29 June 2015

High Jewellery ring with mechanical treasure shells as storage of sapphires and diamonds

Recently, French High Jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled the new 'Seven Seas' collection-series which is inspired by the natural and cultural environment of the Red Sea (ring on this page pays homage to the beautiful submarine fauna), the Adriatic Sea, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The signature visual culture of the regions and the flora and fauna of the water environment are re-interpreted as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and various clips with motifs such as a mermaid (references the mythological siren of the region of the Mediterranean Sea) or turtle (fauna-inspired item of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans collection).

fig.: Gouaché design of the 'Coquillage Mystérieux' ring by Van Cleef & Arpels (collection 'Red Sea' from the 'Seven Seas' series, presented in June 2015) is made of white gold, pink gold, red gold, round and troidia-cut diamonds, blue and mauve sapphires, and Mystery Set rubies which are used for the shells. The shells with Van Cleef & Arpels' legendary invisible stone setting are equipped with a mechanism which allows to open and close the shells like a case; inside are blue and mauve sapphires and in the middle a star of diamonds. Photos: (C) Van Cleef & Arpels.

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