To enrich and broaden the mind, one must travel. Experiencing new cultures and becoming immersed in different ways of living will not only broaden your perspective; it will also exhilarate. At least, that must have been what Pierre Arpels believed during his tenure with iconic brand, Van Cleef & Arpels, during the mid-20th century.
A descendant of Salomon Arpels, co-founder of Van Cleef & Arpels, Pierre joined the company following the Second World War, assuming a client facing role that would see him constantly travel the globe, entertaining friends of the brand as well as source jewels that would become signature pieces of the French house.
The three Arpel brothers, with Pierre pictured centre (wearing his iconic watch)
A man of impeccable taste, Pierre Arpels designed a wristwatch for himself that would be both elegant and discreet; something he could wear daily but that wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention. This very watch eventually became highly sought after, so in 1967, Van Cleef & Arpels decided to produce it in larger numbers, as a tribute to the man himself.
As a timepiece, the Pierre Arpels watch is at once classic and sophisticated, but VC&A are known for their high jewellery, so a more complicated iteration was somewhat inevitable. What follows is a wristwatch that Pierre himself would have undoubtedly approved of…
Featuring a dual time-zone, the Pierre Arpels Heure d’Ici & Heure d’Ailleurs (Time Here & Time Elsewhere) watch is nothing short of stunning. Its unique design is dominated by the retrograde minutes hand that sweeps upwards on the left hand side. Once it reaches sixty, it flicks instantaneously back down to zero, starting the process again.
The reason that Pierre would have likely approved though, other than the innate beauty of the thing, is the dual time-zone feature. Ideal for travellers, it features two circular windows indicating hours; one for local time and one for another time-zone of your choice.
Of course, this watch wouldn’t sit well within the Pierre Arpels range if it wasn’t every bit as simplistically elegant as its siblings. On the wrist it’s subtle yet ultimately stylish, and its slim profile ensures it easily slips under a shirt cuff.
The case itself is made from 18k white gold…in fact, every piece of metal on the watch – including the carage lugs, engraved buckle and crown – is made from gold. The latter is particularly interesting, however. Peeking from the perfectly proportioned crown is a brilliantly cut, round diamond; a clever nod to Van Cleef & Arpels famed jewellery history and a beautiful artisanal detail, the likes of which you wouldn’t notice unless you really looked.
The dial is crafted from pure white lacquer in a two-level format; the middle section features a lovely “pique” motive texture, giving the dial a certain depth it would otherwise lack. Adding a further dose of charisma is the blue text on the right hand side of the dial, finished in a slanted font and completing the face with a large amount of French eccentricity.
Channeling Pierre Arpel’s penchant for wanderlust Pierre Arpels Heure d’Ici & Heure d’Ailleurs offers a window into far-away lands. That second time-zone can remind the wearer of travels gone-by, or, as is more often the case with journeymen, hint at what is to come…
For more information, visit Van Cleef & Arpel’s website here.
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