Founded in 1896 by Alfred Van Cleef, Van Cleef & Arpels is a French manufacturer and designer of watches, jewelry, and fragrances. Since the company is fairly old, they have a rich history of serving the elite with amazing and timeless pieces of jewelry and watches. We have seen the company create many beautiful pieces over the years, and they have just recently brought back to life a truly extraordinary watch: the Cadenas.
The newest Cadenas was unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie this January, and it brings back a truly incredible design. While the watch is certainly very progressive and unconventional, this design was actually unveiled all the way back in 1935, and Van Cleef & Arpels have produced many different versions over the years. Van Cleef & Arpels say that the design was suggested by either the Duke or Duchess of Windsor to commemorate an alliance between two families. That is also probably why they state on their website that the Cadenas is a “strong symbol of union and alliance”. Whatever the history may or may not be, this watch is pretty remarkable and definitely a conversation starter.
The timepiece is part-bracelet and part-watch. The unique design features a flexible bracelet that locks to the main watch face via a locking clasp. That is where they get the name of the timepiece from as Cadenas is French for “padlock” or “a lock”. The newest version of this watch is available in a dew different models. There are nine models that have quartz movements. The models are made from white, yellow, or rose gold that features diamonds or pink sapphires, and have either an alligator strap or a gold bracelet. Additionally all models have a larger watch face and dial, indicators for all the hours, and an improved clasp. Van Cleef & Arpels also offers prospective buyers the option to engrave a personal message on the clasp, making this a great gift for someone special.
Photo from Vogue, Van Cleef & Arpels
