Exuberant colors and dramatic movements are a few of the characteristics of birds of paradise. The rare and exotic species have proved the perfect muse for Van Cleef & Arpels, a jewelry house whose hallmark is bringing the most exquisite creatures—both real and imagined—into being, using the rarest of materials. In this case, diamonds and pink sapphires bring the elegant birds to life. “The Birds of Paradise collection is absolutely iconic of VCA creations,” says worldwide creative director and US president and CEO Nicolas Bos. “It encompasses a whimsical version of nature, which has inspired us from the very first years of the 20th century. With this collection we aimed to revisit the tradition of designed pieces from the extraordinary spaces of Birds of Paradise which, among the world of birds, are possibly the most magical, mysterious, and enchanting of all.”
This fall Dorfman Jewelers hosted an event with Van Cleef & Arpels, during which a Van Cleef & Arpels designer met with clients to present her high jewelry and sketch custom watches. The Birds of Paradise collection captivated the guests. “There is an immense interest for art in the cultural and personal worlds of Boston, as we’ve seen with all of the excitement surrounding the recent expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts. These clients also celebrate and hold close a tradition of subtlety and discretion, which we find in this collection,” says Bos. “Birds of Paradise represents jewelry and luxury that evokes intimacy and connoisseurship— these qualities are both inherent to the Boston community.”
Birds of Paradise necklace in diamonds and pink sapphires, shown with gouache sketch, Van Cleef & Arpels (price on request). Dorfman Jewelers, 24 Newbury St., 617-536-2022; dorfmanjewelers.com
