Extending the Maison’s long-standing love affair with nature, the additions include a white gold ‘7 Flowers’ bracelet, an ‘8 Flowers’ ring crafted from rose and white gold, and a trio of signature Frivole styles reimagined in rose gold. Striking when worn together, these pieces make equally stunning statements on their own — the ‘7 Flowers’ bracelet features close to 300 diamonds. To celebrate the new additions, Van Cleef & Arpels has joined forces with French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet, who has been collaborating with the brand since 2020. Conjuring up a buoyant and colourful setting in which to showcase the new pieces, the artist designed a series of slender flowers and three-dimensional illustrations that will adorn store windows. We chatted with Navet about this latest collaboration.
In conversation with French artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet:
Could you tell us a little about your journey with Van Cleef & Arpels?
The Maison discovered my work in 2017 when I won the Grand Prix Design Parade by Van Cleef & Arpels at the Villa Noailles. When the maison contacted me in 2019, it was about decorating some of the boutique interiors, to bring joy and express my sense of colour with flowers. We found a great synergy in the collaboration, and since then, I was invited to create new designs, but this time my art expanded onto facades, city sidewalks, windows, boutique interiors. The art installations celebrate flora and the spring season, taking the public into magical gardens. This year, I am collaborating with the maison to design a new vibrant world imbued by the dawn of spring. I utilised elements such as long flower stems and vases in my signature palette, remaining consistent to the maison’s and my own artistic expression. Some of them will be very soon on view in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong.
The Frivole collection is themed specifically around floral motifs. How does this complement your own artistic style?
Flowers and nature have been very important in my artistic vocabulary. I believe this dialogue with nature will never end! Floral motifs are at the heart of the design of the Frivole collection. Van Cleef & Arpels is able to evoke emotion beyond a still flower and create movement, luminosity and beauty. This is what I am aiming for my own artwork.
What were your inspirations for this collaboration?
Our inspiration for this new collaboration is a long walk in a garden at the first moments of spring, when nature starts blooming. Crossing pathways, the walker discovers ornamental details in architecture and feels inspired by the vibrant colours of nature. I am always fascinated to see how the Maison creates nature-inspired pieces with such a joyful lens. What artistic techniques and materials did you use to create the illustrations? This year, it all started with papercuts — to create coloured flowers in whimsical gardens.
