We know that Van Cleef & Arpels was founded based on a deep appreciation for the beauty of precious gemstones. But the Maison has also revealed its fullest expression of artistry in the realm of watchmaking. This poetic marriage of technicality and visual design takes centre stage in Precious Jewels Telling Time, an eye-opening exhibition now open to the public at Les Jardins Secrets, the Maison’s elegant space nestled within The Raffles Hotel Singapore. Running from 28th April to 9th November 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to explore a curated selection from the French brand’s patrimonial collection. These pieces trace the evolution of timekeeping as both an intimate companion and an objet d’art.
The exhibition begins its journey with a look into the early 20th century, when jewellery and timekeeping were first embraced in the Maison’s creations. From wristwatches and table clocks to intricate secret watches, each carried the mark of a house committed to beauty, emotion, and storytelling. In the 1920s, Van Cleef & Arpels embraced the modern spirit of Art Deco. Displayed at the exhibition are creations shaped by geometry, a reflection of the era’s fascination with order and ornament. By the 1930s, the mood had shifted: the Maison’s designers, inspired by the modernist movement, began experimenting with abstraction. Polished yellow gold became a canvas for bold compositions, occasionally punctuated with star-set gems that gave stark forms softened by celestial accents.
Highlights from the post-war period show a return to opulence. In the 1950s, white jewellery made a shining comeback, especially for evening wear. These pieces are softened by the femininity of bows, knots, and couture-inspired detailing—a recognisable trait of the Maison. Yellow gold, too, takes on new forms—twisted, braided, or mirror-polished.
Alongside the Maison’s famed Poetic Complications—imaginative feminine timepieces that blur the line between dream and horology—visitors will encounter early pocket watches that hint at a longstanding fascination with storytelling through movement. Among them: a remarkable double-retrograde, Oriental-inspired watch that reveals Van Cleef & Arpels’ talent for weaving narrative, culture, and technical precision into a seamless whole.
The Maison also offers a distinctive reinterpretation of the lapel watch—an accessory that had graced wardrobes since the 17th and 18th centuries. Once worn with a chain attached to the belt, this timepiece evolved in the early 20th century, as the brooch came into fashion. In this transformation, the lapel watch found a new place—gracefully pinned to a coat or dress.
Paris and haute couture are synonymous, and Van Cleef & Arpels—a brand founded on Paris’ Place Vendôme—has long drawn inspiration from haute couture, paying graceful tribute to its roots. Over time, the Maison has reimagined the softness of fabric in gold and precious stones, crafting elegant motifs such as ribbons, knots, and tassels that echo the refined codes of fashion.
One of our favourites, the secret wristwatch, captures that spirit with a sapphire-and-diamond-set bow that conceals the dial beneath its curves. The yellow gold Tubogas mesh strap that is crafted using a technique dating back to the 1930s adds a touch of elegant sophistication. As with all Van Cleef & Arpels secret watches, it turns time into a private ritual, revealed only at the wearer’s discretion.
What makes a history museum truly captivating isn’t just the beauty of the objects on display, but the deeper understanding of a brand’s origins—and the chance to fall in love with the archival pieces that paved the way for its present-day creations. And we’re glad Van Cleef & Arpels is making this as accessible as they can.
Discover Precious Jewels Telling Time by Van Cleef & Arpels in Les Jardins Secrets at Raffles Hotel Singapore, open from April 28 to November 9, 2025.
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