Van Cleef & Arpels watchmaking, a marriage of technique, creativity and emotion.
Meyrin, near Geneva, is home to the haute horlogerie campus opened by the Richemont Group about ten years agomore than 45,000 square metres where excellence in the industry is cultivated and knowledge is shared and passed on. It is here that Van Cleef & Arpels makes his watches.
Inaugurated in 2015, the building of the French Maison - founded in 1906 in Paris with the opening of a boutique at 22 Place Vendôme - includes both a department dedicated to research and development and a watchmaking workshop that specialises in art craftsfrom enamel to miniature painting, from engraving to sculpture to stone inlay.
"Collaboration between the art professions and watchmaking experts is crucial, explains Rainer Bernard, research and development manager of the watch division. 'We work together to discuss, define and then bring the timepieces to life'.
Inside the factory, Rainer Bernard continues to explain, space is organised "both with individual workstations for design engineers, watchmakers and craftsmen both with areas designed for teamwork facilitating collaboration and sharing of ideas on developing projects".
The participation of new recruits
It is important for the company to pass on the craftsmen's skills to younger people as well.
"We have several profiles within our team, it is our strength, adds Rainer Bernard. "In the art crafts workshop, craftsmen master a dozen different enamelling techniques, as well as sculpting and modelling gold, engraving techniques and miniature painting. Teachers pass on these crafts to students in our engraving and enamelling school and craftsmen collaborate with design engineers and watchmakers. For us, every member of the team is crucial'.
Threading through the spaces is also the balanced style of the interiors, some of which were designed by French designer Constance Guissetone of the most relevant and appreciated signatures on the contemporary French design scene which put the liveability of the space first.
