Unicorn in white gold, red gold, diamonds, marquise-cut emeralds, baguette-cut sapphires, turquoise

I am not sure there were any koalas nor girafes in Jan Brueghel the Elder’s « The Entry of the animals into Noah‘s Ark”, but the inspiration for the fabulous Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition in Hôtel d’Evreux is certainly convincing. I thought that the name of Bob Wilson as the designer was just an excuse! I was wrong, he did a great job and this is a pure moment of joy,  entrance is free.

Penguins with a coat of onyx, corals and diamonds

Across the place Vendôme from their Paris flagship store, a discreet entrance next to the Ritz leads you into a courtyard, a short waiting line and finally you penetrate a large and light blue « jewel box » with sixty glittering couples. They are the new collection presented by Nicolas Bos, CEO of Van Cleef. I queued with a couple of trendy, dressed in black, American designers, who were staying at the Ritz and I glimpsed at François Curiel, jewelry star of Christie’s, who seemed happy with the visit.

Two owls in violet sugilite and green chrysoprase with diamonds

If you have seen some of Bob Wilson’s opera stagings, you will recognise the precious light and the spareness. One enters with a group of twenty visitors at a time, in this light blue sea like room with little square showcases. In each one of them hangs or lies a couple of animals. And the fact that they are shown as a couple tells a story. Only the unicorn and a few other pieces are shown alone.

Monkeys in white gold, round, baguette-cut, obus-cut and tapered-cut diamonds, round and oval colored sapphires, cabochon-cut sapphires, round and oval spessartine garnets, obus-cut and tapered-cut black spinels.

The variety of stones and colors are fascinating and all pieces are clips so that you can wear them on a hat or on a dress, but also exhibit them in your living room or in a showcase : these pieces of jewelry are treated like sculptures which they are.

Black ebony and blue and yellow sapphires fo these tropical birds

Winking Cat clip in yellow gold, emerald, ruby, onyx

I don’t always agree with Bob Wilson’s decors which can be too cold or too static, but I have to admit that here, his presentation is perfect. The emotion I felt when entering the jewel box was similar to what I felt the first time I walked into a James Turrell installation : the light takes over your senses.

The numerous security guards and nice guides make you feel completely at ease even though you are never going to be able to afford such treasures. In inviting the public to discover such rare pieces, Van Cleef is very innovative. Some of the animals are already sold, but we will all keep a little brochure of the show to remind us of the diamond rabbits and deers. what a nice present!

Ratons laveurs in white gold, pink gold, diamonds, onyx, 36.26-carat cabochon-cut spessartite garnet, 12.70-carat cabochon-cut pink tourmaline.

So rush to 19 place Vendôme between 12 am and 8 pm until September 26 th.