Remix fell in love with watches at the Van Cleef & Arpels Poetry Of Time pop-up exhibition in Melbourne

To say I fell in love with watches at the Van Cleef & Arpels Poetry Of Time exhibition in Melbourne is really an understatement. 

Remix was invited to experience the limited exhibition taking up temporary residence in the middle of the luxurious (and rather European-feeling) Chadstone shopping centre in Melbourne.

On display from July 17 to July 30, 2024, visitors can find up to 40 rare watches on display that will likely never come together in a group like this in our corner of the world again. 

Editor-in-chief Amber Baker at the Poetry Of Time exhibition in Melbourne

For someone who usually dons an empty wrist, I found myself yearning to wear one of these majestic timepieces. Majestic isn't an exaggeration - these were no ordinary watches, they were literal works of art.

From viewing the watches on display, to a private touch and feel (and wear) session within the boutique, to trying my own (very shaky) hand at micro-painting one of the dials, it was an experience that has completely elevated my expectation of a wristwatch.

The Maison are experts at blending inventiveness with fantasy: Love Stories, Enchanting Nature, and Poetic Astronomy - each timepiece depicts an individual moment of grace and enchantment, all coming to life beneath the glass of dials. What this exclusive up close glimpse of rare fantastical watches showed me, was the depth of storytelling the Maison holds so dear.

In true poetic Van Cleef & Arpels style, some animate to mimic a butterfly floating through moving flowers on a breezy summer's day - and that excitedly move when you press an 'on-demand' trigger.

Others tell a romantic Parisian story where the lovers meet at midnight and 'kiss' for three minutes - the average duration of a french kiss. With a strong connection to the world of ballet, some watches depict an iconic feminine dancer that turns into a butterfly over the duration of a day. While some are age-old time-tellers disguised as jewellery with chic 'peek-a-boo' revelations - crafted at a time in history when it was considered rude for women to check the time...

The sheer genius behind the mechanics and literal layers of gems and precious metals that are hand painted and then placed so delicately (with the purpose of actual movement and animation) is so enchanting to witness - and so unbelievably impressive when you truly understand the level of craftsmanship involved.

Seeing these wonders up close absolutely validates watch collecting as a passion. 

Editor's Pick

The Van Cleef & Arpels Pont Des Amoureux Collection is one I will never forget seeing in person...

A.K.A the 'Lovers Bridge' consists of a variety of environments where a young man and woman meet on a Parisian bridge at the stroke of 12. With a retrograde movement to announce the hours and minutes, respectively, they approach one another to share a romantic kiss at noon and midnight. For those impatient to wait until 12pm or 12am, you can experience the poetry of this moment at any time, an on-demand module allows the wearer to replay the romantic scene.

There are many renditions of this watch - one dark and mysterious set at midnight (my favourite), a 2019 daytime version of at dawn where Paris is waking up, and then one for the four seasons, each depicting the environment, with a subtle nod to their season, for instance the addition of a jacket on the man during winter.

What I love most about this collection, is how they're referred to as the PDA watches - an unintentional but very appropriate acronym from the shortening of the French Pont Des Amoureux.

Visit the pop up in Melbourne & discover more at vancleefarpels.com