Ever since William Shakespeare penned the now iconic Romeo & Juliet, the love story has continued to inspire. From modern adaptations to fashion to opera's, the tragedy has long stood the test of time. Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest high jewellery collection is yet another ode to Shakespeare's classic tale, in which love encounters that of gems.
The French High Jewellery Maison graced Sydney with the presentation of its newest thematic collection, which InStyle was lucky enough to preview. In the presence of Nicolas Luchsinger, President of Van Cleef & Arpels for Asia Pacific, and Hugues de Pins, Managing Director of Van Cleef & Arpels for Southeast Asia and Australia, the Maison hosted guests at the heritage-listed St Patrick’s Estate overlooking Manly Beach. The space was beautifully adorned with Romeo and Juliet-themed drawings by celebrated Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti.
The young lovers’ destiny played out in a Verona of precious stones, in which emerald gardens and flamboyant ramparts shelter their secrets. Imbued with the style of the Italian Renaissance, virtuoso creations translate this eternal passion into High Jewellery.
“Love is one of Van Cleef & Arpels’ founding sources of inspiration and Shakespeare’s masterpiece has already influenced the Maison’s creation, as testified by the Romeo and Juliet brooches created in 1951. Today, the new Romeo & Juliet High Jewelry collection offers a whole new vision of the love story, through figurative but also very abstract pieces imbued with the style of the Italian Renaissance," Luchsinger said.