Van Cleef & Arpels has long been celebrated for transforming time into poetry. Yet within the Maison’s creative universe exists a series that goes even further — where jewelry, watchmaking, and mechanical art merge into sculptural form. The Extraordinary Objects™ collection is a rare expression of what happens when imagination is given no boundaries.

By Urtė D. | Oct 5, 2025

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The Extraordinary Objects™ collection represents the Maison’s rarest pursuit — the transformation of time into living art. These automatons are not mere watches but animated sculptures, uniting jewelry craftsmanship, mechanical genius, and poetic imagination.

Created in collaboration with the renowned automaton-maker François Junod, each masterpiece requires several years of work and the collective expertise of watchmakers, gem-setters, lapidaries, enamellers, and goldsmiths. Every mechanism is concealed within a world of precious stones, mother-of-pearl, and gold, revealing movement only when brought to life by touch.

Planétarium Automaton

An ode to the cosmos, the Planétarium Automaton captures the motion of celestial bodies in real time. Beneath a dome of aventurine glass, the Sun gleams in rose gold set with yellow sapphires and spessartite garnets. Around it, the planets orbit on precise mechanical paths, while the dial trembles subtly — a technical feat inspired by the 18th-century trembleur technique.

Fontaine aux Oiseaux

A poetic vision of nature in motion, Fontaine aux Oiseaux recreates a tranquil pond where diamond-set birds flutter and water ripples in rhythm. Crafted from white gold, enamel, and aquamarine, this piece reflects Van Cleef & Arpels’ fascination with movement and light. When activated, the scene awakens with music — a delicate interplay between art and mechanism.

Fée Ondine

The Fée Ondine Automaton evokes the Maison’s emblematic fairy motif, this time perched on an enamelled water lily. Diamonds, sculpted gold, and transparent plique-à-jour enamel create an illusion of natural light dancing on water. Each petal moves with fluid grace, powered by a hidden automaton mechanism.

Rêveries de Berylline

Inspired by the iridescence of the hummingbird, Rêveries de Berylline combines motion, sound, and color. The bird — carved in gold with mother-of-pearl wings and gemstone plumage — flutters above a blooming flower. When activated, it sings softly, an exquisite reminder of nature’s vitality captured in jewelry form.

Bouton d’Or

A fairy poised on a blooming flower brings the Bouton d’Or Automaton to life. This creation reinterprets a historic Van Cleef & Arpels motif from the 1930s, sculpted in rose gold and blue lacquer. The fairy’s wings in plique-à-jour enamel and her briolette sapphire accent embody the Maison’s perfect balance between mechanical sophistication and poetic charm.

Éveil du Cyclamen

The Éveil du Cyclamen Automaton celebrates color and elegance through a garden of pink and violet lacquered petals. A butterfly, set with diamonds and emeralds, rises gently from the center of the composition. This tender motion is guided by invisible mechanics, a hallmark of Van Cleef & Arpels’ ingenuity.

Naissance de l’Amour

Depicting two doves amid a garland of gold and precious stones, the Naissance de l’Amour Automaton symbolizes renewal and devotion. Crafted in white and rose gold, with diamonds and coral details, it embodies the timeless language of love — the most intimate inspiration behind Van Cleef & Arpels’ artistry.

Floraison du Nénuphar

In Floraison du Nénuphar, a butterfly rises above a dome of yellow gold, blue sapphires, and spessartite garnets. The animation is synchronized with a musical movement, creating the illusion of life emerging from stillness — a rare convergence of fine jewelry, kinetic sculpture, and horology.

Apparition des Baies

The Apparition des Baies Automaton evokes the delicate awakening of nature. Diamond-studded leaves open slowly to reveal sculpted berries of enamel and ruby, a tribute to the rhythms of growth and transformation. Each motion reflects the Maison’s fascination with fleeting beauty and the poetry of time.

Rocher aux Merveilles

A fantastical tableau that crowns the collection, Rocher aux Merveilles stands as a mountain of lapis lazuli adorned with diamond-set fairies, unicorns, and mythical birds. Accents of tourmaline, sapphire, and spessartite glow from within the crystalline base, giving the impression of light born from stone. It is a universe unto itself — a celebration of imagination elevated to artistry.

Each creation in the Extraordinary Objects™ collection is an encounter between mechanics and dream. Together, they reaffirm Van Cleef & Arpels’ rare ability to merge the métiers d’art — engraving, enameling, gem-setting — into a living expression of time.

For more about the collection, visit:
Van Cleef & Arpels — Extraordinary Objects™ Collection.

Van Cleef & Arpels | Extraordinary Objects™ Collection