SimplyAbuDhabi XLIX

Lady Recontre & Lady Retrouvailles Célestes Love has always occupied a special place in the world of Van Cleef & Arpels, inspiring creations that elevate the passage of time into something altogether more poetic. For Watches and Wonders 2026, the Maison turns once again to the heavens, introducing two Extraordinary Dial timepieces that celebrate one of history’s most enduring love stories through exceptional craftsmanship and a distinctly dreamlike vision. The Lady Rencontre Céleste and Lady Retrouvailles Célestes watches draw inspiration from the ancient legend of Vega and Altair, the celestial lovers known in Chinese folklore as Zhinu and Niulang. Separated by the Milky Way and reunited only once each year, their story unfolds across two remarkable dials, each capturing a different moment in their timeless romance. Rendered in luminous shades of blue, the Lady Rencontre Céleste depicts the couple hand in hand beneath a constellation-filled sky. Their white gold silhouettes emerge through translucent plique-à-jour enamel clouds, delicately adorned with diamonds, while rose- cut diamonds subtly define their faces. Above them, a diamond-set moon casts a gentle glow across a richly layered backdrop of champlevé and grisaille enamel, accented by a crescent of sapphires whose vivid colour is enhanced through miniature painting. Its companion piece, the Lady Retrouvailles Célestes, explores the anticipation of reunion in a palette of soft pinks and mauves. Here, the lovers reach towards one another across a graceful bridge formed by sculpted white gold birds, with a crescent of mauve sapphires illuminating the sky behind them. Champlevé enamel provides depth and warmth to the scene, while plique-à-jour enamel and diamonds lend the clouds an ethereal transparency that seems to capture the changing light of dusk. The romance extends beyond the dial. Turn each watch over and the story continues with an engraving of the Summer Triangle, the celebrated asterism formed by Vega, Altair, and Deneb, quietly linking the celestial lovers within the night sky. It is a thoughtful finishing touch that encapsulates Van Cleef &Arpels’ love of astronomy, storytelling, and the extraordinary artistry that rewrites watchmaking into wearable poetry. 210 | Simply Abu Dhabi