabochons, carries wings lit with plique-à-jour enamel — a heritage technique that allows light to pass through as if through stained glass. Thin layers of translucent color are kiln-fired one by one, creating a luminous glow that contrasts beautifully with the opaque black enamel edging each wing. As it rises above a cluster of golden beads set with amethysts, the butterfly captures a fleeting moment — the kind of natural poetry that Van Cleef & Arpels has been immortalising since 1906.
At the base of the automaton, verdite and howlite form a striking two-tiered pedestal, each piece cut and polished to reveal their distinct natural character. Two snails in polished white gold observe the scene, while the time is read through a rotating ring adorned with yellow-gold hour markers and diamonds. When the animation begins, a gentle melody accompanies the spectacle, turning the telling of time into a multi-sensory experience. Eight days of power reserve allow the rhythm of the automaton to match the contemplative pace of the maison’s poetic universe.
Behind the enchantment lies exceptional savoir-faire. The Brassée de Lavande was assembled at the Maison’s Art Mechanics Workshop in Sainte-Croix, where craftsmen dedicated years to perfecting both the movement and the choreography of its animation. Every sprig is shaped and lacquered by hand, a process involving layering, sanding, airbrushing, and glazing to create natural depth. Across workshops in Geneva, Sainte-Croix and Paris, jewellers, enamel artists and mechanical specialists collaborated to merge tradition and innovation in perfect balance.
