Back in 1927 Van Cleef & Arpels created the Magicien Chinois pocket watch which, at the push of a button, displayed the time through the figure on the dial lifting his arms to point out the hours and minutes.
The retrograde display has been the inspiration for the new Lady Arpels Ballerine Enchantée watch, part of the luxury brand’s Poetic Complications collection.
When the user presses a button at the eight o’clock position, the ballerina’s tutu comes to life. The left part rises to indicate the hours, followed by the right part which positions itself against the minute scale. They remain in place for a few seconds before returning simultaneously to their initial positions.
Van Cleef says one of the feats of this complication lies in its fluid movement: the ballerina appears to move her wings with grace and poise.
