Van Cleef & Arpels Private Collection - Spirit of Beauty Clip circa 1944

Van Cleef & Arpels 'Spirit of Beauty' exhibition coming to Tokyo

TOKYO —

Van Cleef & Arpels will start a global tour of its ‘‘Spirit of Beauty’’ retrospective exhibition in Tokyo later this month, offering an overview of over 100 years of creation by the high-end French jewelry house. The Mori Arts Center in Roppongi Hills will host the exhibition from Oct 30 until Jan 17, 2010.

Named after a famous Van Cleef & Arpels clip in the form of a fairy, “The Spirit of Beauty” will unveil to visitors jewels, timepieces, fashion accessories and objets d’art, in all, over 250 pieces selected from the Maison’s Private Collection and also from great private French and international collections.

In an original scenography by Patrick Jouin, who orchestrates this exquisite ensemble, the 1,000 square meters of the Mori Arts Center are transformed into a dreamlike journey. Placed under the protection and magic of fairies, it is built around four themes: The Spirit of Nature, The Spirit of Elegance, The Spirit of Adventure and Incarnations.

Organizers said the exhibition is an opportunity to discover the Maison’s savoir-faire, the enchantment of exceptional precious stones and the brilliance of several generations of jewelers. And to delve into the thousand and one stories belonging to each jewel that make up the History of Van Cleef & Arpels.

This is a world first for Tokyo and the exhibition will begin a global tour after Jan 17.

The exhibition will be open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Admission is 1,200 yen for adults, 1,000 yen for students and 500 yen for children 4 and older.