Unique Timepiece Spotlight: Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Nuit Boreale and Nuit Australe

 

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Van Cleef & Arpels two newest creations, Midnight Nuit Boréale and Midnight Nuit Australe, celebrate the constellations and mythology.

These two watches, featured in the Extraordinary Dials collection, are made with grisaille enameling to create dramatic contrasts of light and dark with just two shades of enamel. Each dial is crafted like a miniature picture, requiring about 30 firings each, making the entire process take 70 hours to complete.

“Objects of curiosity and fascination since ancient times, the constellations are at the heart of Van Cleef & Arpels’ Poetic Astronomy. Inspired by various eras, these two creations reflect the way in which mankind’s view of the heavens has evolved in line with its beliefs and discoveries.”

The Midnight Nuit Boréale model is dedicated to the Northern hemisphere, principally inspired by the gods and creatures of Greek mythology; while the Midnight Nuit Australe model is devoted to the Southern hemisphere by paying homage to the observations of scientists and explorers from the 16th - 18th centuries.

The story continues beyond the dial with a back of the case engraving: Polaris, the brightest star of the Little Bear for the Midnight Nuit Boréale watch, and Acrux, the brightest star in the Southern Cross constellation for the Midnight Nuit Australe model.

The 22 limited edition watches are 42 mm in diameter and contain automatic movements, priced at $98,000.