Curations: Lucky Spring blooms for Van Cleef & Arpels, with new jewellery creations inspired by nature
- The latest collection by the French maison features 6 pieces with gemstone motifs of ladybugs, plum blossoms and lily of the valley set in rose gold
- It marks the return of a good-luck symbol cherished by the brand, as the ladybug has been appearing in its jewellery since the 1930s
It has become a yearly tradition for Van Cleef & Arpels to celebrate the season of rebirth by unveiling new nature-inspired jewellery pieces. The maison’s latest collection, Lucky Spring, comes to life with motifs of ladybugs and blooms in an array of precious materials.
The collection includes a long necklace, a trio of bracelets, a clip and a pair of earrings crafted in rose gold with accents of mother-of-pearl, carnelian and onyx, in designs that combine two enduring sources of inspiration for the French luxury brand – luck and nature.
The ladybug embodies both themes. Considered a “good luck” creature, it has appeared on many Van Cleef & Arpels pieces over the decades, starting with charms in the 1930s and then fluttering from bracelets and clips to watches and high jewellery pieces. Its distinctive silhouette and spotted shell have previously been replicated in a variety of materials and gems, including coral, cultured pearls, enamel and rubies.
Reimagined once again for the Lucky Spring collection, the ladybug is complemented by floral motifs of plum blossoms and lily of the valley bells and leaves. These new designs join a vast garden of flora that the maison has been emulating in its jewellery creations since the 1920s.
The long necklace and matching bracelet offer a playful array of all four design motifs, led by the ladybug in rose gold, carnelian and onyx. Both types of flowers are made from mother-of-pearl, with five golden pistils set at the centre of the plum blossoms. The dangling charms of lily of the valley leaves are cast in textured rose gold.
The other two bracelets in the collection pay tribute to the iconic ladybug and its role as a herald of the arriving spring. Van Cleef & Arpels presents the ladybug solo, in a different way on each bracelet: with the wings fully folded, and with the wings spread as if it’s about to take flight.
The shell is crafted in vivid red-orange carnelian, with polished gold pins representing the spots, while the shiny black onyx is used for the head, providing a striking contrast. The open-wing ladybug also has a slightly vaulted body made of mirror-polished rose gold. Each ladybug motif is outlined in beaded rose gold.
The Lucky Spring clip gathers all four motifs into a single, textured jewellery piece designed as a springtime tableau. Completing the collection are the simple yet elegant plum blossom earrings, in iridescent white mother-of-pearl framed with beaded rose gold.
