VAN CLEEF & ARPELS | LADY ARPELS PONT DES AMOUREUX, REF. HH59197, A WHITE GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET WRISTWATCH WITH DOUBLE RETROGRADE ANIMATION HOURS, MINUTE HANDS AND GRISAILLE ENAMEL DIAL, CIRCA 2014
Case No: 629 Calibre: 846, manual winding, signed Dial: Grisaille enamel, signed Case: 38.5 mm, 18 k white gold and diamond-set, screwed case back, signed Strap: Maker's endangered species, 18 k white gold and diamond-set buckle, signed Accompaniments: Maker's presentation box and certificate Total watch weight approximately 97 grams. Last known retail price approximately HK$ 1,200,000. The watch weighs about 97 g. The former retail price was about HK$ 1,200,000. Van Cleef & Arpels | Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux, model HH59197, white gold and diamond-set manual-wind wristwatch with double retrograde hour and minute hands and enamel dial, dated around 2014. Comes with original manufacturer box and certificate. A poetic masterpiece of haute horlogerie and métiers d'art, the Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Pont des Amoureux (reference HH59197) captures romance in motion like no other timepiece. At its heart lies an enchanting automaton complication: two delicately sculpted gold figures, a lady and her suitor, gracefully traverse a Parisian bridge via retrograde displays (she for the hours, he for the minutes). At noon and midnight, or on demand with a push of the crown, they meet at the centre for a tender kiss lasting several magical seconds—an exclusive animation developed with master watchmaker Jean‑Marc Wiederrecht. Crafted in 38 mm 18 K white gold (often with a diamond-set bezel), the watch features a mesmerizing grisaille enamel dial that takes up to 40 hours and a dozen kiln firings per piece. Layers of translucent and opaque enamels create extraordinary depth, light, and shadow, with the bridge sculpted in gold for a remarkable three‑dimensional effect. The scene evokes the iconic Pont des Arts under moonlight or seasonal Parisian skies, blending miniature painting, engraving, and gem‑setting mastery. Extreme rarity defines this creation. Part of Van Cleef's revered Poetic Complications, each variation is produced in strictly limited, numbered editions. The intricate movement (based on the automatic Valfleurier Q020), hand‑finished automaton, and exhaustive artisanal work ensure only a privileged few will ever grace collectors' wrists. Diamond counts can exceed hundreds of carats on gem‑set bracelet versions, pushing the boundaries of both mechanics and jewellery. This HH59197 exemplifies understated feminine elegance fused with technical brilliance: a wearable love story that rewards every glance with wonder. In the rarefied world of high jewellery watches, it stands as one of the most emotionally resonant and sought‑after creations from the Maison.
