Since 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels has been crafting jewelry and timepieces including wristwatches and table clocks to accompany its clients throughout their daily lives. From April 28th to November 9th, 2025, the "Precious Jewels Telling Time" exhibition is presented in Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels. This area located in Raffles Hotel Singapore invites visitors to delve into the Maison’s history thanks to a curated selection of creations from its patrimonial Collection.

Combining aesthetic beauty with convenience, Van Cleef & Arpels gave a distinctive interpretation of the lapel watch, which had been a popular accessory during the 18th century. The chain was traditionally hooked to the belt, until the early 20th century, when the brooch came into fashion. The lapel watch was thus born and worn on a dress or a coat.

Reflecting a new modern style, the Maison’s lapel watches present geometrical and refined lines that reflect the principles of Art Deco. Their form complemented the streamlined clothing favored by women of that era.

These lapel watches were made in the early 1920s. They are richly decorated with precious and ornamental stones. Similar in size and shape, these two pieces are distinctive thanks to their openwork and jeweled link structure.

Since the 1910, Van Cleef & Arpels has been creating thin and elegant pendant watches. Most of the time, the watch case could be removed from the pendant and be worn as a pocket watch.

The Chinese Magician pocket watch is an important timepiece in Van Cleef & Arpels’ history. It testifies to Oriental inspirations and introduces mechanical automata into the Maison’s creative repertoire. Its circular form is made of a yellow gold and osmior frame. In its center, a chinese magician in yellow gold seats cross-legged on a plinth. With his garments decorated with floral motifs in turquoise and sapphires, the figure’s look is completed by a long necklace of rubies and emerald, a testament to the Maison’s use of precious stones to support its inventive storytelling.

In the 1920s, Van Cleef & Arpels took part in the Art Deco movement and designed pieces characterized by geometric and sober patterns. The 1930s saw the development of the modernist artistic movement. The Maison enhanced abstract compositions with yellow gold surfaces. The exhibited ones are also punctuated with star-set gems. The yellow gold enabled to feature the theme of couture: knots, plated bows or cord motifs. Over the decades, gold crafting evolved in a variety of ways: from mirror polishing, to twisting and braiding.

The exhibition "Precious Jewels Telling Time" showcases the richness of Van Cleef & Arpels' watchmaking and invites visitors to step into the Maison's creative history.