In the world of high watchmaking, where seconds are usually measured by cold, mechanical precision, Van Cleef & Arpels has always been the outlier. For the Maison, time is not a countdown; it is a narrative—an invitation to pause, dream, and rejoice. This January 2026, that dreamscape lands in Saudi Arabia as the Maison hosts the “Poetry of Time” exhibition at the historic Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah.
Open to the public from January 17 to 20, the exhibition is a rare, immersive dive into a universe where astronomy, nature, love, and couture are rendered in gold, enamel, and precious stones. It is a celebration of savoir-faire, showcasing the combined genius of watchmakers, jewelers, and automaton specialists.
Love in Motion: The Pont des Amoureux
The centerpiece of the Maison’s “Love Stories” is the iconic Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux collection. Here, time is told through the lens of a long-awaited rendezvous:
- The Kiss: A couple meets on a bridge in Paris, sharing a romantic kiss at the stroke of noon and midnight.
- Mechanical Poetry: A retrograde movement indicates the hours and minutes, while an on-demand module allows the wearer to replay the romantic encounter at will.
- A New Rendezvous: The latest Lady Arpels Bal des Amoureux Automate takes this a step further, recreating the atmosphere of a 19th-century open-air dance café with realistically moving characters—a feat that took four years of research.
Nature’s Clockwork
Van Cleef & Arpels has always been fascinated by the rhythms of the natural world. In the Lady Arpels Heures Florales, telling time becomes a literal spectacle:
- The Floral Clock: Inspired by Carl von Linné’s concept, the dial features twelve corollas that open and close to indicate the passing hour.
- A New Scenery Every Hour: With over 166 parts in motion, the dial’s landscape is recreated every 60 minutes, mirroring the constant metamorphosis of nature.
Muses of the Moment: Fairies and Ballerinas
Dating back to the early 1940s, fairies and ballerinas have served as the Maison’s feminine muses. In the Lady Féeriemodels, a fairy arrayed in diamonds and sapphires watches over the dial. Seated on a mother-of-pearl cloud, she points to the minutes with her magic wand, while jumping hours appear in a window shaped like the moon or sun.
The exhibition also highlights the Maison’s legacy of “Jewels that tell time”:
- The Ludo Secret: A tribute to the 1934 Ludo belt bracelet, this watch features a hidden dial revealed only by simultaneous pressure on two sapphire motifs.
- Sweet Alhambra: The iconic four-leaf clover motif, a symbol of luck since 1968, is reinvented with a guilloché yellow gold dial that catches the light like sunbeams.
As the Maison marks its place in the heart of Diriyah, the “Poetry of Time” serves as a powerful reminder that while we all have the same 24 hours, some choose to spend them in a state of enchantment.
