Before investing in jewellery, it pays to understand its history and inspiration. For Van Cleef & Arpels, that storied past comes to life in the Ballerinas exhibition
In the 1920s, Louis Arpels, an ardent ballet enthusiast, would take his nephew Claude to performances at the Paris Opera. The influence of these experiences began to manifest in the 1940s, when the maison’s first Dancer clips appeared. These early designs featured slender figures caught mid-twirl, with rose-cut diamond faces, pointe shoes, and gem-set tutus that seemed frozen in mid-step. The ballerinas quickly became signatures of the house, appearing not only as standalone clips but also on vanity cases and earrings.
Today, this legacy is revisited in Ballerinas, a rare exhibition presented as part of Les Jardins Secrets by Van Cleef & Arpels. Hosted within the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique at Raffles Singapore, Les Jardins Secrets is a dedicated exhibition space designed to showcase themed selections from the maison’s archives. For Ballerinas, the glass vitrines are transformed into miniature theatres, inviting visitors to closely examine these intricate creations.
Beyond individual jewels, the exhibition offers a rare insight into how the Parisian house has woven dance into its identity. From rose-cut faces and sequin-like tutus to powder cases that double as miniature stage sets, the pieces reveal a deep engagement with movement, music, and emotion. For lovers of ballet, jewellery (or both) it is an invitation to see how a jeté, an arabesque, or a pirouette can be preserved forever in precious stones and metal.
The exhibition also traces the evolution of the ballerina motif beyond brooches to rectangular powder cases engraved with ballet scenes and centred with dancers set against enchanted backdrops. A 1946 Swan Lake example in yellow gold, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds immortalises Tchaikovsky’s most famous ballet, with the dancer’s raised arms echoing the poised curve of her legs.
Among the most evocative works on display is a piece from 1967 inspired by Suzanne Farrell in the Diamonds segment of George Balanchine’s ballet Jewels. Here, the jewellers focus as much on the athleticism of the body as on costume: the curve of the slipper, the folds of the leg, and the elongated arms and limbs all reflect close observation of rehearsals. The diamond-set tutu, lined with engraved rays, appears light and fluid in motion, its texture echoing the fall of a stage curtain.
